Bala sharks are members of the family Cyprinidae and thus aren’t true sharks. Cyprinids include barbs, goldfish, danios, and other familiar aquarium fish. Silver sharks are schooling omnivorous fish that are hardy but grow too large for most fish keepers. They are nervous and prone to jumping as well.
If you have a large enough aquarium, tricolor sharks are eager eaters, peaceful, and long lived. The average bala shark lifespan is about 10 years in captivity.
- Common Names: Bala Shark; Tricolor Shark; Silver Shark; Silver Bala; Malaysian Shark; Tricolor Sharkminnow
- Scientific Name: Balantiocheilus melanopterus
- Origin: Southeast Asia
Length: 12 to 15 inches
Aquarium Size: 150+ gallons
Temperament: Peaceful; Schooling - Ease of Care: Moderate
Bala Shark Appearance
Bala sharks are called “sharks” because of their torpedo shaped bodies and sharp points to their fins like true sharks. These features help bala sharks swim fast to fight strong currents, stay connected to their school, and avoid predators.
Their silver scales remain bright even into adulthood, similar to a tinfoil barb or silver dollar fish. The reflective scales and black bordered fins help the school coordinate their movements in murky water.
As bala sharks grow older they become somewhat thicker in body profile but not chunky. The clear regions of their fins may also develop a light yellow tone.
Tricolor shark fish are not sexually dimorphic. Male and female fish look identical to us humans. A female that is ready to spawn may be chunkier but other than that, the cues are too subtle. Bala sharks likely rely on hormonal cues and behavioral responses to tell.
Bala Shark Natural Habitat
Bala sharks are found in rivers and streams throughout Southeast Asia. They are raised as food fish in their native range of Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Yet many of these farm raised fish are also reserved for the aquarium pet trade.
You will find schools of bala sharks in the midwater region of warm water bodies. The fish feed on floating plankton, algae, plants, and invertebrates. Fast flowing bodies of water that are well oxygenated are their preferred habitat.
Bala sharks are endangered in many parts of their former range. Development in Southeast Asia is decreasing the amount of habitat available to them. Water pollution is another major threat. Their range is expanding to other parts of the world, however. Bala sharks are migrating to the Harapan rainforest and other parts of Indonesia that are less developed.
Bala Shark Tank Size
Aquarium size is the most important factor in bala shark care. These fish are not difficult to care for. Their size and activity level means the tank has to be massive.
150 gallons is the minimum tank size for an adult bala shark. 180 gallons is even better since you should have at least three. With six bala sharks being even better. When kept alone bala sharks are shy and flee from any sudden movements you or their tank mates make.
An adult bala shark is fast and heavy enough to knock the lid off of a fish tank when jumping. Any aquarium hood needs to be secured with a clip or heavy object.
When kept in an aquarium that is too small a nervous bala shark may crash into the sides of the tank or hard decorations. These injuries will add up over time. Lost scales or a missing eye are common in adult bala sharks.
Live plants and other decorations will help your silver shark minnow feel more secure. Plants consume nitrogenous waste and oxygenate the water. Floating plants are easy to grow, discourage bala sharks from jumping, and combat nuisance algae growth. Soft leaved plants like cabomba and anacharis will be nibbled on but grow fast enough to not be eaten to death.
How Big Do Bala Sharks Get?
Most aquarists buy young 3 inch tricolor sharks at a local pet store, not realizing that the final full grown bala shark size is 12 to 15 inches. A young bala shark will be 10 to 12 inches long after 1 year of growth.
The 3-inch size category is most common in pet stores since young bala sharks have a very high mortality rate. Once it approaches a foot in length, bala shark growth slows down as it approaches 14 to 15 inches.
Many aquarists expect to be able to get rid of a pet that has outgrown its fish tank. That is more difficult than you think. Pet stores and local aquariums get offers from owners looking to dump large fish all of the time. They refuse most of these offers as there are too many for them to sell or house.
And releasing a bala shark into the wild is both irresponsible and illegal. Tropical fish released will die since the waters in your area are probably too cold. But not before transmitting diseases to local wildlife and competing with them for food and space.
Water Conditions
Bala sharks prefer acidic to mild alkalinity. A pH of 6.0-7.5 is ideal for them. The water temperature is more important since silver sharks live in year-round tropical conditions. 73-82℉ is their preferred range.
Bala sharks are hardy and disease resistant. But if they show signs of body fungus or ich, increase the temperature by 2-4℉. Soft water that is low in dissolved minerals is better for their health than hard water.
High levels of aeration is important in their habitat since warm water holds less oxygen that cold water does. An air stone, filter outflow, or powerhead all provide extra oxygen. Bala sharks also appreciate water movement since stagnant water gives them no current to work against.
Nitrogenous waste levels should be low at all times. Ammonia and nitrite should be at or close to 0 parts per million. Nitrate is better tolerated and should not exceed 15-20 ppm.
Bala Shark Tank Mates
Bala sharks are excellent tank mates for medium to large fish communities. They are peaceful but may see tiny fish as potential food. Tetras and guppies should not be kept with an adult bala shark. Stick to deep bodied or long fish as tank mates.
- Angelfish
- Discus
- Gouramis
- Giant Danios
- Rainbowfish
- Oscar Fish, Flowerhorns, and other Cichlids
- Plecostomus
- Arowanas
Large cichlids are difficult fish to choose tank mates for yet bala sharks are a popular option. Silver sharks are too fast to be bullied and stick to the midwater region of the tank. While most cichlids are bottom dwellers that aren’t so quick.
A single large cichlid kept alone may become stressed and shy with no other fish around. Bala sharks act as dither fish for solitary large fish, helping their tank mates realize that it’s safe to be out in the open.
Bala Shark Diet and Feeding
As omnivores, bala sharks need a mixture of plant and animal based material. Flakes, pellets, freeze-dried, and frozen foods are all accepted by them. You should include diversity, offering small pellets one day, brine shrimp the next, spirulina flakes the day after, etc.
Fresh vegetables like peas and spinach are also good additions after some light boiling to soften them. Live food is a good treat but not necessary for silver sharks. Bala sharks are active fish and should be fed three times per day, even as adults.
Breeding Bala Sharks
Bala shark breeding is very difficult to achieve in a home aquarium. The fish have to be at least 5 inches long and prefer spawning in groups. Hormone injections are a common way of forcing them to spawn. Other breeds rely on keeping bala sharks in large outdoor ponds in tropical parts of the world.
Bala shark breeding is being explored by the University of Louisiana, in partnership with the US Department of Agriculture. They hope to bring prices down and increase the supply of bala sharks for the aquarium hobby. Captive breeding also takes pressure off of wild stocks, which remain an endangered species in Southeast Asia.
As egg scatterers, bala sharks don’t care for their eggs or fry. Like all cyprinids the parents come together and lay sticky eggs among aquatic plants. The adults then leave the eggs to fend for themselves. Strong water flow and warm water conditions are important to stimulate spawning behavior.
FAQs
Bala sharks are peaceful community tank fish. They will eat very small tank mates, like guppies, but they are not aggressive. Invertebrates like freshwater shrimp or snails may also be seen as good. Anything that won’t fit into their small mouths will be ignored by a tricolor shark fish.
You should keep at least 3 bala sharks together. More is even better, though they grow so large that a true school is too difficult for most aquarists. Bala sharks kept alone become stressed and nervous. They may even try to jump if you move too fast around their fish tank.
Bala sharks and goldfish are compatible in terms of temperament but not in terms of temperature. Goldfish prefer cool, unheated water with little water flow. Bala sharks are tropical fish that need warm water with strong flow.
