Question:How many gallons does one need? I've read at petsmart that they only need 30 gallons and then I read on liveaquaria.com that they need a minimum of 70 gallons! Which one should I trust. I know the rule "1 gallon for every inch of fish", but that's just thrown out there all the time and its not a very good rule to use unless talking about small fish. You wouldn't put a 10 inch fish in a 10 gallon tank now would you?? Thanks to all that answer!
Answers:
Funny someone should ask about bala shark requirements. I just took in a large one tonight. It's not fully grown, but easily handles being in the tank with an adult Oscar. I'll put it in perspective, I felt really bad about having to house him in a 55 gallon, but it's the only space I have at the moment. These guys like to school, I wouldn't put a group of them in anything less than a 125 - 135 gallon.
I can send you a pic of a near adult bala in a 55 gallon if you want to see what you would be getting into buying one. Just email me if you want the pic.
MM
They get about 12-14 inches each. One would be ok in a 30 gallon (which is why that is stated at Petsmart), but they are schooling, so you would be better off with a larger aquarium as you need three or more for them to thrive. I usually don't recommend them for anything smaller than a 55 gallon.
Balas can reach 14" in length and will be dwarfed in a 70 gallon. They really need a 6' or 8' tank to thrive.
trust the petsmart suggestion.liveaquaria.com exaggerates that all the time.
The rule of one inch per gallon wouldn't apply here anyway, because of the bala's behavior. They're a schooling fish, which others here have already mentioned, but they're also very active swimmers. Putting a bala in a 30 gallon tank would be like expecting a group of greyhounds to race across your living room - they tend to run into the walls a lot.
Small tanks are good for small or slow-swimming fish, but active fish like balas need some extra room to move.
well they get 14 in and are schooling fish soooooo
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