Bala sharks, new tank

[realsaulnier]

I just picked up a 80 gal tank, The pet store sold me 4 bala sharks but it sounds like I will need to get a bigger tank. for now they are only 2in and seem happy. How fast do they grow?
Also 2 of them have started swimming stuck together and hip check each other is this normal?

Other fish in the tank are 5 dwarf gouramies, 1 red tail shark and a knife fish.
Sounds like I should have done more reading and less trusting of the pet store.
Thanks.

[Cliff]

I hate to tell you this, but you are correct when you say you will need a bigger tank for for your sharks. Below is some info on them.

http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/fish/balashark.php

Have you cycled your tank ?

[thall44]

I have a great relationship with my local fish store owner i kept 4 balas for over a year in a 50 gal when they got too big i traded. i like them a lot but they do get pretty big.

[realsaulnier]

I've only had them 3 weeks now and all the levels are ok, so no cycle as of yet.

[Cliff]

If you have fish in your tank, your tank is cycling.

There is a link in my sig to the cycling with fish thread here that you might find helpful

[realsaulnier]

if they can last a year in a 50gal tank that will give me plenty of time to get a larger tank.

[thall44]

they did for me but i got them really tiny like 1 in

[realsaulnier]

ok, i thought a cycle was cleaning the tank and changing the water. I was given a syphon tube and told to clean the bottom with it and change 20% of the water once a month.

[thall44]

cycle is the nitrogen cycle/ heathly bacteria build up by feeding on ammonia

[Cliff]

IMO, you were given less than good information. Most people change around 50% of the water once each week while cleaning at least some of the bottom of the tank while doing it.

I would suggest getting a good quality liquid test kit and following the steps in the cycling with fish thread