Bala shark Tank Mates
Short answer: the best bala shark tank mates are Angelfish, Nerite snail, Mystery snail, Three spot gourami, Discus, Rainbow shark. Bala sharks need 68–82 °F (20–28 °C), pH 6–8 and at least 250 gallons. Keep them in a group of 5 or more.
Bala shark care at a glance
| Adult size | 13.8 in (35 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 250 US gallons |
| Temperature | 68–82 °F (20–28 °C) |
| pH | 6–8 |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Swims in | Middle |
| Group size | Groups of 5+ |
| Care level | Moderate |
gallon tank
✅ Compatible tank mates (10)
⚠️ Possible with caution (13)
- Dwarf gourami — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) may try to eat smaller dwarf gourami (9 cm), especially at night.
- Bristlenose pleco — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) may try to eat smaller bristlenose pleco (13 cm), especially at night.
- Fancy goldfish — Goldfish are coldwater fish that produce a lot of waste; they are usually kept only with other goldfish.
- Molly — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) may try to eat smaller molly (10 cm), especially at night.
- Kuhli loach — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) may try to eat smaller kuhli loach (10 cm), especially at night.
- Kribensis — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) may try to eat smaller kribensis (10 cm), especially at night.
- Pearl gourami — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) may try to eat smaller pearl gourami (12 cm), especially at night.
- Swordtail — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) may try to eat smaller swordtail (14 cm), especially at night.
- Red tail shark — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) may try to eat smaller red tail shark (12.5 cm), especially at night.
- Rosy barb — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) may try to eat smaller rosy barb (14 cm), especially at night.
- Upside-down catfish — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) may try to eat smaller upside-down catfish (10 cm), especially at night.
- Boesemani rainbowfish — Very narrow shared temperature range: Bala shark 20–28 °C (68–82 °F) vs Boesemani rainbowfish 27–30 °C (81–86 °F).
- Chinese algae eater — Adult Chinese algae eater can latch onto other fish and rasp their slime coat.
❌ Not recommended (48)
- Cherry shrimp — Bala shark will hunt and eat cherry shrimp.
- Betta fish — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat betta fish (7 cm).
- Guppy — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat guppy (6 cm).
- Harlequin rasbora — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat harlequin rasbora (5 cm).
- Neon tetra — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat neon tetra (3.5 cm).
- Platy — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat platy (6 cm).
- Tiger barb — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat tiger barb (7 cm).
- Oscar — Oscar is aggressive and will bully peaceful bala shark.
- Pea puffer — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat pea puffer (3 cm).
- Amano shrimp — Bala shark will hunt and eat Amano shrimp.
- Celestial pearl danio — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat celestial pearl danio (2.5 cm).
- Chili rasbora — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat chili rasbora (2 cm).
- Ember tetra — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat ember tetra (2 cm).
- Endler's livebearer — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat Endler's livebearer (3 cm).
- Otocinclus — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat otocinclus (4 cm).
- Panda cory — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat panda cory (5 cm).
- Black skirt tetra — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat black skirt tetra (6 cm).
- Bronze cory — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat bronze cory (7.5 cm).
- Cardinal tetra — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat cardinal tetra (3.5 cm).
- Cherry barb — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat cherry barb (5 cm).
- German blue ram — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat German blue ram (5 cm).
- Glowlight tetra — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat glowlight tetra (4 cm).
- Honey gourami — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat honey gourami (5.5 cm).
- Rummy nose tetra — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat rummy nose tetra (5 cm).
- Serpae tetra — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat serpae tetra (4.5 cm).
- White cloud mountain minnow — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat white cloud mountain minnow (4 cm).
- Zebra danio — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat zebra danio (5 cm).
- Electric yellow cichlid — Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid: it needs hard, alkaline water and an African-cichlid community, and is too boisterous for bala shark.
- Pygmy cory — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat pygmy cory (3 cm).
- Sparkling gourami — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat sparkling gourami (4 cm).
- Black neon tetra — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat black neon tetra (4 cm).
- Bloodfin tetra — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat bloodfin tetra (5.5 cm).
- Cockatoo dwarf cichlid — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat cockatoo dwarf cichlid (8 cm).
- Dwarf neon rainbowfish — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat dwarf neon rainbowfish (8 cm).
- Forktail blue-eye — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat forktail blue-eye (6 cm).
- Glass catfish — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat glass catfish (6.5 cm).
- Lemon tetra — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat lemon tetra (5 cm).
- Paradise fish — Paradise fish is aggressive and will bully peaceful bala shark.
- Peppered cory — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat peppered cory (7 cm).
- Sterbai cory — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat sterbai cory (7 cm).
- X-ray tetra — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat X-ray tetra (4.5 cm).
- Buenos Aires tetra — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat Buenos Aires tetra (7 cm).
- Congo tetra — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat Congo tetra (8.5 cm).
- Convict cichlid — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful bala shark.
- Gold barb — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat gold barb (7.5 cm).
- Odessa barb — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat Odessa barb (6 cm).
- Bolivian ram — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat Bolivian ram (8 cm).
- Jack Dempsey — Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully peaceful bala shark.
How many bala sharks per tank?
Larger than the tank sizes we cover. — see what else fits with our stocking calculator.
FAQ
What fish can live with bala sharks?
Good matches include Angelfish, Nerite snail, Mystery snail, Three spot gourami, Discus, Rainbow shark. They share a temperature range with bala sharks (68–82 °F (20–28 °C)), are a similar temperament, and are not big enough to eat each other or nip fins.
What fish should not live with bala sharks?
Avoid Cherry shrimp, Betta fish, Guppy, Harlequin rasbora, Neon tetra, Platy.
What size tank do bala sharks need?
We recommend at least 250 US gallons for a group of 5 bala sharks, more if you add tank mates.
Can bala sharks live alone?
No. Bala sharks are social and should be kept in groups of at least 5.
Note: Compatibility depends on individual temperament, tank size, decor and how fish are introduced. Our verdicts use conservative rules applied to published care data (see methodology). They are guidance, not a guarantee. Quarantine new fish and watch for chasing, torn fins or hiding.