aquarium question!

[asscherisme]

Anyone keep aquariums? A few months ago I got a new fish tank. I currently have a cold tank that I keep my goldfish in. My newer tank is a tropical tank. I have neons, platties, and guppies in it. I am wanting to get a bala shark and am wondering if it would eat my smaller fish? I have read conflicting things on this. Also, I know my tank is not big enough (its 40 gallons) but am thinking I could get a bigger tank when it outgrows the current tank.

Am I asking for trouble on this?

Hopefully someone on here is an aqarium expert. I know there are a few others that have goldfish knowledge.

 

[omieluv]

You are asking for trouble. Though not likely to bother your other fish, they do grow quite large and like lots of swimming space. My BF had a few in his 75 gal and that tank did not seem long enough for them! So unless you plan on getting at least a 120 long, skip them. Btw, I have been a fish geek for quite a while...lol.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 6/5/2009 7:12:17 PM
Author:asscherisme
Anyone keep aquariums? A few months ago I got a new fish tank. I currently have a cold tank that I keep my goldfish in. My newer tank is a tropical tank. I have neons, platties, and guppies in it. I am wanting to get a bala shark and am wondering if it would eat my smaller fish? I have read conflicting things on this. Also, I know my tank is not big enough (its 40 gallons) but am thinking I could get a bigger tank when it outgrows the current tank.

Am I asking for trouble on this?

Hopefully someone on here is an aqarium expert. I know there are a few others that have goldfish knowledge.

don't know if he'll eat the smaller fish,but i know he'll eat feeder goldfish when he gets big enough.

 

[omieluv]

Date: 6/5/2009 8:05:13 PM
Author: Dancing Fire
don't know if he'll eat the smaller fish,but i know he'll eat feeder goldfish when he gets big enough.

WHAT?! Have you seen that in action?

ETA...asscherisme - this is a good place to learn more about Bala's http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_bala.php

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 6/5/2009 8:19:32 PM
Author: omieluv

Date: 6/5/2009 8:05:13 PM
Author: Dancing Fire
don''t know if he''ll eat the smaller fish,but i know he''ll eat feeder goldfish when he gets big enough.

WHAT?! Have you seen that in action?

ETA...asscherisme - this is a good place to learn more about Bala''s http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_bala.php

yup,my friend had a 12" Bala shark he fed him 1" baby goldfish.

 

[asscherisme]

Date: 6/5/2009 7:50:48 PM
Author: omieluv
You are asking for trouble. Though not likely to bother your other fish, they do grow quite large and like lots of swimming space. My BF had a few in his 75 gal and that tank did not seem long enough for them! So unless you plan on getting at least a 120 long, skip them. Btw, I have been a fish geek for quite a while...lol.

LOL fish geek. Never heard that one before. I guess I''m a fish geek too. They are addictive! I love the neons. They are so pretty the way they school together.

I''m thinking no on the bala shark. I don''t want a massacre in my tropical tank. And my 2 tanks are enough. I can''t handle a huge huge tank.

Whie we are talking fish, any suggestions for a good algae eater. NOT a pleco. I had a pleco once and it attacked my other fish. I''m scared to get plecos now. Also, I think they are kind of ugly once they get huge. Something peaceful that will eat algae and not get too big.

 

[Lorelei]

I wouldn''t risk it.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 6/5/2009 11:54:20 PM
Author: asscherisme

Date: 6/5/2009 7:50:48 PM
Author: omieluv
You are asking for trouble. Though not likely to bother your other fish, they do grow quite large and like lots of swimming space. My BF had a few in his 75 gal and that tank did not seem long enough for them! So unless you plan on getting at least a 120 long, skip them. Btw, I have been a fish geek for quite a while...lol.

LOL fish geek. Never heard that one before. I guess I'm a fish geek too.

koi hobbyist call themselfs " KOI KICHI "

 

[omieluv]

Date: 6/5/2009 11:54:20 PM
Author: asscherisme

Date: 6/5/2009 7:50:48 PM
Author: omieluv
You are asking for trouble. Though not likely to bother your other fish, they do grow quite large and like lots of swimming space. My BF had a few in his 75 gal and that tank did not seem long enough for them! So unless you plan on getting at least a 120 long, skip them. Btw, I have been a fish geek for quite a while...lol.

LOL fish geek. Never heard that one before. I guess I''m a fish geek too. They are addictive! I love the neons. They are so pretty the way they school together.

I''m thinking no on the bala shark. I don''t want a massacre in my tropical tank. And my 2 tanks are enough. I can''t handle a huge huge tank.

Whie we are talking fish, any suggestions for a good algae eater. NOT a pleco. I had a pleco once and it attacked my other fish. I''m scared to get plecos now. Also, I think they are kind of ugly once they get huge. Something peaceful that will eat algae and not get too big.

Well, if the bala "grows up" with your other fish, it is doubtful it would eat them when it grew larger. However, I still say to skip it, just because they do grow quite large and I personally think that it would look odd with your other colorful fish.

Actually, 1 huge tank is easier to maintain than 2 smaller tanks. I would love to get rid of my 35 hex and my BF''s 75 gal tank and get a 200 gallon tank, but I am not sure if the floor of our 100 year old apartment could support the weight of that much water

So, you said no pleco''s, but, I am going to suggest you get one anyway! The dwarf bristlenose pleco only gets about 3 inches long. Its cousin, the bristlenose pleco only gets 5-6 inches long...they are great algae eaters and will not destroy driftwood like others. I have an albino dwarf bristlenose and it is a fantastic cleaner, totally earns its keep! When looking for a pleco, always stand there a minute to observe the tank and pick the one that it is most active & make sure its stomach does not look sunken in.

You could also look into otto''s, those are cute and small, but they are more sensitive to water conditions.

My hex has a platinum angelfish, albino neon tetras, black neon tetras, 1 peacock gudgeon and a honey gourami.

 

[omieluv]

Date: 6/5/2009 10:20:33 PM
Author: Dancing Fire

Date: 6/5/2009 8:19:32 PM
Author: omieluv

Date: 6/5/2009 8:05:13 PM
Author: Dancing Fire
don''t know if he''ll eat the smaller fish,but i know he''ll eat feeder goldfish when he gets big enough.

WHAT?! Have you seen that in action?

ETA...asscherisme - this is a good place to learn more about Bala''s http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_bala.php

yup,my friend had a 12'' Bala shark he fed him 1'' baby goldfish.

I have never seen one so big, but I do not doubt you!

I have seen monster iridescent sharks, but that is a different story...

 

[omieluv]

Date: 6/6/2009 2:04:29 AM
Author: Dancing Fire

Date: 6/5/2009 11:54:20 PM
Author: asscherisme

Date: 6/5/2009 7:50:48 PM
Author: omieluv
You are asking for trouble. Though not likely to bother your other fish, they do grow quite large and like lots of swimming space. My BF had a few in his 75 gal and that tank did not seem long enough for them! So unless you plan on getting at least a 120 long, skip them. Btw, I have been a fish geek for quite a while...lol.

LOL fish geek. Never heard that one before. I guess I''m a fish geek too.

koi hobbyist call themselfs '' KOI KICHI ''

Funny DF.

Truthfully, I think I am the only tropical fish enthusiast using the term "fish geek." Well, maybe not the only one, but I do not think we have decided on a universal term, like the koi hobbyists have...hehe.

 

[asscherisme]

Revisiting this one. My gold fish died in a horible pleco accident. I got a pleco and put it in there with the goldfish and the pleco attacked and killed my goldfish!! I was very upset and my kids were more upset than me.

Anyway, I ended up moving my tropical community to the goldfish tank (after getting a heater) and now have an empty 40 gallon.

I am still itching for bala sharks.

Can I get 3 bala sharts for my 40 gallon tank if I keep them by themselves? The fish store tells me 30 gallons in the minimum for 3 bala sharks, but I'm not sure. I want them to be healthy.

edited to add, I also really like the boesamani rainbow fish. That would be my second choice to get a small school of these.

But I really want the balas!