Bala shark
Balantiocheilos melanopterus
A silver 'shark' with black-edged fins, sold as small juveniles but growing to about 14 inches; needs a group and an 8-foot tank.
Key facts
- Body length
- 13.8 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 269 gallons
- Group
- 5+
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Care level
- 4 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Flakes, pellets, frozen bloodworm and brine shrimp, vegetables
- Origin
- Borneo and Sumatra, Indonesia
- Hardier than22%
- Bigger than94%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
Bala shark tank mates
- AngelfishGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blue dolphin cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Common plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Leopard sailfin plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- SeverumGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Assassin snailGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bladder snailGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Malaysian trumpet snailGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Mystery snailGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Ramshorn snailGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Red swamp crayfishGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Redclaw crayfishGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blood parrot cichlidSilver shark can eat young or small Blood parrot cichlid; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- Chinese algae eaterChinese algae eater attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Silver shark.Risky
- Clown loachClown loach attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Silver shark.Risky
- OscarOscar (predatory) will bully the peaceful Silver shark.Risky
- Peacock cichlidSilver shark can eat young or small Malawi butterfly peacock; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- Dwarf orange crayfishSilver shark eats dwarf shrimp: Orange dwarf crayfish (CPO) (PROP).Risky
- Neon tetraSilver shark can eat Neon tetra: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 8.8 cm.Avoid
- Harlequin rasboraSilver shark can eat Harlequin rasbora: prey body depth 1.1 cm ≤ mouth 8.8 cm.Avoid
- Fancy guppySilver shark can eat Fancy guppy: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 8.8 cm.Avoid
- Panda corydorasSilver shark can eat Panda corydoras: prey body depth 2.4 cm ≤ mouth 8.8 cm.Avoid
- OtocinclusSilver shark can eat Otocinclus: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 8.8 cm.Avoid
- Cherry shrimpSilver shark can eat Cherry shrimp: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 8.8 cm.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for bala sharks: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 35 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 760.07 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 83.49 BU
- Min. water
- 864 L net
- Min. footprint
- 240 × 60 cm per group
- Group
- 5+ (best 5)
- Swims in
- middle
- Flow
- high
- Body / fins
- fusiform, normal fins
- Diet type
- omnivore
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- nitrate
Sources: Seriously Fish: Balantiocheilos melanopterus · FishBase: Balantiocheilos melanopterus
Care notes
Bala sharks come from large rivers and lakes of Borneo and Sumatra and are endangered in the wild, so fish on sale are farmed. They are peaceful but fast and powerful, with a strong jump.
A group of five or more needs a tank around 8 by 2 feet, roughly 180 gallons or more, with strong flow and a heavy lid. Smaller groups lead to bullying, and fish small enough to swallow may be eaten.
Questions
What size tank does a bala shark need?
At least 269 gallons (864 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 13.8 inches without fins.
How many bala sharks should be kept together?
Keep at least 5, ideally 5 or more: fewer feel exposed and hide or turn nippy.
What water do bala sharks need?
72–82 °F, pH 6–8 and 2–15 dGH. Bala sharks come from Borneo and Sumatra, Indonesia.
How long do bala sharks live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with bala sharks?
Good tank mates include Angelfish, Blue dolphin cichlid, Common pleco, Leopard sailfin pleco and Severum. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.