Bala shark care
Balantiocheilos melanopterus · Borneo, Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula
Bala sharks are sold small but grow to about a foot and live in groups, so they need a 125 gallon or larger tank as adults.
- Tank size
- 125 US gal or larger
- Temperature
- 72 to 82 °F (22 to 28 °C)
- Group size
- 5 or more
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Adult size
- 14 in
- pH
- 6 to 8
- Hardness (GH)
- 5 to 15 dGH
- Lifespan
- 8 to 10 years
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Care level
- Moderate
In a 125 gallon
72½ × 18½ × 23⅛ in outsideHow to keep bala sharks
Bala sharks are sold small but grow to about a foot and live in groups, so they need a 125 gallon or larger tank as adults. They are peaceful, fast swimmers and jumpers.
Diet: Omnivore: pellets, flakes, frozen foods, vegetables. Fish food types compared · how often to feed.
Where they swim: Middle of the tank.
Bala shark tank mates
Share the temperature and water, and neither side eats, nips or bullies the other. Check the full group in the stocking checker.
Senegal bichir
14 in · 75+ gal · 75–84 °F
Ropefish
15 in · 55+ gal · 75–82 °F
Clown loach
12 in · 125+ gal · 77–86 °F
Peacock eel
12 in · 55+ gal · 73–82 °F
Featherfin squeaker
11.8 in · 75+ gal · 72–79 °F
Royal pleco
17 in · 125+ gal · 72–82 °F
Chinese algae eater
11 in · 75+ gal · 72–82 °F
Common pleco
18 in · 125+ gal · 72–82 °F
Keep apart
Cardinal tetra: Adult bala sharks eat fish under about 1.5 in; cardinal tetras grow to 1.2 in.
Green neon tetra: Adult bala sharks eat fish under about 1.5 in; green neon tetras grow to 1 in.
Ember tetra: Adult bala sharks eat fish under about 1.5 in; ember tetras grow to 1.2 in.
Chili rasbora: Adult bala sharks eat fish under about 1.5 in; chili rasboras grow to 0.8 in.
Celestial pearl danio: Adult bala sharks eat fish under about 1.5 in; celestial pearl danios grow to 1 in.
Oscar: Oscars are aggressive towards peaceful fish such as bala sharks.
What a bala shark tank needs
A tank of 125 US gallons or more (such as the 125 gallon) with a tight lid (they jump), and the equipment below.
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Aqueon QuietFlow Canister Filter 400
Rated by the maker for 100–150 US gal, which covers a 125 gallon bala shark tank without being built for a far bigger one.
EHEIM professionel 4+ 600 (2275)
Rated by the maker for 63–158 US gal, which covers a 125 gallon bala shark tank without being built for a far bigger one.
EHEIM thermocontrol 250
Bala sharks need 72 to 82 °F; most homes run cooler, so a heater holds the temperature. Aqueon’s chart gives two 200 W heaters for a 125 gallon tank, and a second heater is worth having here: if one fails, the other keeps the water from going cold. Two Aqueon Pro 200 heaters, each rated by Aqueon for up to 75 gallons, make that pair. Heating a big tank.
API Freshwater Master Test Kit
Tests ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH, the readings that matter most before and after adding bala sharks.
Seachem Prime 100 mL
Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water at every water change.
Fluval Edge Thermometer
Shows the water temperature at a glance, so you know it stays within 72 to 82 °F.
We don’t list fish food: any good brand of the foods under Diet will do. Plan the whole tank's equipment →
Common bala shark problems
- Outgrowing the tank is the usual problem; plan the adult tank first.
Test the water first whenever fish look unwell: see what your readings mean, then match the symptom. For disease, a vet who treats fish can diagnose it and advise treatment.
More to compare
Sources
Name, origin and adult size checked against Wikipedia: Balantiocheilos melanopterus. Temperature, pH, hardness, group size, lifespan and minimum tank size are common hobby guidance, not figures from that article. Ranges are the range the species tolerates; aim for the middle. Minimum tank sizes are for an adult group. Drawings are our own; photo credits follow.
Photo credits
Real photographs from Wikimedia Commons, resized and cropped to fit; each is used under the license named.
- Bala shark H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Senegal bichir Zhyla at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Ropefish Michał Zalewski, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Clown loach Vlad Butsky, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Peacock eel Zachary Randall, Florida Museum, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Featherfin squeaker Silex6, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Royal pleco Neale Monks at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Chinese algae eater Pseudogastromyzon, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Common pleco Richwales, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Cardinal tetra CHUCAO, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Green neon tetra Sascha Biedermann, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Ember tetra Klaus Rudloff, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Chili rasbora JoKrimmel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Celestial pearl danio Cisamarc, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Oscar H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Rainbow shark MerlinSenger, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Red-tail shark Astellar87, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Iridescent shark Melanochromis, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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