Fish that are getting sick from water might exhibit behavior similar to twitching. Interested males and females will spawn early in the morning, lasting for a couple of hours. Frankly speaking, Bala sharks are a joy to feed. So far they are doing great with our 2 gouramis, 2 glo sharks, 4 guppies. In todays guide, well take a closer look at Bala Shark diseases, their causes, and how to manage them. It's a good idea to check your other fish for signs of sickness, and check that your plants aren't rotting in the water. Make sure to opt for a heater thats rated for the size of your bala fish tank 150 gallons, per our minimum tank size recommendation. Bala sharks are popular with aquarists due to their shark-like body shapes and striking fin patterns. If you are concerned about them being stressed, check their water conditions to make sure the temperature is right and the quality is clean. Due to their large body size, its easy to assume that Bala sharks need lots and lots of food the more, the merrier. Personally, however, we prefer to go with the large tank right away. 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. Ideally, youd to it the other way around. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Observe your Bala sharks for signs of dancing, as this is an indication that they are ready to breed. from getting diseases is to keep the water as clean as possible and provide an environment where they do not experience stress, anxiety, or distress. Jeff has always enjoyed having pets, but as a child, he was drawn to his familys fish tank. Use a thermometer to measure temperature stability and test kits to check water parameters. Ensure you maintain the right temperature, hardness, and pH within the best range for balas. High-quality dried food, like flakes and pellets, should make up the bulk of the bala sharks diet. Theres no simple answer, but there are a lot of assumptions made about this behavioral tendency. Millie is a passionate aquarist who caught the fishkeeping bug in high school and has been addicted ever since. Monitor your bala sharks and water parameters regularly. Use veterinarian-approved medications or insecticides to kill parasites. Keep the bottom of the tank clear or add a breeding net to catch the eggs. Signs of stress are often seen in bala sharks when theyre not kept in the right conditions. Bala Sharks, Bala Shark, Silver Shark, Tri-Color Minnow, Sharkminnow (Balantiocheilus melanopterus), Gets along with similarly sized community fish. Blood Parrot Black Spot Disease or Stress. This species is not a true shark, but is commonly so called because of its torpedo -shaped body and large fins. A perpetual nomad, Wanda does her best to integrate fish-keeping with her lifestyle, and has taken care of fish in three different continents. This is usually caused by ich, but it can result from any other parasitic infection. Furthermore, you need to keep your water clean by removing old water and replacing it occasionally. Bala sharks can be affected by several external parasites, including anchor worms, fish lice, and flukes. Raise the water temperature to 82o F for three days. Make sure the decorations are securely placed and wont topple over if your bala shark bumps into them. If you have just 1 bala shark, its not really surprising it gets stressed, and stress can lead to other ill health issues. Look for nutritious foods that provide the vitamins, minerals, and proteins needed for these fish to grow to their full potential. Anything outside of that can cause serious health complications Bala Shark. eFishkeeping.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Finally, if you want to add a bit of color and texture to your aquarium, consider adding plastic plants, artificial rocks, and other decorations. However, a few plants, like anubias, can make them feel more at home in captivity and provide a hiding place for tired or nervous fish. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Attempting to definitively answer the question, why do bala sharks twitch, is difficult. Place a group of five bala sharks in a separate 65-gallon breeding tank with a temperature of 77F and a strong filter. I. n terms of lighting, bala sharks dont have any special requirements. In their native habitats, they are accustomed to mosquito larvae, which is a widely available protein source in the rivers of Southeast Asia. This condition causes water buildup inside the fishs body cavities, which results in belly swelling. Female bala sharks have rounder bellies than males. They also tend to stress shy or slow moving fish due to their constant vigorous activity in the tank. 1. . Many people believe that getting pet fish is an excellent decision for a novice pet owner. Bala sharks have sensitive eyes that see better in tannin-rich waters. Fully-grown bala sharks should be housed in a tank of at least 150 gallons, at least 5 feet across. However, captive Bala sharks will be just as happy with any of the previously mentioned live proteins. Theyll be perfectly content with a pH between 6.0 and 8.0 that essentially means you can do anything from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline. You might also have to ask the vet for an antibiotic to make your sick fish feel better. With 8 or more Bala Sharks and a suitable . Fully-grown bala sharks should be housed in a tank of at least 150 gallons, at least 5 feet across. Some food types can make the balas sick and stressed. 30 Gallon Tank = 1 lonely and stressed Bala shark 55 Gallon Tanks = 2 Bala sharks that could get aggressive with each other for territory 100-150 gallon Tanks = 3-6 Bala sharks . Since these fish are rare in their natural abodes, most of these fish are bought from fish farms. The fry can be fed with ciliates at first. Overfishing for the aquarium trade and forest fires in 1975 are two possible causes for the decrease in the wild population of bala sharks. It might become necessary to move some to other tanks to ensure enough room for growth and movement. This infection is usually well-defined and appears in the fishs head, body, or fins, so you can confuse it with ich. Just keep it on for a third of the day (or eight hours) and you will have very happy fish! Aquatic plants can also be added to the tank for additional oxygenation. Generally speaking, this particular behavior has been observed to last anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of minutes at a time. Replace the filter with an internal sponge filter that wont suck up the fry.Perform a 50% water change and add antibacterial solutions to the water. Treat these fish with respect and provide them with clean, well-maintained tanks this will bring out the best in their personalities! The tank itself will cost a pretty penny, but the upkeep will outweigh this upfront investment by miles. Additionally, youll want a filter that can handle a large volume of water and has a good filtration capacity. Snails are also not a good choice for Bala Sharks. 3. It is important to have good water flow during spawning so that the male fertilizing agent gets spread out farther. Bala sharks are social fish and need to be in large numbers, so therefore a big tank in needed. Overcrowding can stress balas greatly, and they might even leap out of the tank to die if their aquarium is too overcrowded. Fish with Ich have white spots on their scales and are often seen flashing (or scratching) against rough surfaces in the tank. Species such as neon tetras may be great in most community tanks, but will likely turn into a tasty snack for a hungry bala shark. We understand that a huge tank is daunting, but its also a good way to gauge if youre truly prepared to take on the task of raising these giant fish. For aesthetic purposes, you can go with a full-spectrum LED light that replicates the natural day and night cycle of their natural habitat. This is measured in dGH (degrees of general hardness) and the window youre aiming for is somewhere between 10 and 13. Top 5 Reasons You Must Know! The following reasons may be the answer to why your stressed Bala shark is losing color: . Can I get a Bala shark to go in with these. As such, some assume that twitching is a sign of nervousness. If this is seen, the fish often has a parasitic or bacterial infection and should be treated. One that seems to have developed a bright red area at the base of it's dorsal fin. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Overfishing for the aquarium trade and forest fires in 1975, Otocinclus: Oto Catfish Care Guide & Species Profile, Iridescent Shark Care Guide & Species Profile, Red Tail Shark Care Guide & Species Profile, The Clown Loach Care Guide: A Playful Bottom Dweller For Community Tanks, The Complete Guide to Rosy Red Minnows Care, What Do Goldfish Eat? For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Bala sharks can be purchased online easily, but the fish are difficult to find in small, local fish stores. Constant twitching accompanied by frantic swimming or a change in appearance could be a bad sign. By the time youre finished reading, youll know a ton about them and be able to decide if theyre a good fit for you. I see nothing in the video that would cause me to do anything but leave it alone to recover, and hopefully it will. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Tankarium is reader-supported. Heres a fun little factoid: Bala sharks are not, in fact, true sharks. It is recommended that Bala Sharks be given a good quality dry fish food like pellets or flakes as their main food source. These silver sharks are vulnerable to stress if you keep them in poor tank conditions for a long time. Female bala sharks stop growing before the males, so male bala sharks are longer than females. Unless you live in a tropical climate, you will need an aquarium heater to maintain these temperatures. How much space should you allocate to these active fish? Let the Bala Shark settle in and then add the Gouramis. At first we thought it was sand or gravel . Manage Settings It may be OK, or there may have been internal damage. White fluffy growths on the fishs body, mouth, and head. In this guide, we explore the ins and outs of Bala Shark care and everything you should know if youre thinking about adding them to your aquarium setup. And one from these pair chase other two and when other fish comes near them it chase them too. Please avoid nippy fish even if these fish dont hurt your bala sharks in any material way, their presence will serve as a constant source of stress for these gentle giants. Bala sharks become sexually mature at around six months old, or when the fish have grown to four inches long. This can come in the form of frozen fish, brine shrimp, insect larvae, and worms. Hi, I keep Guppies with my Bala Sharks. Also, the Bala Shark itself can become prone to stress if there are . Bala Sharks are very active fish species that enjoy darting around the fish tank at high speed. They might start hitting themselves against the tanks walls or swim frantically. 7. And they are happy together . We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Dont house them with aggressive or carnivorous fish like neon tetras. Choosing a small tank for your bala shark can stress them as they grow bigger and compete for food. But if you like watching bala sharks, you might notice a few things that show that your fish arent OK. In the pet store, Bala sharks are sold when they are very young and only measure one or two inches. You should notice the females becoming rounder than normal, indicating the development of eggs.Interested males and females will spawn early in the morning, lasting for a couple of hours.After the female has laid eggs along the bottom of the tank, the male will fertilize the eggs with milt.Remove all fish from the tank, including the parents, to prevent the adults from eating the fry. Does anyon know who would take him for me and give him more room to enjoy? Fish also suffer from a change in behavior due to dropsy, including a noticeable lack of appetite and reduced activity. The Bala shark does not even reach sexual maturity until it is around four inches (10 or 15 cm) in size, so Bala shark breeding can be difficult for . You should get a bala shark if you have plenty of space for at least five of these active shoaling fish. When buying a bala shark, make sure the fish has been bred in captivity, to protect the species wild populations. Clown Loaches are one of the most popular freshwater fish in the aquarium scene. Perform a 50% water change and add antibacterial solutions to the water. The longer the tank, the more space this middle-dwelling fish has to explore. While another theory is that bala sharks twitch to communicate with other fish, either to defend themselves or intimidate others. Breeding bala sharks is moderately difficult and best attempted by aquarists with fish-breeding experience. These should be avoided or closely monitored to ensure that your Bala Shark is safe with their tankmates. Come join the discussion about species,breeding, health, behavior, aquariums, adopting, care, classifieds, and more! Although not considered an aggressive fish species, Bala Sharks can eat smaller fish, especially those that are smooth and sleek, as they get bigger. The fishs ventral fins are small and colored black or gray. However, this is not absolutely necessary, and many fish owners simply leave the bottom floor area clear for better viewing. Can Twitching Be A Negative Bala Shark Behavior? No additional supplements are required as long as the fish has a balanced, diverse diet. Tankarium is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Dont house them with aggressive or carnivorous fish like neon tetras.Dont add non-fish species like shrimps and crabs to a bala shark tank, because they are known to eat crustaceans.Great tank mates for bala sharks include:Other bala sharks bala sharks are shoaling fish that should be housed in groups of at least fiveGouramisCorydorasRasborasRainbowfishDiet and FeedingIn the wild, the bala sharks diet consists of insects, small crustaceans, plant matter, algae, and larvae. Sep 25, 2011. To avoid this scenario, always have several of them as they travel together in schools when in natural environments. However, it is still possible to breed them in home aquariums. There are special nets that can be placed at the very bottom of the aquarium that makes it easier to spot signs of spawning. As these Bala Fish grow larger, they should be switched to larger sized aquariums. . Despite their size, theyre a peaceful fish that gets along very well with other species. It can be assumed that since other fish do it, its just one of those many quirks that make fish such fascinating animals. 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. Bala Shark Tank Size and Specifications . This fishs laid back and calmer temperament makes it an ideal tank mate with many other species of fish. This one is a protozoan infection caused by Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, hence the name. These fish can grow to be large, and they like being able to swim. Choosing the right tank that provides them with enough space and maintaining a healthy and suitable environment will protect your bala sharks from stress and keep them in good health. If your bala shark is unwell, it could also cause them to stress out which may activate their twitching tendencies. Typically, we like to recommend a minimum tank size of 150 gallons. They are merely named as such due to their uncanny resemblance to their namesake. Complete Guide to Feeding Your Pet Goldfish, Marine Aquarium Societies of North America, 10 Types of Freshwater Sharks & How to Care for Them, Bala shark, silver shark, tricolor shark, tricolor sharkminnow, Silver with gray or yellow and black fins, Minimum 150 gallons, plus 45 gallons for every extra fish, Yes, to provide a fast current that mimics the current in the fishs natural habitat, Pumps contribute to a fast-flowing current, but arent essential, No, additional aeration from a bubbler isnt necessary, Yes, a freshwater aquarium light should provide at least 8 hours of light per day, to encourage plant growth and provide a day-to-night cycle, Yes, to provide consistently warm waters for this tropical fish, Other bala sharks bala sharks are shoaling fish that should be housed in groups of at least five. Using a testing kit, you can monitor and adjust the water parameters to make them more suitable for your bala sharks. Good examples include clown loaches, boesemani rainbowfish, and angelfish. The water hardness is the last key piece of the puzzle when it comes to water levels. Please share it with someone who might appreciate it! Within 24 hours, larvae should appear.The fry should hatch within three days. Assuming that youve committed to raising bala sharks, you want to make sure that your tank is set up properly. 2020 - 2023 eFishkeeping. I have 2 balas and 3 Corey cats what kind of fruit and vegetables can I feed them and what plants can I put in there tank, I have a massive bala sharj i keep her in a 3ft tank she is housed with baby cichlids bristlenose plecs & male & female kribs she gets on great with them & leaves the babies alone i change water every 2 weeks & clean internal filter every week i had 4 to start with but 3 died but had her years learnt well & i have never done ph tests theres rocks boat & plastic plants along the botton plus i have 2 air supplies running & shes very happy but does not like ne in her tank as she splashes ne loads when it comes to tank clean but i must say i love her lol, I love reading the ads my bala shark is in a 3 foot tank also in there are african cichlid fry 2 kribs male female & 2 female * 1 male bristle nose plecs that breed so have pleco fry aswell * it works well.