In awhile, 30 to 50 percent of the water should be renewed carefully. Bala Sharks tend to spawn in the morning, and this process can take several hours. That said, its important to create the most peaceful environment possible for your bala shark so they dont want to jump out of it. Dropsy is a buildup of fluid inside the fish and is usually a symptom of a bacterial or parasitic infection. ), Bala Shark Has White Spots? Bala Sharks are an excellent freshwater aquarium fish. And of course, aggressive fish are absolute no-gos. Being able to maintain a small ecosystem and observe the behaviors and interactions in the underwater world peaked his interest early on and has kept him hooked until this day. House bala sharks in a freshwater tank and feed them an omnivorous diet.Habitat and Tank RequirementsThe bala sharks natural habitat is lakes and fast-flowing rivers and streams in Southeast Asia. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Isolate the dancing pair and place them in a 60-gallon breeding tank. The longer the tank, the more space this middle-dwelling fish has to explore. The bala shark is a peaceful fish that gets along well with other peaceful species in a community tank. (Reasons, Treatment, Prevention). The most common Bala Shark external parasites are anchor worms, fish lice, and flukes. Besides infections, Bala Sharks are highly prone to stress when you keep them in unfavorable conditions for a long time. Place a group of five bala sharks in a separate 65-gallon breeding tank with a temperature of 77F and a strong filter. (50 gallon tank). At first we thought it was sand or gravel . The water hardness is the last key piece of the puzzle when it comes to water levels. Feed the fry ciliates, then switch to nauplii of artemia or cyclops once the fry are four days old.Keep the fry in a separate tank until the fish reach six months old or four inches long.Should You Get a Bala Shark for Your Aquarium?Bala sharks are unique-looking fish that provide plenty of entertainment in a home aquarium.You should get a bala shark if you have plenty of space for at least five of these active shoaling fish. ], Top 10 Blood Parrot Cichlid Tank Mates (With Pictures! Appetite is good, behavior is normal, the other younger bala is now sticking close by to help fend off the loach. To treat ich, you must isolate the infected fish in a separate tank. 4. In Bala Sharks, cloudy eyes are not a disease but rather a symptom of many conditions and diseases. They do have a preference for water thats on the softer end of things, but will be happy with medium hardness as well. Bala Shark Breeding Guide (Everything You Need to Know), The Best Bala Shark Tank Size for Optimal Health. When introducing them to a new tank they should be given approximately a month to settle into their new home. The fishs ventral fins are small and colored black or gray. These fish are used to warm waters with a pebbly or muddy substrate.Set up your bala sharks tank to replicate the fishs habitat in the wild. However, captive Bala sharks will be just as happy with any of the previously mentioned live proteins. Theyre colored yellow, black and gray, and they can grow up to 12 inches, or 25-30 cm, in length making them relatively large for an aquarium fish. Heres a fun little factoid: Bala sharks are not, in fact, true sharks. In this article, well look at everything there is to know about bala sharks. As these Bala Fish grow larger, they should be switched to larger sized aquariums. Keep the bottom of the tank clear or add a breeding net to catch the eggs. What is the most important component of a healthy diet? Though bala sharks arent commonly found in the ocean anymore, they still have those natural instincts to want to protect themselves. Ensure that the filter is on and operating. Raise the water temperature to 82o F for three days. With a little bit of care and dedication, your bala sharks should thrive in your tank! While some bala shark owners have noticed twitching in tandem with stressors or illness, its not indicative of correlation; it may just be a coincidence. Bala sharks are social fish and need to be in large numbers, so therefore a big tank in needed. To breed bala sharks, follow these steps: Bala sharks are unique-looking fish that provide plenty of entertainment in a home aquarium. Bala Sharks are very active fish species that enjoy darting around the fish tank at high speed. Hello, and thanks for visiting Avid Aquarist! You can leave the room light on. Assuming that youve committed to raising bala sharks, you want to make sure that your tank is set up properly. Home Aquatic Problems & Solutions Common Bala Shark Diseases to Watch For. Lets start by having a brief overview of the most common Bala Shark diseases that your fish may suffer from. The ideal tank conditions for bala sharks are: The essentials for a bala sharks tank are a powerful external filter, natural tank lighting, and a high-quality water heater. Should You Get a Bala Shark for Your Aquarium? This fish is well known for its congenial manner, and they tend to do well living with many other different fish species. Luckily, Lymphocystis isnt a fatal disease. Treat ich by removing the affected fish and placing them in a quarantine tank containing water that is a couple of degrees warmer than the home tanks temperature. To combat this, special hormone injections are necessary to spur and stimulate this breeding nature. These foods form the basis of a healthy diet, so you should look for one thats formulated specifically for omnivores. This article will list the signs of stress in bala sharks and what you can do about them. Consider adding shrimp or other higher protein-laden food. You should get a bala shark if you have plenty of space for at least five of these active shoaling fish. Theres no simple answer, but there are a lot of assumptions made about this behavioral tendency. Frankly speaking, Bala sharks are a joy to feed. However, a dark-colored pebbly substrate, around an inch thick, is closest to the substrate found in the fishs wild habitat.Theres also no need to fill bala sharks tanks with rocks or plants. In most cases, Bala Sharks will play dead when they go into shock, which is somewhat similar to humans fainting. I dosed the water and am planning on dosing again tomorrow. Look for nutritious foods that provide the vitamins, minerals, and proteins needed for these fish to grow to their full potential. Although not considered an aggressive fish species, Bala Sharks can eat smaller fish, especially those that are smooth and sleek, as they get bigger. Complete Guide to Feeding Your Pet GoldfishNovember 1, 2018 RobertFreshwater FishThe Ultimate Roseline Shark Care GuideApril 24, 2021 Robert. They are peaceful fish with laid-back personalities.Colors, Patterns, Fins, and Sex DifferencesThe bala shark isnt a real freshwater shark. The tank itself will cost a pretty penny, but the upkeep will outweigh this upfront investment by miles. Fish with dropsy appear bloated and have protruding eyes, scales that stick out from the body, loss of appetite, lethargy, and rapid breathing.Advertisementsif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'fishkeepingworld_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_12',116,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishkeepingworld_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'fishkeepingworld_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_13',116,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishkeepingworld_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0_1');.large-mobile-banner-2-multi-116{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:50px;padding-bottom:10px!important;padding-top:10px!important;text-align:center!important}To treat dropsy, add teaspoon of Epsom salt to every five gallons of water in the tank, and speak to your veterinarian about antibacterial medication for the diseaseExternal parasitesBala sharks can be affected by several external parasites, including anchor worms, fish lice, and flukes. Is My Bala Shark Male or Female? Did you find this care guide helpful? A little more research has indicated that bala sharks, if kept in a group of 2-3 will establish a dominance structure. Filtration Bala sharks need a quality filter that can filter five times the water volume in the tank. Can Twitching Be A Negative Bala Shark Behavior? In captivity, a healthy Bala Shark can live for anywhere between 8 to 10 years. Snails are also not a good choice for Bala Sharks. Each bala shark is different in how often they might twitch. One important thing to be aware of in terms of a bala sharks nervous behavior is they are jumpers. The longer the tank, the more space this middle-dwelling fish has to explore.Advertisementsif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'fishkeepingworld_com-leader-1','ezslot_8',156,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishkeepingworld_com-leader-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'fishkeepingworld_com-leader-1','ezslot_9',156,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishkeepingworld_com-leader-1-0_1');.leader-1-multi-156{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:50px;padding-bottom:10px!important;padding-top:10px!important;text-align:center!important}Bala sharks dont swim along the bottom of the tank or dig in the substrate, so theres no need to use a specific type of substrate. Pay close attention to signs of illness, and take steps to correct any water issues. Youd need a bigger heater, filter, and pump, all of which require energy to run. As previously established, dropsy may be caused by bacterial infections. This infection is usually well-defined and appears in the fishs head, body, or fins, so you can confuse it with ich. Place your 150-gallon tank on a sturdy surface. If this fish is on its own, that will cause additional stress. In the case of Ich, there are several kinds of . I mostly have gold fish. When kept in an aquarium, they tend to eat just about any type of fish food including both live options and dried flake food selections. The dominant shark will constantly pick on the weakest, causing stress and leading to susceptability to infections and disease (as mentioned above). Top 5 Reasons You Must Know! It makes it easier to feed your bala sharks moderately sized meals at regular intervals throughout the day, instead of all at once, which can lead to overfeeding. Speaking from experience, weve had a few instances of the feeder malfunctioning, so please be careful! Watching fish swim about in an aquarium is truly fascinating, but its also a good idea to be mindful of changes in your fishs behavior. Provide a similarly varied diet in captivity with a combination of live and dried foods.Advertisementsif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'fishkeepingworld_com-leader-2','ezslot_14',136,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishkeepingworld_com-leader-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'fishkeepingworld_com-leader-2','ezslot_15',136,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishkeepingworld_com-leader-2-0_1');.leader-2-multi-136{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:50px;padding-bottom:10px!important;padding-top:10px!important;text-align:center!important}High-quality dried food, like flakes and pellets, should make up the bulk of the bala sharks diet. Most fish breeders recommend that at least 5 Bala Sharks be kept together during the breeding process to ensure that there is both male and female fish in the holding tank. The most common suggested range is between a 120 and 150 gallon tank, which is a rather large aquarium. Besides theyre attractive look, Bala Sharks are generally healthy fish if you provide them with proper accommodation and water quality. Fish owners should also be aware that fish kept in captivity will not typically reproduce or breed. Providing your fish with extra care and keeping . Overfishing for the aquarium trade and forest fires in 1975 are two possible causes for the decrease in the wild population of bala sharks.The natural habitat of the bala shark is warm and densely vegetated, with a muddy, pebbly substrate. WILDER Retired Moderator Retired Moderator Joined Otherwise, these fish share no other traits or behaviors with sharks found in saltwater oceans. All fish are stressed by being netted and moved to a new environment, and many take time to regain their normal behaviours. Sores and ulcers on the body and head, ragged, bloody fins. Conclusion. Hi! Bala Shark is a kind of shark that lives in the Water should have a hardness of 10 to 13 dGH and a pH of 6.5 to 8. Bala sharks are an endangered species that are rarely found in the wild. House bala sharks in a freshwater tank and feed them an omnivorous diet. Pay attention to any changes in the balas environment, like a changed diet. Immediate water change and increase aeration. Bala fish are some very beautiful fish to have at home in an aquarium, and this is one of the best environments for them given that they are endangered. The typical cost of a bala shark is $7 . The fishs ventral fins are small and colored black or gray. Although they might seem interesting, poor handling, like squeezing the fishs body or touching the eyes or the gills, can cause stress. The most popular signs of stress are lack of activity and lost appetite. white spots to appear on the Bala Sharks skin, Introducing contaminated food, fish, or water. Its definitely possible, but its not known for sure. Theyre found in tanks, The Dojo Loach (aka Weather Loach or Pond Loach) is one of our all-time favorite freshwater species. As weve previously mentioned, getting a filter that generates a pretty strong water flow is important, as these fish need a lot of water movement to be healthy. I am not to worried about it. Dont house them with aggressive or carnivorous fish like neon tetras. Bala Sharks may show signs of stress in various situations, such as: Any of these aspects can increase the risk of the previously mentioned diseases, which is why you should maintain a proper environment for your fish in the tank at all times. I enjoyed the information about our daughters new pets. Therefore, these active swimmers are most at home in freshwater tanks that replicate these water conditions. The other one does not have this and I can't recall seeing it before on this one. Making this a habit will help you provide better care for your Bala Sharks, and prevent you from having to deal with unwanted surprises. Theres also no need to fill bala sharks tanks with rocks or plants. If your bala shark is unwell, it could also cause them to stress out which may activate their twitching tendencies.