Bala Shark Food and Feeding
| Dry food: | Live food: | Plant food (should make up 10% of the to ... |
| Tetra granules | Artemia | Dry nettle leaves |
| Flakes | Daphnia | Dry spinach leaves |
| Crisps | Shrimp meat, finely chopped | Dried Dandelion Leaves |
| Dry feeds of other companies (“Sera”) | Mussel pieces | Dried lettuce leaves |
What other fish go good with Bala sharks?
- Iridescent sharks
- Angelfish
- Rainbowfish
- Clown Loach
- Discus fish
- Gourami
- Blood parrot Cichlid
- Tinfoil Barbs
- Ghost knife fish
What should I feed bala sharks?
Method 1 Method 1 of 2: Preparing the Habitat Download Article
- Decide on a tank size. Since bala sharks can grow to 12 inches (30.5 cm) in captivity, they will need a fairly large tank.
- Choose a quantity. Bala sharks are considered shoaling or schooling fish, which means they live in groups.
- Furnish the tank sparingly. ...
- Set up a heater. ...
- Monitor the water’s hardness and pH. ...
- Ensure enough water movement. ...
What is the average lifespan a bala shark?
Under favorable conditions, the average life span of a healthy Bala Shark is about 8-10 years. What are the characteristic appearance and features of a Bala Shark? The Bala Shark has a distinctively large standing dorsal fin and an elongated torpedo-like body having yellow stripes with black edges.
What does fish go with Bala sharks?
The black ghost knife fish is another Amazonian fish that you can keep with Bala Shark. Most of its body is jet black, except for a white stripe on the nose and two white strings on the tail. It has a flat elongated body and a continuous underside fin formed by the joining of the anal and caudal fin.
How often do you feed bala sharks?
3 times a dayBecause Bala Sharks can grow to a large size, it is essential to give them plenty of protein in their diet to keep them growing strong. Consider adding shrimp or other higher protein-laden food. Overall, you should be feeding yours 3 times a day.
Can bala sharks eat meat?
Bala sharks are omnivores -- meaning they will eat just about any food source offered.
Can I keep just one Bala Shark?
Bala Sharks do fine all alone. Never put only two Bala Sharks together because they'll fight and one will become dominant and other will eventually die, always have at least 3. Bala Sharks are great and will do fine with just about any other fish.
How many bala sharks should I keep together?
Plus, you shouldn't keep just one Bala shark in a tank, they need to be in a school of five or more. The minimum tank size for this fish, especially if you want to keep other fish with them, is 150 gallons (568 liters).
Can bala sharks eat mealworms?
In their native habitat, bala sharks feed on insects, insect larvae, phytoplankton, crustaceans and algae. In addition to accepting a variety of commercial, live and frozen foods in captivity, bala sharks will also scavenge in the tank for live algae growths and food leftover from previous feedings.
How do you tell if bala shark is male or female?
Female bala sharks often have fuller, rounder bellies than males. Males are more streamlined in shape, although the difference might be subtle. It's more obvious when mating time approaches. When a female is ready to lay eggs, her belly looks rounder than normal.
Do Bala sharks have babies?
Once the eggs have been laid and fertilized, the male and female Bala sharks pay no further attention to them. In the wild, Bala sharks travel to separate breeding grounds to spawn, and they do not provide any protection for their own young.
How big of a tank do I need for 4 Bala sharks?
Normal sharks are not schooling fish, but Bala sharks are. They need to keep with at least 3 others of their own kind, and the more the merrier. So, based on this, if we have 4 Bala sharks, each needing 26 gallons of tank space, this means that you would need a tank of 104 gallons.
What do you feed a bala shark?
If you want to see your bala sharks reach their full potential for growth and vitality, feed them a healthy, varied diet of dried, live and frozen foods.
What are some good foods for bala sharks?
Some of the best live and frozen foods to offer bala sharks include bloodworms and brine shrimp as well as Daphnia and Artemia, which are both types of small aquatic crustaceans.
What do bala sharks eat?
In their native habitat, bala sharks feed on insects, insect larvae, phytoplankton, crustaceans and algae. In addition to accepting a variety of commercial, live and frozen foods in captivity, bala sharks will also scavenge in the tank for live algae growths and food leftover from previous feedings. Because these fish will graze on algae growths ...
Do bala sharks eat algae?
Because bala sharks are omnivorous you should select a dried flake or granule food that contains both meat- and plant-based ingredients to ensure balanced nutrition. These fish may also accept algae flakes and pellets as part of a staple diet.
What is a bala shark?
Bala Sharks are a large and interesting freshwater fish that many aquarium owners consider at one point or another. And there are plenty of reasons why. In this guide, we explore the ins and outs of Bala Shark care and everything you should know if you’re thinking about adding them to your aquarium setup. By the time you’re finished reading, you’ll ...
Why do bala sharks have a lid on their tank?
This is why having a lid on your tank is a smart idea. It is recommended that aquarium owners place hiding spots for Bala Sharks to rest in when tired of swimming. Plants and roots work fine. Partly due to their potential for growing quite large, they might be prone to hogging the food when it comes to food.
Why do bala sharks have white spots?
Keeping an eye out for illness. Smart Bala Shark care should include monitoring them for signs of common fish ailments like dropsy that causes them to swell, and ich which results in white spots on their scales. If this is seen, the fish often has a parasitic or bacterial infection and should be treated.
How old do bala sharks need to be to breed?
This means that the fish should be kept separated in another tank before they reach puberty. This is when they are around 4 months old.
How long does it take for a bala shark to spawn?
Bala Sharks tend to spawn in the morning, and this process can take several hours. After the female spawns, the male will then fertilize the spawned eggs with a substance called milt.
How big do bala sharks get?
These tend to be just 3 to 4 inches when first bought, and fish owners are often surprised to learn that the adult size can be up to 1 foot or 13 inches.
How long do bala sharks live?
The lifespan of a Bala Shark can be up to 10 years with the proper care. A member of the Cyprinidae family of fish species, they (Balantiocheilus melanopterus) prefer fast-flowing rivers and streams in the Southeastern Asia countries of Sumatra, Kalimantan, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
Bala Sharks – The Silver Shark
Silver body with black margins on dorsal, caudal, anal, and pelvic fins. The lower lip has a posterior groove forming an opening towards the back. Dorsal fin forming a triangle, characteristic, which, together with the shape of its body, gives it the common name of shark, due to such similarities with the actual shark.
Bala Shark general
Bala sharks are freshwater species of Southeast Asia. These sharks are not actual sharks and were named for them due to their torpedo-shaped bodies and rigid fins. A bala shark’s health involves identifying the proper tanks ensuring the best water chemistry, finding pleasant neighbors, and cleaning and changing its water regularly.
Are Bala Sharks extinct?
Bala Sharks used to be prolific in Southeast Asia, but their numbers were dwindling by an average of nearly 51% over the past ten years. Locals believe the Bala Sharks may be extinct in some areas. Many people believe this could be in part a result of over-fishing by the aquaculture industry.
Bala Sharks ideal Habitat
The species is sensitive to water conditions and shallow water temperatures and is exposed to white spot illness or bacterial infection at a high temperature. It would be best if you covered the fish tank tightly as this species jumps when disturbed.
Bala Sharks Aquarium Tank size and gallon
A tank with approx 100 gallons is required. It is a large tank and many gallons of water. The choice of aquarium decoration can vary a lot; it is not a demanding species. Aquarium length is essential, as this species is an excellent swimmer, originating from fast water.
Are Bala Sharks Suicidal?
It’s been reported by some people on CBC that Bala sharks can swim between themselves, play dead or crash into glass walls. This erratic behavior often occurs when the parameters are off or when they lack the space to swim.
Take care with your fish tank
Experts agree Bala shark care should be relatively simple provided the fish owner has some basic knowledge in fish farming practices. They remain healthy, but fish owners should keep their aquarium clean and water levels and temperatures stable to achieve the best results.
How much water should a bala shark have?
Of course, it bears repeating that an adult school of bala sharks should be kept in a tank that can hold at least 150 gallons of water. Because of their swimming behaviors, it would be best to provide your bala sharks with a long tank.
Why are bala sharks so popular?
Other than their wonderful silver coloration, the bala shark is popular due to its nature. They are a peaceful, non-aggressive species, which makes them great tankmates for a large number of other fish species.
Why do bala sharks peck at slower fish?
Because of their high level of activity, slower fish will most likely be stressed by bala sharks. Bala sharks will also tend to peck at slower fish, especially when they get in their way.
How long do bala sharks live?
Like with all pets, the bala shark will live a longer life if it’s adequately cared for. With the right food and environment, the bala shark can live up to ten years on average in captivity.
Can you put a bala shark in a tank?
Otherwise, they will grow sickly, and eventually die .
Is a bala shark a shark?
Despite its name, however, the bala shark is not really a shark. Rather, the bala shark is a freshwater fish, with a small, flat, torpedo-shaped body and long, large fins.
Bala Shark 101
The Bala Shark ( Balantiocheilos melanopterus) is commonly known as a Tricolor Shark and comes from the family Cyprinidae.
Habitat and Tank Conditions
In the wild the Bala Shark naturally occupies medium to large fast-flowing rivers and lakes in Southeast Asia. The full extent of their distribution is unknown, but they have been found in Borneo, Thailand, and Sumatra.
Tank Mates
Bala Sharks are well known for being very social and peaceful tank mates. They can be kept in a community tank with many beautiful species including:
Bala Shark Care
This species is not recommended for first time fish keepers because of the requirements needed to keep a large tank.
Species Summary
Temperament and Activity Level
- These affable fish travel in schools when in the wild, and fish owners should purchase several of these Bala Sharks at a time as they like company. These tend to be very active, and they make great home aquarium fish as they are interesting to watch. They’re such active fish that there’s a good chance they will jump from time to time. This is why having a lid on your tank is a smart id…
Bala Shark Size
- Since these fish are rare in their natural abodes, most of these fish are bought from fish farms. These tend to be just 3 to 4 inches when first bought, and fish owners are often surprised to learn that the adult size can be up to 1 foot or 13 inches. As these Bala Fish grow larger, they should be switched to larger sized aquariums. Additionally, these fish should be closely watched as they gr…
Care
- Most experts agree that Bala Shark care is relatively easy if the fish owner has some basic knowledge of fish care. These fish tend to remain healthy, but fish owners should be sure to keep their aquariums clean and the water level and temperature stable for best results. Bala Sharks can be somewhat vulnerable if their tank water becomes dirty or when the tank water level lowers. W…
What Are Good Tank Mates For Bala Sharks?
- This fish is well known for its congenial manner, and they tend to do well living with many other different fish species. Some great tank mates for Bala Sharks are: 1. Rainbowfish 2. Tetra 3. Rasbora 4. Gourami 5. Other Bala Sharks However, there is the chance that the Bala Shark will eat smaller fish when they become larger, so the tank should alw...
How Do You Breed them?
- To breed your Bala Sharks, it is recommended that you determine the sex of the fish if possible. Females often have a slightly rounded belly area and body type. Males are typically a bit larger in size. It can be difficult to tell apart the sexes. When in captivity, the Bala Sharks only becomes able to reproduce when they are at least 3 years of age and at least 5 inches, or 13 cm, long. Fis…
Conclusion
- Bala Sharks are a rewarding and unique fish to keep in your aquarium. We hope that after reading this post you’ll have a better understanding of the fish in general, and the kind of care that you’ll need to provide. This information should be more than enough to give you an idea of if this is the right fish for you. Some aquarists decide they would rather go with something that doesn’t need …