Bala Shark (Balantiocheilus melanopterus)

yoink

Bala Sharks are the sprinters of the fish world. They like to 'dart' around thus need lots of swimming space. They can get fairly large but are still peaceful despite their size.

- Kyle

Bala's are very unique. They are very immune to most parasites, like ich, but they are very sensitive and can easily die if spooked too much. Their diet is mostly vegetation when small which is why they are peaceful, but as they grow they diet slowly changes to more of a meaty diet...so beware if you have large bala's and smaller fish.

RXTrev

Very voracious eater, peaceful, and easy to keep as long as you have a large tank.

Tom W

Great fish, very fast but peaceful. However beware they do grow big fast.

Wellbiz

This fish is a hypo one thats for sure and if you're gonna get one or already have one make sure your tank has a lid on it and its fairly strong, why because these fish can do this wicked thing called 'jumping' and they will no kidding jump out of the tank if it does not have a lid on it! I know from experience.

Cody

This fish can get to be very big. It outgrows tanks quickly, but never picks on other fish in the tank. This shark does well with cichlids and other fish of its size.

steve

I have a Silver-Tipped Shark and two Bala Sharks in the same tank and they do very well together. The Balas are very peaceful and don't mess with the Silver-Tipped.

Pete Riggs

I had a bala years ago that got 18 inches!!! It outgrew my 50 gal. so fast I had to stick it with my oscars in my 200. They gave him a hard time at first but he settled in well. They should be kept with other balas their size.

Jedadiah

It's a good idea to keep these in groups of at least 3 to keep them happy. These are very fun to watch and like to chase each other around.

Rafal

I have one of these (~6") and just spent the week watching it mercilessly picking on my sick silver-tipped shark catfish eventually ripping chucks off it before it died, so perhaps they are not always peaceful!

Simon

My 11" Bala Shark is fairly peaceful, but does like to chase my red hook silver dollars and pacu around the tank. It wont back down from any fish including my 14" Oscar.

Tj

Characins

Got to be one of the most miskept fish.
Always put in tiny tanks, most people don't know just how big they get! Properly kept, in at least a 100 gallon tank, they are great fish! Very peaceful, although balas, like any other fish, will eat any and all fish that are immensly smaller than themselves.

jaysen

these giant minnows are great fish. they grow quickly, are very active, and are very peaceful. they do need a large tank. i refused to buy them until i had my 450 gallon tank set up. they would swim in pairs and sorta dance against each other down the length of the tank (10 feet) rather quickly, so i feel they would need an even bigger tank to be happy once reaching full size. i do believe that they are extinct in the wild and mainly exist in farms where they are bred for food and the aquarium hobby.

French

They are peaceful fish, though skittish as heck. I've got three that range between 3" and 6" - it took quite a while to earn their trust, and now that I transfered them to their own 90 gallon tank, they're back to scattering when I approach the tank. How annoying.

As far as a planted tank, just be aware that nothing pleases a Bala Shark more than rooting around the base of any plant you add to your aquarium, and uprooting plants (especialy tall plants) seems to be a Bala team sport.