29 Gallon to small for 3 Balas?

[legoms013]

I was hoping to keep 3 balas in my rectangular 29 gallon tank but is this to small?

How big do they eventually get?

Thanks

[Drumachine09]

WAY too small. I have seen them at a foot long, but i have heard of them getting 18"+. For one, you would need 100+ gallons for it to survive comfortably.

[Rue]

They grow 13-16" and need a huge tank...at least 5-6' long...even a 4' tank is too small...they have no room...and I don't know that I'd have more than one unless I had 180g or more...

[legoms013]

Wow guess the're outta the question then.

What about tinfoil barbs???

[troy]

Tinfoils barbs get a foot long and are schooling, so no. Also they eat any plant that you put into the tank.

[legoms013]

Crud then what do you recommend I start out with?

I don't really like all those tiny little tetra type fish......I kinda wanted something at least 2".

[Rue]

If you want aggressve...a school of tiger barbs would do very well in there...

[legoms013]

A school meaning more than say 4 tigar barbs?

[Rue]

Yes...tiger barbs are best housed in schools of six...much like any other schooling fish...

...in a school, they're also less likely to be aggressive with other fish...

...in a 29 g, though, you can have your 6 barbs, and a school of 6 cories quite easily...but not too much more...

However, sometimes NOT having a hodge-podge of too many species makes for a nicer looking tank...

[legoms013]

So maybe I should get (not all at once) 6 tigar barbs and another school of midsize fish..........and what do you think about a algae eater after I get algae?

[zqia014]

Personally for a tank of your size I would go with a planted community setup with tetras and other peaceful, but since you don't like tetras you could have the species suggested above in a semi-aggressive community tank.

6 tiger barbs, some swordtails (maybe?, I've read they can defend themselves well), 2 bristlenose catfish and a few corys.

But as you can see that's not that many fish, most semi-aggressive fish or slightly larger fish need a very big tank for them to exist together in big numbers.

[zqia014]

The brisltenose catfish eat algae by the way, they usually do a very good job of it.

[Lady Hobbs]

If you don't care for the other tetra's, how do you feel about cardinal or neon's or don't you care for them either? If you aren't opposed to those, you could have a bunch of those, dwarf gourami's and swordtails or even platies. You'd have lots of color.

[genitor]

You can get gouramis, the pearls are real pretty and they are about 4 inches.
Rosy barbs are really colourful too and are about 3 inches

[roulfi004]

If you dont want tiny fish, here are a few suggestions of active and fun to watch fish (gouramis are pretty but really no fun at all)

- Corydoras (4+)
- Plecos (1)
- Danios (try the red glowing ones)
- Serpae Tetras (6+) (not at all like the Neon Tetras)
- Gouramis (1-2) they only have the looks and not the moves

- Like many said, Tiger Barbs are a good choice of schooling fish (6+)
- Rozy barbs (2-5) (can get up to 5 inches though, 2 will live happily although its better to have more, but really active and hardy fish)
(careful, with these 2 Barbs you canot put "long finned" and "slow" fish, because they are fin nippers)

- Any type of Dwarf Cichlid (really beautiful fish) such as Rams and maybe Electric yellow

...i really never liked swordtails. Look for compatibility issues first! and good luck!

By the way, most Bala Sharks in small (20-30gal) aquariums do not grow more than 6-8 inches. So in theory you can put 3 in there if your filters are powerful. But it doesnt mean it's the Optimal size. Bala sharks are fast swimmers and prefer long tanks. This will also limit your number of fish in that aquarium. Also if they do outgrow your tank, you will have to replace them :(

[dev]

I don't think a hard water fish like swordtails have anything to do in a tank with all these nice soft water fish. While none of these are very sensitive they will be happiest in pH 6.0 - 6.8 and <5 dGH where as the swordtails will want a pH of 7.5 - 8.0 and 10-20 dGH.

[gm72]

By the way, most Bala Sharks in small (20-30gal) aquariums do not grow more than 6-8 inches. So in theory you can put 3 in there if your filters are powerful. But it doesnt mean it's the Optimal size. Bala sharks are fast swimmers and prefer long tanks. This will also limit your number of fish in that aquarium. Also if they do outgrow your tank, you will have to replace them :(

Terrible suggestion to go with balas in that small of a tank even with the "ifs" and "buts" of the paragraph.

First of all, the fish growth is stunted, meaning that they are not in good condition. They are, by nature's rules, meant to grow larger than 8".

Secondly, to keep 3 8" fish in a small 20-30 gallon tank will equate to very unhappy fish that will not prosper. 3 8" fish in a tank that is only 3 feet long? Let's get 2 of your friends of average height and put them in a room that is only about 4x your height. Now, live there. Forever. Never get to leave.

This is exactly the kind of information that can be very misleading for the new aquarist. Some newbies will only hear the positives and will tend to filter out (pun intended) the negatives. It usually is quite the opposite to what we as adults experience with medical advice. Example: Doctor says to you "you have cancer, but we can cure it." Guaranteed all you heard was "you have cancer.

"In theory" you can't put 3 balas in a tank that size.

Instead, let's say this--you can start out with 3 balas in a 30 gallon to grow them out, but you will HAVE to upgrade your tank size to at least 180 gallons relatively quickly.

roulfi, not trying to be harsh, but rather mean to point out how easily information can be misconstrued and/or misused.

[YaYgoldFish]

Tinfoils barbs get a foot long and are schooling, so no. Also they eat any plant that you put into the tank.


actually my tinfoils have never tried ripping plants out.

[gm72]

Here we go again with misinformation. This is getting ridiculous. Good job, P. I have tinfoils too and they are non-destructive.

[genitor]

I had tinfoils and they ate my vals. That's the only plant i ever tried them with though.

[roulfi004]

roulfi, not trying to be harsh, but rather mean to point out how easily information can be misconstrued and/or misused.

Do you pretend to know what "happy fish" means? Some people try to copy nature 100%. Others do something very different. Both with great success.

The thing about fishkeeping according to some experts i talked to is to keep your fish healthy. The "Theory" states that healthy fish = happy fish. Since "happyness" is mostly a human thing.

You are likely to keep 3 healthy young Balas for quite some time in a 29 gallon, until/if they outgrow their tank e.g. cross the 6-8in barrier depending on the length of you 29 gallon tank.

29 gallons can be from 0.9 to 1.3 meters depending on the height and depth of the tank, vs 6-8inches (around 15-20 cm) max allowed length of the fish (not that this is optimal, but 15cm is manageable, and an indicator to change the tank)

I did state clearly that if they outgrow the tank you have to relocate them

My point is this:
Why not get 3 young balas (if these are the fish you like and want) if after a few years they would outgrow the tank? why not get them now, if he cant afford/have space for a bigger tank, then when they are ready, move them to a bigger tank. After a few years, most aquarists will try to move to large (55gal+) tanks.

Dont say "NO dont get balas" so fast. Being flexible will have a win-win situation for the fish and the owner most of the times.

I dont think what i said was misleading, but... Give the guy some hope!

[crackatinny]

I have 2 Balas that started in a 120L 2.5ft tank, which is approx 32USG, I have to agree on them outgrowing this size tank very quickly, it took ours only a few months, and they was only tiny when we got them, and in this short time grew to 5 inches, apart from there size, it was there activity, they are very skittish fast movers.

Dont be disheartened, there are smaller types of shark, a red tail for example.
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[gm72]

Do you pretend to know what "happy fish" means? Some people try to copy nature 100%. Others do something very different. Both with great success.

I don't pretend to know what happy fish means, I know what happy fish are. Their behavior is radically different from other fish in different situation. Have you never seen a betta in one of those horrible cups? Fins down, little movement, at the bottom just lying there. Put that same fish in even a 1 gallon tank and you will see increased color, increased interest in the surroundings, better eating habits, etc. Same goes for fish with low compatibility tankmates. It has something to do with decor, yes, but also any other variables as well.

Your comment about me "pretending to know" is not appreciated. Fish behavior is an objectively measurable and observable situation.

[Lady Hobbs]

Another problem is they are very, very fast swimmers and disrupt those that don't want to move as fast or hang out in the center of the tank. I had 3 balas and loved them. But they were also in a 29 gallon and would slam into decorations, wood and the walls continuously injuring their mouths.

Altho they were small, and they "fit", that tank was too little for them. Balas should be in groups anyway and they need room to swim at the speeds they like. Mine were 5 inches at less than a year.

[gm72]

The speed at which they swim is also a great point, Lady. Good idea there.

[NWMountainTroll]

Get a few silver dollars. They are an interesting, larger fish that I do not believe would outgrow a 30 gallon. Or you could go the cichlid route and get a pair of firemouths, which are a beautiful fish.

[roulfi004]

"How difficult it is to swim against the current"

Yea i did in my original post point out that they are fast fish that need long tanks.

Sorry about that. No disrespect meant by the "pretend to know", just a way of thinking that i use for differenciating, when fishkeepers hit everything with "will not be happy" issue, when the fish can be really healthy. Fish like bettas in a cup are not going to be healthy for long.

Ive had young balas in a small aquarium, they reached around 5 inches in 6 months. I didnt have any problem with them, none got hurt, and if you are careful with water changes and cleaning, they will not be as skittish as silver dollars.

I love balas. i think they are underrated fish. They are hardy, very beautiful and attractive because of their shark-like looks. They are also extremely peaceful and their swimming is very elegant. ...They do make "clicking" noises when they eat the sinking algae flakes food, when they hit it with their mouths to break it.

By the way, silver dollars are even more skittish than bala sharks. They are not as beautiful imo. Really hardy tho.


Not to steal the thread, I suggest for a 29gallon tank to consider the Tetra Family (not neons), or the dwarf cichlids, or the Corydoras.

Try to get some fish that dwell at the bottom, others in the middle, and a few mid-top dwellers if possible, you will get a nice display. Also, I always find the best display to have at least 1 type of shooling fish in an aquarium. the larger the school, the better the display.