I have had 2 bala sharks for about two weeks now and they have seemed very happy. I just added 2 silver dollars this Sunday, and ever since then one of my balas have been acting weird. One of the bala sharks keeps putting his nose up against the glass and swimming up and down. (Like he is trying to escape) Is this happeneing because new fish are in his area? The weird thing is though, the two groups of fish barely even notice each other in the tank. I just do not know why one of the balas are freaking out and the other is not? And why is he doing that? Please help.
2007-09-18 15:24:10 · 6 answers · asked by Justin 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
It is a 46 gallon tank. I just did a 10% water change on Sunday. How do you check the nitrates? And what should it be at?
2007-09-18 15:46:26 · update #1
My bala sharks did the same thing when I got two angel fish and 2 silver dollars. I think it is a territorial thing, they are trying to show their dominance over the sliver dollars, to this day, the bala sharks still pushes the "big" silver dollars at feeding time. It's a mini shark remember? They are very smart too, they are developing an ecosystem in the tank and fighting or dominance over each other, it's very normal. Strange, I know, but normal.
2007-09-18 19:46:02 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is normal. It's just how they act. I have 2 bala sharks and 3 silver dollars in a 150 gal. tank and they all hang out together on the same side of the tank. I just recently transfered them all from a 55 gal. tank and they did wonderful in there also. I have had all these fish for about 2 years together and never have had a problem. My sharks do the same things yours are doing. Although they are just about always shy when someone is near the tank, they are a pretty cool group.
2007-09-18 15:54:19 · answer #2 · answered by jamiesm2481 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't say what size tank you have these fish in, and you may just be correct in what you think your fish is trying to do. Chances are your balas are small right now - they'll get around 14 inches and are very active fish. They will need a lot of swimming space (the link I posted below says 70 gallons, but I would say these should be in at least a 125 gallon as adults). They might have felt okay as long as it was just the two of them, but with the addition of two new fish (that get in their way), your tank is getting "smaller" to them.
2007-09-18 15:45:31 · answer #3 · answered by copperhead 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Theyre not freaking out. Mine do that all the time too. They just see thir reflection in the glass and think its another fish. I used to think the same too that they needed a water change and i would test the water and it was alright. And dont worry if they dont notice each other, they do, its just that Bala sharks are very peaceful and dont attack unless provoked alot. Hope this helps
ps theyre going to need a bigger tank if you dont already have one. If their tank is too small you could stunt them and eventually kill them. Anything smaller than 100 gallons is not suitable.
2007-09-18 15:48:02 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Lil' Misfortune is right on the money. It is normal behavior. Your Bala Shark is trying to be social with it's reflection.
2007-09-18 16:07:34 · answer #5 · answered by Dustinius 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
IT SOUNDS LIKE YOUR NITRATES ARE HIGH. WHAT SIZE TANK IS IT? DO YOU DO PARTIAL WATER CHANGES? WHEN ADDING OTHER FISH, IT CAN INCREASE THE NITRATES IN THE WATER.SHARKS ARE SENSITIVE TO WATER CONDITIONS. THEY TEND TO BE MORE OF A FRAGILE FISH. ALSO, THEY ALSO ARE AN AGGRESSIVE FISH.
2007-09-18 15:40:33 · answer #6 · answered by weenie 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋