Question About Bala Shark Compatibility

[trojannemo]

hey guys.
i've done my research online but would like now some answers from actual keepers.

here's the situation:

my parents have a 3 foot tank (38g) stocked with mixed african and central american cichlids (i know!). the africans are all doing great, the central americans keep fighting each other. they also got one unfortunate bala shark in there. it's been with the cichlids for about 2 months and survived, miraculously, but not unscathed. i'm going to force my parents to rehome the fish, but the fins are tattered and the scales need to heal. i know the fish is in good health, just needs to be allowed to heal without constant attacks by aggressive cichlids. if i take it the way it is now to a pet store they wont take it, and nobody will want to buy it at my club auction.

what I want to do:

I thought of giving the fish sanctuary in my tank, allowing it to heal, before trying to find it a new home, preferably through my club. my concern is i know nothing about the fish, and dont want to risk him attacking my rainbowfish or angelfish. being a tetra, is it going to be nippy? neon tetras nip at angelfish fins, but they're tiny...this fish being so much bigger, i would guess they could do a lot of damage if it decided my angels' fins looked good. it wouldn't try to eat or attack my rainbows would it? what about uprooting plants? this is a 75g medium planted tank it would be going into. finally, the fish is about 4" long, would it try to eat bluefin killifish? (think a little bit bigger than a neon tetra, similar body shape).

let me know what you think i should do.

thanks!

 

[raptorrex]

to me, the answer is NO. the bala is quite safe to have with those fish. as far as i have seen/heard. bala sharks don't hunt fish. your tank is just about big enough too.

 

[M.R Otter]

Bala sharks don't hunt down thier prey. in the wild the bala sharks feed on insect larvea and such things. but in capitivity it is reported that bala sharks will eat fishes that are a lot smaller than his size: bala sharks are known to eat neon tetras, glowlight tetras and cardinal tetras if they have the chance. if you feed your bala shark well it it might not attack other fishes. Bala sharks don't nip other fishes fins.

 

[trojannemo]

to me, the answer is NO. the bala is quite safe to have with those fish. as far as i have seen/heard. bala sharks don't hunt fish. your tank is just about big enough too.

no i shouldn't house it in my tank or no it wont do any damage? i'm assuming you mean it wont do any damage, the answer being no is just confusing

i'll move it over tonight.

thank you for the help!

MR Otter, i feed all the fish well. even with the cichlids the bala gets a lot of food, and i can only imagine it will do just as well with the angels and rainbows.

let's see how long he takes to heal

 

[raptorrex]

to me, the answer is NO. the bala is quite safe to have with those fish. as far as i have seen/heard. bala sharks don't hunt fish. your tank is just about big enough too.

no i shouldn't house it in my tank or no it wont do any damage? i'm assuming you mean it wont do any damage, the answer being no is just confusing

i'll move it over tonight.

thank you for the help!

MR Otter, i feed all the fish well. even with the cichlids the bala gets a lot of food, and i can only imagine it will do just as well with the angels and rainbows.

let's see how long he takes to heal

. sack cloth and ashes for me . you are correct. i should have said YES, its fine in your tank. and NO it will not attack your fish.