Bala Shark
Balantiocheilos melanopterus
Cyprinidae
About
The bala or silver shark is a mirror-flanked cyprinid with black-edged fins, sold at 6-8 cm and reaching 35 cm — an open-water shoaler that outgrows almost every aquarium it is bought for. Seriously Fish specifies a 240 x 60 cm base for a group of adults, and the group is not optional: kept alone or in twos, subdominant fish are harried relentlessly. It is genuinely peaceful toward tankmates of its own size but will swallow anything small, it is a powerful jumper, and it needs oxygen-rich moving water. Wild populations are IUCN Vulnerable on the current assessment (7 February 2019), which supersedes the 1996 Endangered listing Seriously Fish still quotes, and every fish in the shops comes from commercial breeding.
Care
Only for very large tanks: five or more adults need roughly 750 L over a 240 x 60 cm footprint, brisk flow, high oxygen and a heavy, tight-fitting lid. House with robust, similarly sized fish and plan for 25-30 cm adults within a few years.
Diet
Omnivorous and greedy: quality dried foods, generous vegetable matter and small frozen or live foods. Small tankmates count as food to an adult.
Tankmate compatibility
Avoid (271)
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Telling males from females
What works for this species, most reliable first.
- Colour and patternA hint only · from about 6 months, and only on a settled fish
In rainbowfish, killifish and several barbs the male carries the colour — deeper and more saturated, intensifying further when he displays.
- Extended finsA hint only · from about 8 months, and later in a suppressed male
On many cichlids and killifish the male's dorsal and anal fins draw out into trailing points as he matures, while the female's stay rounded.
- Belly depthA hint only · only on well-fed adults, and only as a comparison
For most tetras, barbs and rasboras this is all there is: a conditioned female is deeper through the belly than a male of the same length.
Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Bala Shark need?
- A Bala Shark needs an aquarium of at least 750 litres (198.1 US gallons) with a footprint at least 240 cm (94.5 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Bala Shark need?
- Bala Shark does best at 22–28 °C (71.6–82.4 °F), pH 6–8 and a general hardness of 2–15 °dGH.
- What group size does a Bala Shark need?
- Bala Shark is a social species — keep a group of at least 5 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
- Is the Bala Shark suitable for beginners?
- Bala Shark is a demanding species best attempted with some experience — it needs stable, closely watched conditions to thrive.