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Bala Shark ~ Silver SharkBala Sharkminnow ~ Tricolor shark ~ Tricolor SharkminnowFamily: Cyprinidae
Latest Reader Comment - See More I just bought a silver shark today and I have other fish in the tank, it's only about 5 cm now but I'm a bit worried what to do with it when it gets bigger, my tank... (more) lekisha kelly Despite its name, the very popular Bala Shark has a perfectly sweet disposition and peacefully goes about minding its own business!Bala Shark Contents Don't be fooled by the word "shark" in its name. The term "shark" is derived from its appearance, a superficial resemblance of its dorsal fin to that of the ferocious and predatory ocean fish. This fish is not really a shark at all! Though they look imposing, especially since they can get rather large, they are not aggressive and they do make a good community fish. They can even be kept with smaller fish. Though these fish have a gentle disposition, the Bala Sharks are large fish. They are lively, but skittish, and need lots of swimming space. They will enjoy schooling with a few of their same kind, and due to their size they will need a very large aquarium. They may jump so keep the aquarium covered. They have been known to make audible sounds. Place plants around the inside edges of the perimeter and use wood for the decor. Though they will pick up leftover foods from the bottom of the aquarium, they do so daintily with very little disturbance to the substrate or the plants. For more Information on keeping this fish see:
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| Geographic Distribution Balantiocheilus melanopterus |
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| Data provided by FishBase.org |
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Actinopterygii
- Order: Cypriniformes
- Family: Cyprinidae
Distribution: The Bala Shark or Silver Shark was originally described by Bleeker in1851 as Barbus melanopterus but is now described as Balantiocheilos melanopterus . They are found in Southeast Asia; Thailand, Malayan Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo. They inhabit large and medium sized waterways such as lakes and rivers.
Status: The Bala Shark is an endangered species. They are listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as: EN - endangered. They are becoming rare or extinct in many river basins.
Description: The Bala Shark or Silver Shark has an elongated slender body. It has an attractive silver color, slightly darker towards the top and lighter towards the underbelly, and with a slightly golden sheen to the sides. The fins and tail have a white or golden area with a broad black edge. The dorsal fin is triangular and erect, giving rise the name 'shark'.
Size - Weight: These fish get up to about 14 inches (35 cm).
Care and feeding: Since they are omnivorous, the Bala Shark or Silver Shark will generally eat all kinds of live, fresh, and flake foods. To keep a good balance give them a high quality flake food everyday. Feed brine shrimp (either live or frozen) or blood worms as a treat, and they like mosquito larvae, daphnia, and vegetable foods.
An aquarium best suited to this fish would be large and roomy. Place plants around the inside edges of the perimeter and use wood for the decor. Due to their size a 70 gallon aquarium is minimum, and when they reach their full adult size a 150 gallons or more will be reasonable. They may jump so keep the aquarium covered.
Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom: These fish will swim in all areas of the aquarium.
Acceptable Water Conditions: Hardness: 2 - 10 ° dGH
Ph: 6.5 to 7.0
Temp: 72 - 80 ° F (22 - 28 ° C) SharkWFCy_Ap19AF_med.jpg)
Social Behaviors: This fish is not really a shark at all. Though they look imposing, especially since they can get rather large, they are not aggressive. They make a good community fish that will not prey upon smaller fish. Lively and fun to watch, but skittish. They enjoy schooling with about 5 or so of their same kind, and so they need lots of swimming space.
Sexual Differences: No external differences.
Breeding/Reproduction: Little is known about the breeding habits of the Bala Shark, though they are an egg scatterer. They have been reported to have bred in the aquarium, but are not yet bred commercially.
Availability: The Bala Shark or Silver Shark is readily available and is very popular. Single specimens start at about $5.00 USD.
| Bala Shark Offered By: PetsMart Price: $10.99  |
| Comments | ||
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View All 68 comments!View all 5 of the coolest commentsView all 5 questions | ||
| Latest Comments | ||
I just bought a silver shark today and I have other fish in the tank, it's only about 5 cm now but I'm a bit worried what to do with it when it gets bigger, my tank is about 50 cm wide.
2010-03-27 | ||
i have 4 bala sharks in a 55 gallon tank with my 3 silver dollars, 3 black skirt tetras, and a rather large black ghost knife. the are all interesting but the bala sharks are by far the most sociable! every time i walk in my room they are right there to say hello! i've never seen them play dead or jump out of the tank like most website say tho...
2010-03-12 | ||
A buddy of mind had a fish that really looks like a shark. I don't know the name but he said it was a shark and it was sweet. I want one but no site has a pic or any info, only balas, rainbows, and the usuals. I read something about a topeto shark is that true, help me out.
2009-09-26 | ||
You should never buy a fish and then go home and research it. If you want to Know more go to fishchannel.com watch what you read always find as many articles as you can and check out the authors. I find about 40% of what you read online about fish is accurate data.
2009-09-11 | ||
| Some of the bestest comments - here's the beef! | ||
I have a pair of Balas in my tank, which is not large(only 2ft by 1 ft by 1.5 ft). the tank is decorated in the style of a stream with the filter set to provide a constant current, rocks to swim around and plenty of pondweed floating at the top. i have heard that they never breed in captivity(unless its done professionally), however the female is laying a lot of eggs in the weed. They eat almost anything (but do not eat pellets unless there is no other food in the tank) and particurly love daphnia. the egg layer is not large, she is only around 4 inches long and quite slim. it is almost impossible to sex them so i will be adding a few more of similar size to the tank in the hopes that one is a fertile male. keep your eyes posted on this notice, because if i get a load of little babies, i will post all of the details of their tank conditions in the hopes that we can haave a few more successes in the future.
2006-05-18 | ||
Click For Replies (2) Nice to hear that you sharks are breeding, it may have been pregnant when you bought it though. But I think that u should reconsider buying more in a 2ft tank as silver sharks can grow quite large and will out grow that tank in no time... I'm seriously thinking about getting a school of these sharks and breeding them. As I plan to do with many species for profit. I'd love to know if your success was brought to fruition. I really loved the balas but as you know local petstore clerks know as much as I did when I said "Hey I'd like to have some fish". I want to try the rainbow sharks as well. Instead of hurting the population I'd like to relieve it a little maybe. Hope all goes well I read and read that they are hard to spawn. Good luck let us all know!... | ||
these fish can be sexed. the Female is the larger, rounder fish. the male is slimmer. i have 2 in a 150 gallon aquarium. they eat Krill, Tetra Bits and blood worms. the only gravel in my tank is Pea gravel for a 9" and growing, Marble sailfin catfish. the Female is the more domintate fish. the 2 sharks will get side by side and will go through a spawning motion. if i add plants, i have a feeling they scatter eggs in a slow moving filtration. they will breed soon
2006-03-11 | ||
| Questions - Answers | ||
I have had bala's for about 3 years now and the old timer, is about 7" now. For the last 2 weeks I have been having trouble keeping the others alive. I have replaced 2 and now another one is doing the back stroke. But it isn't the oldest or the newst one. They are fine one minute and the next they are belly up and struggling around the tank upside down. The old man scurries away from them and within 12 hours they are dead. No sores, or clamp fin,or ick, they just go. I have tried adding fresh water and am using melafix as well as water treatment. They are in a 50 gallon tank with Fluval tank filter and a water heater set at 76. I have a plecastema and a needle fish in the same tank, so there isn't any fighting. Anyone else having this problem?
2009-01-06 | ||
Click For Replies (1) Hi I have two little balas in a 10 gal moving up to 50 soon. It hasn't even been a day yet since I bought them I watched it when I got home from school it did 3 circles then they turn upside down. But I haven't removed them because they're gills are still moving. I'm probably going to try rainbows and see if they do the same.... | ||
Do they have teeth?
2010-04-08 | ||
Hi, I have 11 bala sharks and they are doing really well, even the youngsters are growing. My question is, how long are they pregnant for, as I cant seem to get any answers. In my local pet shops, you can buy them on a regular basis. I go to a person who knows his tropical/cold/marine fish very well. Some pet shops will just sell you anything, but after contacting the right people I now know who to go to.
2009-09-29 | ||
| Comments Dr Jungle REALLY Likes to Hear! | ||
Hello, I just found and enjoy your informative site. I am surprised bala sharks are so readily available in stores since they are threatened. I have a couple of them that I have had for years, but I would not have purchased a threatened species. I also have three red rainbows that I read are on a watch list. Pet stores should post this information so consumers can make educated purchases. Thank you!
2009-08-11 | ||
I bought these fish a month ago as I had heard their fighter-plane like properties.I bought them as silver sharks and they were just one and half inch long. Now I know that they are bala sharks. They looked very promising. They really showed their acrobatics and enticed all my students. But at present, one has grown almost to double (or more) the size and other is almost of the original size. They look like mother and child together!! The bigger one ate pellets from the beginning wheras I haven't seen the small one eating the pellets till today! Anyways, they are not less enchanting. This is a great site as it gives a thorough knowledge about fishes. Morever, we can hear each other's comments and experiences about our pets. Kudos.
2008-08-12 | ||
This last Sunday I purched two bala sharks and am looking up all my fish to know a little more about them. I didn't know that they were an endangered species, Wow. This site is very helpful and the information is great. Thanks Miss Princess
2007-08-20 | ||
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