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Bala Shark

Balantiocheilos melanopterus

Freshwater South-east Asia Usually captive bred

Sold small, but it reaches 30 cm and needs a tank well over a metre long. Silver, fast and nervous: it can leap or panic against the glass. A schooling fish that looks lost alone.

Also called: Tricolor sharkminnow, Bala shark, Bala sharkminnow.

30 cm adult length, drawn to scale. torpedo body.

Outgrows a typical home tank. Check this fish against the adult size above before buying a juvenile. The minimum shown is the least it is kept in for good, not a comfortable size.

Try it in the planner Opens a tank sized to its minimum with 5 fish added.

What it needs

ItemValueBecause
Adult length 30 cm Used for the Space check: the tank must be long enough for the fish to turn round.
Smallest tank 600 L, at least 180 cm long estimated The least water and floor length this species is kept in for good, as a single fish or smallest group.
Extra water per added fish 100 L estimated What each further fish adds once the minimum is met.
Waste load Class 4 of 5 estimated How much waste an adult makes against its size. Feeds the Load check.
Temperature 22 to 28 C Stock sharing a tank need overlapping ranges.
pH 6.5 to 7.8 Compared with tankmates in the Water check.
Hardness GH 5 to 15, KH 3 to 10 Degrees of general and carbonate hardness.
Flow Medium Low-flow fish are stressed in a strong current.
Light Moderate Matched to the lighting class on the needs sheet.
Group size At least 5, ideally 6 Kept alone or in small numbers it hides, fades or turns on tankmates.
Temperament Peaceful Not territorial.
Swims in Middle water Fish that use different levels share a tank more easily.
Lifespan About 10 years A fish is a long commitment.
Experience Some experience helps A guide to how forgiving the species is of mistakes.
Jumps Yes Keep the tank covered.

Tags marked estimated are judged from the size and habits of the species rather than measured, so treat them as a sensible default.

Diet and tank layout

Bala Shark is an omnivore that swims in the middle of the tank. It is safe with plants. It will eat fish small enough to swallow.

Tankmates

Works with

No close matches in the data. Check the pair tool.

Depends

Avoid

Compare any two fish on the compatibility page, or print the equipment for a stock on the needs sheet. How this is worked out: the method.