Bala shark
Balantiocheilos melanopterus
Photo: H. Zell · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Adult size
- 30 cm12 in
- Group
- 6+
- Tank length
- 240 cmabout 8 ft (94 in)
- Lifespan
- 10–20 yrs
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C72–82 °F
- pH
- 6–8
- Hardness
- 5–15 dGH
- Diet
- omnivore
A fast-moving adult group requires an exceptionally large aquarium.A fast-moving adult group requires an exceptionally large aquarium.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Alligator gar
Alligator gar may eat Bala sharkAlligator gar may eat Bala shark
- Arapaima
Arapaima may eat Bala sharkArapaima may eat Bala shark
- Channel catfish
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Dourada
Dourada may eat Bala sharkDourada may eat Bala shark
Iridescent sharkIridescent shark may eat Bala sharkIridescent shark may eat Bala shark
- Paroon shark
Paroon shark may eat Bala sharkParoon shark may eat Bala shark
- Piraiba
Piraiba may eat Bala sharkPiraiba may eat Bala shark
- Redtail catfish
Redtail catfish may eat Bala sharkRedtail catfish may eat Bala shark
- Sailfin cory
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Shovelnose sturgeon
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Wallago catfish
Wallago catfish may eat Bala sharkWallago catfish may eat Bala shark
- Wallago leeri
Wallago leeri may eat Bala sharkWallago leeri may eat Bala shark
Sources
| temperature | 22–28 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
|---|---|---|
| ph | 6–8 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
| gh | 5–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
| origin | Asia or captive aquarium strains | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| notes | A fast-moving adult group requires an exceptionally large aquarium. | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| beginner friendly | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| care level | advanced | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| color palette | #9EAA99, #465858 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| activity | active | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| swim zone | middle | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| temperament | peaceful | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| fin nipper | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| long finned | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| territorial | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| schooling | true | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| schooling min | 6 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| diet | omnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| lifespan years | 10–20 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| growth to adult months | 24 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| length weight | {"a":0.006,"b":3} | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| planted safe | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| min tank length | 240 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| body shape | shark | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |