Aquariumshark & minnow · freshwater
Bala Shark: adult size, tank size & tankmates
The Bala Shark (Balantiocheilos melanopterus) grows to about 17 in (35 cm SL). It needs a tank at least 96 inches long and about 228 gallons. Keep at least 5 together, at 68–82°F.
How big it really gets
Drawn to scale against common tank lengths. Green bars meet the minimum tank length from our sources.
Outgrows most home tanks. Sold at 2 inches as community fish; reaches 14 inches and requires an 8-foot 180+ gallon tank with schooling cohorts.
Will it fit your tank?
Quick facts
- Adult size
- 17 in (35 cm SL)
- Minimum tank
- 96 inches long and about 228 gallons
- Temperature
- 68–82°F
- pH
- 6–8
- Hardness
- 2–15 dGH
- Group size
- 5+
- With other fish
- peaceful
- With its own kind
- peaceful
- Swims
- middle of the tank
- Diet
- omnivore
- Care level
- intermediate
- Lifespan
- not stated in sources
Watch for: eats small fish · eats shrimp · jumps, so keep a lid
Bala Shark tankmates
Checked with the same rules as our tank builder: temperature overlap, pH and hardness, predation and mouth size, fin-nipping and temperament. Tank size is left out here; check it in the builder.
Good tankmates
- Cardinal TetraAdult ~1.7 in · 73–84°F
- Harlequin RasboraAdult ~2.1 in · 70–82°F
- Cherry BarbAdult ~2.4 in · 68–81°F
- Rummy-nose TetraAdult ~2.4 in · 73–79°F
- Black Neon TetraAdult ~1.7 in · 73–82°F
- Glowlight TetraAdult ~1.9 in · 75–82°F
- Lemon TetraAdult ~1.9 in · 68–82°F
- GuppyAdult ~2.8 in · 63–82°F
- PlatyAdult ~2.4 in · 68–79°F
- Honey GouramiAdult ~2.6 in · 72–81°F
Use caution
Avoid
- Neon TetraBala Shark eats small fish, and Neon Tetra only grows to about 1.4 in.
- Ember TetraBala Shark eats small fish, and Ember Tetra only grows to about 0.9 in.
- Chili RasboraBala Shark eats small fish, and Chili Rasbora only grows to about 0.9 in.
- Celestial Pearl DanioBala Shark eats small fish, and Celestial Pearl Danio only grows to about 1 in.
- Endler's LivebearerNeeds careBala Shark eats small fish, and Endler's Livebearer only grows to about 1.2 in.
- Pygmy CoryBala Shark eats small fish, and Pygmy Cory only grows to about 1.4 in.
- Cherry ShrimpBala Shark will eat Cherry Shrimp.
- Amano ShrimpBala Shark will eat Amano Shrimp.
All 105 species we checked against the Bala Shark
| Species | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Angelfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Assassin Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Betta | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Black Neon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Black Skirt Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bleeding Heart Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Blood Parrot Cichlid | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bolivian Ram | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bristlenose Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bronze Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Buenos Aires Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bumblebee Goby | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cardinal Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cherry Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Common / Comet Goldfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Common Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Congo Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Denison Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Diamond Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Discus | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Dwarf Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Electric Blue Acara | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Electric Yellow Lab | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Fancy Goldfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Firemouth Cichlid | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Forktail Blue-eye | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Giant Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Glass Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Glowlight Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Gold Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Guppy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Harlequin Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Head-and-tail-light Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Hillstream Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Honey Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Iridescent Shark | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Japanese Trapdoor Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Julii Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Kissing Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Kribensis | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Kuhli Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Lemon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Malaysian Trumpet Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Marbled Hatchetfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Molly | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Moonlight Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Nerite Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Odessa Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Oscar | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Otocinclus | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Panda Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Paradise Fish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pearl Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pearl Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Penguin Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Peppered Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pictus Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Platy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pristella Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rainbow Shark | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Ramshorn Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Red-Tail Shark | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rosy Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rummy-nose Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Scissortail Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Serpae Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Siamese Algae Eater | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Silver Hatchetfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Silver Tip Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Sparkling Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Sterbai Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Swordtail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Three-spot Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Tiger Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Tinfoil Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Upside-down Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Variatus Platy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Weather Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| White Cloud Mountain Minnow | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Yoyo Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Zebra Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Boesemani Rainbowfish | Caution | Bala Shark and Boesemani Rainbowfish only share 81–82°F. That's a tight window. |
| German Blue Ram | Caution | Bala Shark and German Blue Ram only share 81–82°F. That's a tight window. |
| Mystery Snail | Caution | Bala Shark (pH 6–8) and Mystery Snail (pH unknown) prefer different pH.; Bala Shark (2–15 dGH) and Mystery Snail (unknown dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| African Dwarf Frog | Avoid | Bala Shark eats small fish, and African Dwarf Frog only grows to about 1.4 in. |
| Amano Shrimp | Avoid | Bala Shark will eat Amano Shrimp. |
| Bamboo Shrimp | Avoid | Bala Shark will eat Bamboo Shrimp. |
| Celestial Pearl Danio | Avoid | Bala Shark eats small fish, and Celestial Pearl Danio only grows to about 1 in. |
| Cherry Shrimp | Avoid | Bala Shark will eat Cherry Shrimp. |
| Chili Rasbora | Avoid | Bala Shark eats small fish, and Chili Rasbora only grows to about 0.9 in. |
| Chinese Algae Eater | Avoid | Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Bala Shark is peaceful. |
| Clown Killifish | Avoid | Bala Shark eats small fish, and Clown Killifish only grows to about 1.6 in. |
| Convict Cichlid | Avoid | Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Bala Shark is peaceful. |
| Crystal Red Shrimp | Avoid | Bala Shark will eat Crystal Red Shrimp. |
| Ember Tetra | Avoid | Bala Shark eats small fish, and Ember Tetra only grows to about 0.9 in. |
| Endler's Livebearer | Avoid | Bala Shark eats small fish, and Endler's Livebearer only grows to about 1.2 in. |
| Ghost Shrimp | Avoid | Bala Shark will eat Ghost Shrimp. |
| Lambchop Rasbora | Avoid | Bala Shark eats small fish, and Lambchop Rasbora only grows to about 1.4 in. |
| Neon Tetra | Avoid | Bala Shark eats small fish, and Neon Tetra only grows to about 1.4 in. |
| Pea Puffer | Avoid | Bala Shark eats small fish, and Pea Puffer only grows to about 1.4 in. |
| Pygmy Cory | Avoid | Bala Shark eats small fish, and Pygmy Cory only grows to about 1.4 in. |
Care notes
Needs: Demands minimum 8-foot swimming run to absorb high-speed sprints; heavy secured cover glass essential to prevent jumping
Group: Pelagic schooling cyprinid; solitary individuals become pathologically skittish and reclusive; maintain 5+
Temperament: peaceful toward other fish, peaceful toward its own kind. Lives in the middle of the tank.
Common questions
How big does a Bala Shark get?
About 17 inches (35 cm SL) as an adult, according to seriouslyfish.com.
What size tank does a Bala Shark need?
At least 96 inches long and about 228 gallons. The smallest standard tank that meets that is a 180 gallon.
How many Bala Sharks should be kept together?
At least 5. Pelagic schooling cyprinid; solitary individuals become pathologically skittish and reclusive; maintain 5+
What fish can live with a Bala Shark?
Species that passed every check include Cardinal Tetra, Harlequin Rasbora, Cherry Barb, Rummy-nose Tetra, Black Neon Tetra, Glowlight Tetra.
Gear for a Bala Shark setup
TankSmallest standard tank that meets its minimum: 180 gallon (72 in long).Find on Amazon →HeaterAbout 2 × 300 W for 180 gallons, holding 68–82°F.Find on Amazon →LidIt jumps. A full lid keeps it in the tank.Find on Amazon →FoodA quality flake or micro-pellet as a staple.Find on Amazon →Test kitCheck ammonia, nitrite and pH. Cycle the tank before adding fish.Find on Amazon →
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Related guides
Sources
Values come from these pages, in our own words. Status: verified. Last reviewed 2026-10-12.
- seriouslyfish.com /species/balantiocheilos-melanopterus
- fishbase.se /summary/Balantiocheilos-melanopterus.html