| The bala shark or Balantiocheilus melanopterus | | | | bala sharks in. Some experts recommend a |
| belongs to the family Cyprinidae and is the sole | | | | minimum of a six feet long fish tank. Still others |
| member of the genus Balantiocheilos. The name | | | | contend that the bala is just too large and too |
| "shark" refers directly to its torpedo or shark-like | | | | active a species to be suitable for anything short |
| shaped body. They have no relation to the shark | | | | of commercial aquaria. Indoor ponds are |
| family. The bala shark is also commonly referred | | | | considered an acceptable environment to raise |
| to as a silver shark or tri-color shark. | | | | bala sharks. |
| Bala sharks are indigenous to Southeast Asia. | | | | This fish has little resemblance to its namesake in |
| They swim the streams and rivers of Thailand, | | | | nature. They are a docile fish and are the perfect |
| Borneo, Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula. The | | | | addition to a community fish tank provided you |
| recent industrialization of these regions is | | | | have a large enough aquarium to house them as |
| threatening the Bala shark's natural habitat. Their | | | | adults. You want to raise them with other larger |
| numbers have diminished greatly in the wild over | | | | species to avoid them perceiving their fellow |
| the past two decades. The bala shark does not | | | | tank-mates as food. They swim at all levels of an |
| normally breed in captivity. Fortunately, for their | | | | aquarium. A note of caution: They are jumpers. |
| guaranteed survival as a species, they are | | | | They should be housed in a lidded aquarium. |
| commercially raised in Asia with the use of | | | | One of the benefits of having bala sharks in your |
| hormone injections. | | | | aquarium is that although they are not bottom |
| These fish are typically sold is stores when they | | | | dwellers, they do have scavenger tendencies. |
| are young. Despite their size at the time of sale, | | | | They will scour the bottom of your tank for bits |
| bala sharks are actually quite large freshwater fish. | | | | of uneaten food. And they will do so without |
| An adult bala shark can reach up to 14 inches in | | | | disturbing the substrate. If you are going to raise |
| length. They are shoaling fish. Meaning they are | | | | larger variety fish you might as well have ones |
| best suited to swimming in groups rather than | | | | that help clean house. |
| alone. They are also very active swimmers as far | | | | This species is tolerant of it environment. It can |
| as fish species go. Keep all this in mind when | | | | thrive in a wide variety of temperatures and pH |
| determining whether or not to add balas to your | | | | levels. But their premium environment is a pH level |
| aquarium. | | | | of between 6.8-7.2, and a water temperature |
| Very young balas are often kept in smaller tanks. | | | | between 76-82 degrees Fahrenheit. |
| But their size when fully grown, their schooling | | | | Bala sharks are omnivorous. They eat both plant |
| instincts and the rate at which they swim, they | | | | and animal matter. A healthy diet includes a |
| will need much more room than your typical 10 | | | | combination of both. They will eat tropical fish |
| gallon aquarium. The debate continues on just | | | | flakes, frozen, freeze-dried and live foods. |
| what is an acceptable size environment to house | | | | |