Aquarium fish Shark Balu

An eye-catching and dynamic addition to any aquarium is the Shark Balu. This fish is distinguished in the aquatic realm by its lively demeanor and unusual look. A dynamic touch to your tank, the Shark Balu draws attention with its sleek body and vivid colors.

The Bala Shark, also known as the Shark Balu, is believed to have originated in the rivers of Southeast Asia. It’s not a real shark, despite the name; rather, it’s a kind of fish with similar characteristics. Because of its easy maintenance requirements and playful nature, it is a popular choice among aquarium enthusiasts.

It’s crucial to give a Shark Balu enough room to swim around in when providing for it. These fish like a large tank with lots of swimming space because they can get pretty big. Because they are social animals that do best in groups, you should think about owning multiple of them to ensure their happiness and well-being.

All things considered, the Shark Balu is an excellent option for anyone wishing to fill their aquarium with a vibrant and eye-catching fish. It is a favorite of both novice and expert fish keepers due to its lively behavior and appealing appearance.

Features of maintenance

The maintenance of the fish will require a fairly large tank because they are large fish that live in schools of at least five. The strongest members of small schools may start acting aggressively toward other aquarium residents, which creates a tense environment.

Since fish enjoy large spaces, the container needs to be wide as well. Fish in small aquariums will not grow and develop normally, and they run a higher risk of contracting illnesses that could kill them. Although maintaining Balu does not come with any particular stringent requirements, it is still advisable to follow these fundamental guidelines:

1. Although they are unpretentious, they need good aeration and filtration. It is imperative to change a quarter of the entire volume of the tank weekly. Balu shark loves clean water, well saturated with oxygen.
2. You cannot do without a top cover with these fish because of their jumping ability.
3. Although they love live vegetation, at the same time, crowding will prevent the fish from frolicking. Density should be avoided.
4. They do not need special shelters: only a few stones, snags along the walls. It is better to do without plants with soft, delicate leaves, which the fish can damage, and give preference to those with hard leaves (clinum, anubias, moss, elodea).
5. If you choose only artificial decorations, you will need to provide a phytofilter to purify the water from phosphorus, nitrogen and enrich the container with oxygen.
6. It is better to have high-power filters that create the effect of strong natural currents.
7. The nature of the substrate is not so important here, since the fish do not touch it when searching for food; but they will look better aesthetically on a dark background.
8. They do not like too bright light, it is enough to recreate soft “natural” lighting.

The shark balu indicates that it is malnourished if it starts digging for food in the ground.

They can live for ten or twelve years if they receive the right care and upkeep.

What you need to know about the behavior of balu?

Because sharks are not at all suited to being kept in a closed container, all shark barbs are obtained and distributed from their natural habitat. It takes them several weeks to get used to the new environment before they stop "beating" against the aquarium walls and become unafraid of loud noises or sudden movements.

They will be under a lot of stress during the first month as they attempt to deplete themselves. Thus, there should be no stress during their initial feeding.

Feeding features

A notable characteristic shared by nearly all carp is their voracious appetite, bordering on gluttony as they are in a state of constant food search. However, because of their weak stomach, it is not advised to give them bloodworms that contain chitins, which can lead to digestive disorders and are difficult for them to digest. Balu cannot grow to their full potential if appropriate—and most importantly, balanced—nutrition is not maintained.

Live food has the potential to infect fish with a variety of parasites or infections.

This kind of fish enjoys sifting through the aquarium’s thickness to find food. Feeding so that the pieces sink to the bottom sufficiently slowly is more convenient. Dry food is of excellent quality, helps fish build their immunity, and is convenient to use and store. However, you should tightly seal the package after using it to prevent microbiological contamination.

Just enough food should be provided so that the fish can finish it in two or three minutes and the leftovers don’t sink to the bottom of the aquarium.

Nuances in reproduction

Fish rarely and reluctantly reproduce in aquarium settings. This is a costly, time-consuming procedure that frequently fails without specialized hormone injections. First of all, the fish takes four years to reach sexual maturity. Secondly, you will require a specialized spawning tank that is at least two meters long and has a fairly large capacity (minimum 1200 l) where two mature males and one mature female are kept.

Create a thick layer of moss or mesh on the bottom of the spawning tank, and make the water there softer but colder than in the main aquarium (you’ll need to raise the temperature). Feeding the males high-protein animal food and the females rich plant food is advised.

One individual produces ten thousand eggs during the spawning process. After that, the fish must be replanted. It is advised to add methylene blue (or another antifungal medication) at this point to prevent fungal infections. Charcoal is used on the third day to eliminate the methylene blue. Fry should appear in two days, and within three days they will be swimming in a school and happily consuming live dust. Not every aquarist has the courage to handle such intricate breeding and ongoing maintenance. Numerous acknowledge that purchasing them specifically is far less expensive.

About compatibility with other fish

Although they can be abrasive, shark balas are thought to be peaceful by nature. The spawning season is an exception. Fish compatibility is primarily influenced by size.

The table illustrates how viviparous fish or fish species that are too small can easily be consumed by larger fish. Furthermore, continuous stress will have a detrimental effect on the health and lifespan of the shark bala, even if it can handle larger fish.

However, fish of the same size can coexist peacefully for a very long time. Perhaps aggressive cichlid species that can "drive" them to death are the exception. And restless, hyperactive bala will just aggravate phlegmatic angelfish.

Difference between male and female

It is simply impossible to tell them apart when the fish is younger; differences don’t show up until the fish is 14 cm long, or nearly four years after birth. Males appear larger than females and become much more cocky, while the female’s abdomen becomes rounder. The majority of those who care for them think that bala lacks sexual dimorphism.

There’s a sort of dance between them right before they spawn.

The Shark Balu, sometimes referred to as the Bala Shark, is a fascinating addition to any home aquarium because of its eye-catching look and energetic swimming style. The Shark Balu, with its large size and gregarious personality, makes it a great addition to larger tanks. It also prefers settings where it can socialize with other fish. A healthy and balanced aquarium ecosystem depends on having a thorough understanding of its unique care needs and habitat requirements.

Possible diseases

Although shark barbs are justifiably regarded as resilient fish species possessing robust immunity, it is nevertheless important to follow fundamental guidelines when maintaining and tending to them. If not, the following illnesses could manifest:

1. Ichthyophthirius (another name is "manna disease"). The disease is characterized by white grains all over the body, fins. The culprit is live food (infusoria) or insufficiently disinfected plants, soil. The cause may also be severe stress or poor care (overcrowded, cramped aquarium). Treatment consists of treatment with salt, iodine solution, malachite green or the use of special medications (antipar).
2. Aeromonosis, which is typical for all carp. The causative agent of the disease is a gram-negative rod, which can get into your tank with sick fish or through inventory, equipment. The fish"s body becomes inflamed, hemorrhages appear, the scales become ruffled, and exophthalmos and dropsy may even begin. At the initial stages of the disease, you can treat sick fish with a saline solution (5-6 grams per liter of water), and at later stages you cannot do without the use of drugs such as chloramphenicol, synthomycin, methylene blue.
3. Poisoning, which is often provoked by a high content of ammonia. In this case, the fish are mostly in the upper layers of the tank, "greedily" swallowing air. Exophthalmos may appear. To improve the well-being of pets, it is necessary to urgently improve the quality of water.
4. Obesity. Since the shark bala is very voracious, it can eat large volumes of poured food, even die from gluttony.
5. Hypoxia. Caused by insufficient oxygen content in the water. The problem is solved by improving aeration in the aquarium.

To sum up, the Shark Balu, sometimes referred to as the Bala Shark, is an interesting addition to a lot of home aquariums. This fish can give your tank a hint of exotica with its sleek, silver body and lively swimming style. It’s crucial to keep in mind, though, that the Shark Balu is a large fish that needs plenty of room to flourish. This enthusiastic swimmer needs a sizable tank with a powerful filtration system to stay content and healthy.

Because of their reputation for calmness, these fish make excellent companions for other animals. However, because they can grow to be fairly large, careful planning is required when creating their habitat. It will help to replicate their natural habitat and lessen stress if you give them lots of swimming space and hiding places.

For committed aquarium enthusiasts, owning a Shark Balu can be a fulfilling experience overall. You can relish the vibrant presence of this gorgeous fish in your aquarium by being aware of their needs and keeping the appropriate conditions in place. Therefore, the Shark Balu might be a great addition to your aquatic world if you have the room and the time.

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