Norton Aquatics: Content / Cypriniformes / Bala Shark

Bala Shark - Balantiocheilos melanopterus

Also known as Tri-colour Sharks, these large fish do well with smaller tank-mates and is an excellent community fish.

The Bala Shark hails from the Mekong and Chao Phraya basins in the Malay Peninsula especially Sumatra and Borneo.

Image Copyright Mark Smith (Cichlid Press).

A very peaceful, schooling fish, the Bala or Tri-colour Shark is often kept as a single juvenile in small community aquariums.
Bala Shark easily grow to 35 - 40cm (16") and prefer to be kept in groups of 5 or more in suitably large aquariums - usually a minimum of 1.8m (6 foot) in length.

These fish are greedy feeders, usually darting in and grabbing the food and then darting away again untill it has swallowed its mouthfull, then darting back. It is mainly herbivorous and appreciates being regularly fed extra vegetable matter. Not recommended for planted tanks as it relishes having fresh leaves to eat.

Easily kept with smaller fish, the bala is the perfect addition to the large, unplanted community aquarium.

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