All-in-all, the Bala Shark makes an excellent addition to almost any freshwater tank. With regular maintenance and good care, these fish may live up to 10 years as they are considered basically hardy and prone to good health. There are many different types of aquarium catfish out there. Sexing Neon Tetras. Bala Shark, Silver Shark, Tri-Color Minnow, Sharkminnow(Balantiocheilus melanopterus), Omnivore; consumes algae and plant materials, along with live insects, larvae, crustaceans, and eggs/fry, Commercial omnivore flake or pellets supplemented with live/frozen/dried treats like brine shrimp or bloodworms, Very active and social once acclimated but may be shy initially. I give sharks a high-quality commercial omnivore flake or pellets diet, with a variety of treats like live/frozen/dried brine shrimp, bloodworms, insect larvae, Daphnia or shrimp eggs. Its other names include tricolor shark, tricolor shark minnow, shark minnow, and silver shark. how to tell from bala shark male or female. A larger predator could nip or become aggressive towards them. 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. After the female spawns, the male will then fertilize the spawned eggs with a substance called milt. All you need to provide them with sufficient lighting is a basic freshwater lamp that shouldn’t cost you much money at all. Origin. Young fish are sold when they’re around 3 to 4-inches long and grow very rapidly, usually reaching a footlong by the end of their first year. These species have light yellow color fins. The Bala shark is known for its peaceful nature that makes it compatible with a host of other peaceful aquarium inhabitants. In this article I will show you the easiest way to disguise male and female neon tetra fish. When in their natural habitat, Bala Sharks are omnivores that eat insects, larvae, algae, plant portions, and small crustaceans. When it comes to freshwater sharks, few make the dramatic impact that a group of Bala Sharks (Balantiocheilus melanopterus) can bring to your community aquarium. The new Bala Sharks can grow at different speeds. Fortunately for aquarists, Bala Sharks are very low maintenance in this regard. More common than not a Bala Shark will grow to be roughly 12 inches long in a tanked environment. Millie is a passionate aquarist who caught the fishkeeping bug in high school and has been addicted ever since. A group of 4-5 bala’s should be kept together. The water hardness is the last key piece of the puzzle when it comes to water levels. These tend to be very active, and they make great home aquarium fish as they are interesting to watch. will bala sharks even eat other fish our two i think are trying to eat our fishes so im wondering if they do eat other fish what kinds will they eat?? A true fishkeeper will make sure the tank fits the fish and balas need at least a min. It is crucial to give the fish enough space and room to swim during this process. Plants and roots work fine. Within 24 hours, small larvae can begin to be visible. Join Date: Jan 2005. We can find its gender-based on body size. When you buy via the links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. 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. Large tetras or minnows may work, but small fish and invertebrates will likely become shark snacks. This is a huge fish. What we do know is during spawning season the females will develop a more rounded belly than the male. The fry can be fed with ciliates at first. Sponsored Links Fish Forums. While they resemble the marine predators they’re named after, Bala Sharks are actually members of the Cyprinidae or carp family and are closely related to goldfish, minnows and koi. Silver sharks are not picky about their substrate, and you can even keep them in bare set-ups for easy maintenance. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. To spur spawning, some fish breeders slowly increase the tank water temperature from 77 degrees up to 82 degrees. The tank should have plenty of plants and drift wood, while the temperature should be kept between 72 to 82 °F. If you want to get in touch we encourage you to do so via our contact page. They’re such active fish that there’s a good chance they will jump from time to time. Single sharks usually remain shy/depressed and hide behind decor/plants, so best kept in groups, 150 gallons for a group of 3 (approximately 45-gallons per shark), Prefers to swim in very clean, well-filtered water with a moderate to high flow rate and high oxygen levels, Best kept in groups of 3 to 5 sharks with peaceful or semi-aggressive communities of a similar size. - Not a true shark, but has a similar body shape - Active and hardy fish that can grow to a larger size - Does best in groups of three or more There are some larger fish species that tend to be predators (like cichlids). This is why having a lid on your tank is a smart idea. Gender of Bala Shark? This fish is well known for its congenial manner, and they tend to do well living with many other different fish species. of 300 gals + to grow to their full potential. That leaves plenty of room to swim and play. The fish prefers clean rivers and streams with fast water flow, since slow flows are not for it. Snails are also not a good choice for Bala Sharks. These are rather effective snail-eating fish! It’s not always easy to care for sharks in freshwater aquariums, so consider building your next community around a group of stunning silver Bala Sharks. Updated May 13, 2020 Author: Mike - FishLore Admin Social Media: The Bala Shark is also known as the Silver Shark and is a growing favorite among tropical fish hobbyists. Bala Sharks are a large and interesting freshwater fish that many aquarium owners consider at one point or another. ‘ Hangus Ekor ’ ( hung-oos-a-co ) in Malaysia, which is country... Not really sexable by common hobbyists kept separated in another tank before they are getting right. Anything outside of that can cause serious health complications Bala shark care guide cause... Their overall health or appropriate vegetable matter can increase their overall health wonderful addition to any. 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