Hi everyone!

I was just wondering if Bala sharks and Rams can be good tank mates?

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well they both are technically semi-aggressive, but bala sharks are reletavley peaceful if you keep them in good enough numbers and in good condition. what size is your tank?

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Frontosa Fanatic

Well right now we have one in our 36 gallon community tank. We made the mistake, like many others, months ago and didnt know how big of a tank they needed and everything. So we are about get a 120 gallon for him and we wanted to get 4 more :-) Ive been curious as to what else, if anything, can be kept with them? He is a very peceful fish, but the bigger he is getting, the more I think he is stressing out the other fish so we are hurrying this process along

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well the bigger they get, the more stress that is put on the community. Even though they are labeled as "Semi aggressive" they are actually really mellow fish if they are kept in big enough numbers and if the tank is big enough. but like any other fish, they will eat anything that will fit in their mouths, so thats something to consider lol and don't worry about making the mistake, I made it too *points to her one bala shark* I started out with three :/

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Frontosa Fanatic

I also started out with 3 :-( One by one they started getting smaller and smaller and died.... and they were teeny tiny when we got them. (they were all in a tank with our tetras... we thought at first it was because the serpaes were too agressive for them) When we saw what was happening, we took our one last Bala (who was a smidge bigger then the other two) out and put him into our 36 gallon where he has grown into a lovely one. But the last two weeks or so we noticed his behavior becoming more, not mean, but just agressive because he needs a bigger tank. He doesnt go after any of the other fish at all, but the other fish are acting funny and kind of timid. Up until now everyone got along GREAT!

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The 3 Balas were orginially in our 29 gallon. Now that tank has all tetras.. serpaes, silvertips, and bleeding hearts. All of which seem semi agressive and chase each other 24/7. Definitely wasnt a good environment for Balas

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yeah my first and second balas went because of ammo poisoning, yesterday my last one was acting weird, so I put him in my 20 gal in solitary, he's been eaten on a little by the tiger barbs, but he looks a lot better today apparently bala sharks are hard to take care of because my father was the only person that I know that was able to successfully raise them :/ they must have weak immune systems.
Anyway, just get him in a bigger tank and I'm sure he(and every one else) will be right as rain and GBRs shouldn't provide a problem as long as you don't have too many of them.

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Frontosa Fanatic

Never had an aggression problem with Balas or the pair of Rams I have. Like everyone else has said the Balas really are very, very mellow and the Rams tend to do their own thing. You should be fine.

That's good to know. The rams I always see look peaceful and they're pretty. Always wondered what they could live with.
Thanks for your guys advice!

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I did ask our pet shop if its possible that Sharkey, our Bala, is stressing or hurting our other fish which are Platys. Past two days they've had all their fins clamped and.aren't.swimming which has never happened before. That's why I think I though it was sharkeys fault. Apparently its not. But he's still getting a big tank and I.can't wait

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Check your water quality, thats one of the most common things that can cause fish to clamp their fins.

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Frontosa Fanatic