Bala Shark

The Bala Shark, also known as the Silver Shark or Tricolor Shark, is a large, peaceful fish that is completely unrelated to true sharks. Despite their name, these are peaceful cyprinids that can grow to over a foot in length. They have a striking silver body with black margins on all fins. Unfortunately, they are often sold as small juveniles in pet stores, leading many aquarists to house them inappropriately. They require very large tanks and are not suitable for average home aquariums.

Care Requirements

Tank Setup

Bala Sharks need very large tanks and eventually require 125+ gallons as adults.

Essential Setup:

• 75 gallons absolute minimum for juveniles
• 125+ gallons for adults
• 6-foot length preferred
• Strong filtration
• Open swimming space
• Secure lid (excellent jumpers)

Water Quality

• Temperature: 72-82°F (22-28°C)
• pH: 6.5-8.0
• Water Hardness: Moderate (5-20 dGH)
• Ammonia/Nitrite: 0 ppm
• Nitrate: <20 ppm

Excellent filtration essential due to size and bioload.

Feeding

Omnivores that need substantial food:

• High-quality pellets or flakes
• Frozen foods
• Vegetables: peas, zucchini, spinach
• Algae wafers

Feeding Schedule: 2 times daily, substantial amounts.

Behavior & Compatibility

Peaceful but very large:

• Schooling: Keep 5+ for natural behavior
• Peaceful: Won’t bother other fish
• Size danger: May eat very small fish accidentally
• Active swimmers: Need open space
• Jumpers: Absolutely need secure lid

Warning: Often sold as 2-inch juveniles but grow to 12+ inches. Most aquarists cannot provide adequate housing.

Conservation Status

• Endangered in the wild (IUCN)
• Habitat loss in Southeast Asia
• Most aquarium specimens captive-bred
• Support conservation efforts

Alternative For Smaller Tanks

Consider Roseline Sharks (4-5 inches) or Denison Barbs as smaller alternatives that don’t require massive tanks.

Breeding

Rarely bred in home aquariums due to size requirements:

• Commercial breeding in ponds
• Egg scatterers
• Difficult to sex