The Silver Shark (Bala Shark) Fish

Characteristic and tank requirements

Scientific Name
Balantiocheilos melanopterus

Common Names
Bala Shark, Silver Shark

Size
Up to 13 inches long (33 cm)

pH: 6 - 8
Temperature: 22°C - 28°C, I have known them to be quite happy in much cooler waters.
Water Hardness: 5° to 12° dH,
Lifespan: 8 - 10 years
Origin: South East Asia

Temperament, breeding, compatibility, feeding, pictures & final word

Temperament
Peaceful and can be kept with smaller fish. However, will eat fish if they are small enough to take in their mouths

Breeding
Breeding is rare in the home aquarium due to their size.

Tank
75 gallons minimum.

Compatibility
Will get on with most other fish.

Diet
Will eat most foods including flakes, pellets and live foods. They also love shelling snails! My Bala Sharks have great personalities and mix well with all sorts of other fish. They are rarely quiet, always rooting around and playing in the plants and ornaments. They are now around 12 months old, so still babies, but have found the snail tube and love to extract the snails from their shells. Indeed they are very adept at it.

Of course, they are not really sharks. They get their name from the dorsal fin and their shape. They are actually part of the Cyprinidae family. They are good fun though, but make sure that you cover the top of the tank, as they can jump!

Pictures