Inherited 29 gallon tank and a bala shark

[verucaproduce]

Eek. What a way to spend a Sunday.

I learned yesterday that my father's friend wanted to get rid of his 29 gallon tank. It came with the works, so I said 'what the heck...it is FREE!'. Also included was one fish. Exciting stuff, right?!?!

So anyway, this morning I moved my tiny 5.5 gallon into my bedroom whilst I was doing my weekly water changes. Just in preparation because I had no idea when I was going to get my new tank. I told them not to spring anything on me, as I didn't know what kind of gravel was in the tank, I didn't want to let the existing filter go dry...etc...etc...

Then at 4:30 today I get a call from my parents that the tank was at their house because Dad's friend took it upon himself to empty it. And here is the 'good' part.

He had a 4 inch bala shark in one of those snack ziploc baggies. You know the ones that are half the size of a regular sandwich bag? My father had attempted to rescue the poor creature by putting into a larger plastic container, added some declor to the water. I also had him put the filter into some tank water and seal it in a bag until I got there.

So now my new tank is in the basement at my parent's soaking in white vinegar. (Let's just say it is amazing that you could see the fish through the glass).

And I have a bala shark in a very large plasic container, rigged up with old filter media hanging in a stocking, heater and a bubble wand just to move the water around a bit.

But I am thinking, what the heck am I going to do with a shark? Don't they get to be 12" or so?!?!? And will he make it with the current set up until the tank is cleaned, delivered and leveled?

Ahhhh....the stress of MTS. :?

 

[KaiserFish]

A small bala shark may be happy for a bit in a 29 gallon, but they do prefer to be in groups to bring out more natural behaviour and be a bit calmer. They also like a long tank that gives them lots of swimming room/length.

 

[JohnPaul]

I agree, bala in a 29 gal is only a short-term solution. Long term, it seems you have 3 options:

1. get a bigger (much bigger) tank for the bala, and some bala friends for him
2. find a lfs that will buy him from you, or at the very least, take him off your hands for free
3. find a good home for him, maybe contact a local aquarium society to see if anyone there would be able to take him and give him the proper care

Please let us know how it turns out!

 

[Fishyfanatic]

The bala will indeed get large. It takes quite a while for them to get to their full size, but being in that small of a tank will be hard on him. I agree with JohnPaul, take him to a lfs and see if they will buy him from you or trade in for another fish of your preference. Some places won't buy back (we've found 1 out of 9) but if you are in good with an employee or manager, you can trade.

 

[verucaproduce]

At this point, I would be happy if someone who would give him a good home would take him.

I live in an apartment on the second floor, so I am afraid that the 29 is as big as I am going to go. I will try to check with the LPS to see if they will take him, but from the looks of things there sometimes, he might be better off in the 29 until I can find a different place or someone to take him.

I am just hoping that he makes it long enough for me to figure out what I am going to do. He really is a beautiful fish.

 

[Fishyfanatic]

Even though you live in a second floor apt, you shouldn't have any problems upgrading to a larger tank. My brother has a 75 gal on the second floor and has never had any problems. It just needs to be against a wall, and as long as the building is up to code, it shouldn't be a problem. I have heard that a 75 gal tank has less lbs per square inch than a refrigerator because of the disbursment of the weight.

 

[verucaproduce]

The 'problem' is more of my landlord freaking out when she sees a big tank going into the apartment. Oh. That and the fact that there wouldn't be room for the tv. The bf wouldn't like that much.

 

[Fishyfanatic]

HAHA. You think getting rid of the tv is bad, we lost a cabinet, book shelf, end tables, coffe table, and now possibly the kitchen table and chairs to be able to fit our tanks into the loft that we rent. It's funny that we started out with so much furnature but now are down to the couch and tv. We don't mind it, at least we have the fishies. I don't now how we would do without the tv though. You'd be suprised at what you can cram into rubbermaid boxes when you get rid of furnature.

 

[verucaproduce]

I guess you don't have 'grandma; over for Thanksgiving dinner. She would have to sit on a bean bag chair next to one of the tanks. lol

That sounds like a really cool loft though. 8)

 

[Fishyfanatic]

HAHA, my grandma would never come to my apt, it's an hour and a half from her condo and she doesn't venture out more than 10 miles unless it's to go to the casino. I guess you could say its a hobby that has consumed my life.

 

[verucaproduce]

she doesn't venture out more than 10 miles unless it's to go to the casino

That sounds like my mom! lol