Is my Bala Shark ok?

Question

I got a bala shark today from petsmart. In the tank he looked ok and was swimming around. I set his bag in the water for about 15 min, then put him in. Along with a dinosaur bichir, a dwarf puffer, and 3 ghost shrimp. This is the first time my awuarium has been inhabited. The other fish seem ok, but the shark is sitting on the bottom with his fins and tail just kinda twitching. Is this normal? Is he ok? If not, what could be causing it? Is it a water problem or is he just sick? Can i be fixed?

Please help!

Well the shark is at least an inch longer and almost twice as wide, so I'm not really worried about his getting eaten.
Thanks for your input.

Answer 1

Since you just put these in the tank, I wouldn't expect the behavior to be caused by water quality issues, at least not yet. I hope you realize how big bichirs and bala sharks get, and that your tank is around 70-90 gallons (or that you plan to get one to put them in by the time they're adults).

The immediate problem with the bala is that he's the only one of his kind. Balas should be kept in a school of 3 or more.

Your puffer is fine in a freshwater tank since he's a dwarf. This is a true freshwater species, unlike green spotted or figure eight puffers. But these tend to be territorial and will nip the fins of the other fish. They also like a planted tank with lots of hiding places. Puffers are also sensitive to ammonia and nitrites in the tank, so the a for them should be cycled beforehand.

The bichir (a predator) will eventually try to take a bite out of (or swallow) your puffer. They should be kept with fish their own size or larger.

Answer 2

You don't give enough information for me to make a clear diagnosis here, but here are likely culprits.

A) Water parameters to different (pH, hardness, etc)
B) Fish was sick before hand and symptoms hit in different water
C) Temperature not right
D) To much stress and moving in one day
E) Tank not cycled properly, water toxic.
F) You put a schooling fish by itself. Often causes odd behaviour or death.

I'm wondering what kind of tank you have, because you don't have suitable tankmates here.

Puffers are better in brackish water. Puffers, Bichirs and Balas eat ghost shrimp. Bichirs are very aggressive for the other two. Puffers and Bichirs a better with a sandy bottom, Balas are not. Bala's and Bichirs need big tanks, Puffers do not. Balas need long cruising space. Bichirs a better with roots and rocks for cover.

As well, just because the Bala is bigger than the Bichir now, it won't stay that way for very long. As well, that doesn't stop the Bichir from harassing or nibbling on its peaceful tank maktes.

Answer 3

It's probably due to a pH or temperature shock, the former having the higher probability.

I think you could let him be and observe for the moment because I doubt you can do anything to help unless you have retain the water which he came in with.

If you do indeed have the water which the shark came with, you can try to put him back into the bag and slowly add the tank water into the bag alittle at a time ( over a few hours , the longer the better ) untill the pH and temp of the bag water sync with the tank's water. That would reduce any shock due to pH.

Answer 4

he will be ok from this but odds are within a week teh bichir will have eaten it, make sure u keeep an eye on the bichir cuz they easily escape the tank






go on wikepidia anything that is below 3 inchews will be eaten i reseached teh same bichar before i bought mine p.s they are tyrants i would not have gotton it