FW Sharks
Thanks for your quick response. When adding fish to a tank this size (90-gal.), what would you consider "slowly."
<One...then wait two weeks. Test the water. Add another etc>
I want to get a group of Bala Sharks and some compatible fish to make a community.
<No such thing as a shark with compatible fish. Please don't try this>
I know Balas get quite large eventually. How many should I add right away?
<I refuse to recommend/suggest that you buy any Bala sharks or any other species of sharks for that matter. It's a sucker purchase and the likely-hood that it will live long enough to grow large is slim to none. Why don't you "kill two birds with one stone?" 1) Save a fish's life by not buying any sharks and; 2) if you and others don't buy them, stores won't stock them. Now we're saving thousands/tens-of-thousands of sharks! I know they are cool to look at but they don't live.>
How big a group is logical to add in the near future? --Thanks,
<None, zero, zilch, nada. In Vegas there is a "Shark Reef" that has 6'+ sharks swimming around. Go check it out! Or go to Myrtle Beach South Carolina and check out the shark exhibit at the Ripley's aquarium. They have 12'+ sharks! Leave these creatures in the ocean or public aquariums. I apologize for being so blunt and repetitive but the truth isn't always pretty not is it necessarily what people want to hear. But it is the truth...none-the-less. David Dowless>
Charlie

Oops.. I made a blunder
I hope you had a good trip Bob. How was Belize?
<Unfortunately we didn't go... Our friend/roomie/travel partner Pete was too sick. So Di and I and he traded in our tickets to go to Kona next month. A good cancellation as I was able to get a bunch done here>
I wanted to tell you that I screwed up royally on a question last night. A guy wrote in and asked about stocking his tank with Bala sharks. Thinking that he was speaking of a saltwater species (that I hadn't heard of), I responded with the typical answer, "Don't buy any sharks!"...and like a fool...I rambled out my reasons. So now he's written back and I have apologized profusely and I'm feeling really stupid. I hate it when something like this slips through.
<No worries David. These happen. Apologize to the querier and go on>
I was also wondering...the response went out this morning and I would love for it not to appear within the website. I gave bad information and anyone that's in-the-know will recognize the information was incorrect. It's depressing enough that it will be on the daily facts but I really don't want to take the chance that this response would damage WWM's credibility by being permanently placed on the site.
<Not to worry re our credibility. We're human... will place a further comment from you right after>
I guess if I had finished the bio that you asked for you would know that I'm not very familiar with freshwater anything. I normally pass on these types of questions. I will finish the bio soon. Thanks for understanding that sometimes everything that can go wrong does go wrong. In the future, I'll be even MORE careful before responding to questions.
<Ahh, please do send your bio. along, with the areas you feel most comfortable with. If there is/are difficulties in queries, feel free to move them back to the in-box, or into someone elses folder>
Also...remember the New Wave CD Rom (Goemans) that you wanted me to review? I sent the review in and Susan wrote that a review had been completed by Moe and printed in October 2002! 
<What?>
Would you like to have my review for WWM's literature section?
<Yes, will post tomorrow>
I'll also tell you that Goemans and I had several enlightening and engaging discourses about this book. He seems like a great guy: very friendly, knowledgeable, loves the saltwater hobby, and willing to accept constructive criticism. He is also very impressed with WWM. I think I saved his final email. I send you a copy.
David
<Yes, have it. Bob.G is indeed a gentleman... and an actual scholar. Bob Fenner>

Bala Sharks
<Craig...would you please help this gentleman out? Thanks. David Dowless>
<Absolutely!>
90 gallon tank: I want to get a group of Bala Sharks and some compatible fish to make a community. I know Balas get quite large eventually. How many should I add right away? How big a group is logical to add in the near future? --Thanks, Charlie
<Hi Charlie, These fish can reach 14" in length and can be "aggressive".  Compared to the other minnow sharks they are relatively peaceful, but still will chase/nip on occasion so stick with fish of a similar temperament that can stand up under the pressure or that live out of the water column and are also tougher fish. The group of Balas will make any other choices more important. In a 90 you could probably accommodate 3-5 Balas (they are shoaling type fish) and perhaps a Pleco (watch size here, some can become quite large) perhaps a few Clown Loaches. Some of the larger Barbs would likely do alright as well, they are feisty and fast.  It is best to avoid overcrowding (start slow) and introduce the aggressive fish last, concurrently if small, and change decorations/set-up to throw territories off during intros.  Make sure your tank is well covered, Balas are notorious jumpers.  Best of luck, Craig>