Bala shark with labs?

[FishFreak]

Hi, my cousing has a bala shark in a 5 gallon tank *if you can even call it that?* Anyways its way to big for it but he wont trade it to a petstore so I convinced him to give it to me. Ive heard of people putting bala sharks with other mbuna but what about the differ in the pH levels and stuff? Any ideas?
Thanks :drink:

[rsabatini]

bala sharks are very active and alert fish(also very fast).Mbuna will have a hard time catching them,on the other hand the bala shark also will max out at 14 inches in length if the space and proper diet is given,as for the ph issue I have american cichlids in with several species of Mbuna and I keep my PH between 7.2-7.4,Bala sharks PH range is about the same as for most species of american cichlids 6.5-7.0,alittle harder should'nt hurt anything,all my cichlids are thriving.hope this helps,take care.

[FishFreak]

The bala shark is a little bigger than my fish, so he would be safe from the other fish. If and when he becomes a huge monster I would find another good home for him...but my pH is around 8.3-8.4 so I dont know how that would work out.

[ReesaPie]

When I worked at a LFS out area tap water was about 8.2 so all the fish had to be in harder water, But they did fine, I think it's more of an acclimation thing then anything else. see if you can test the ph of your friends tank... I bet it isn't 7.0 :)


:edit:
ph STABLITY is more important then the actual value when you're in the 6.6- 8.4 range or so

[FishFreak]

My cousin lives near me so his water should be just like mine. pH is 8.3+ out of the faucet. Didnt think of that...duh lol. Thanks

[rsabatini]

IMO 8.2 might be alittle to hard for the bala who thrives in slightly acidic water,good luck though.

[FishFreak]

Yeah thats what Im thinking. Im not gonna take the bala shark I guess. Ill make him trade it in or something.