Bala Shark

General information

These fish are called sharks but truth is they aren’t really sharks. They get this name because of their rigid, upright triangular dorsal fin and their body that is shaped like a torpedo making them look like sharks. These fish usually reach 12 inches. Bala sharks are silver with a golden gloss on the sides, its fins are white or golden  with a black edge on the rear. To keep these fish in captivity, water temperature should range from 72ºF to 82ºF and water pH should be between 6.5 and 7.8. The tank should have open areas for swimming, a cover since they may jump, plants and driftwood. These fish are peaceful and can be kept in a community aquarium with fish too big to fit in their mouths. Bala sharks should be kept in groups of at least 5, they will form an hierarchy so if the group is small the less dominant individual may be constantly harassed. They should never be kept singly in a community tank because they may become aggressive with other tankmates. The minimum size recommended for the aquarium is 40 gallon per individual.

These fish are omnivorous. In the wild they feed on crustaceans, insects, algae and other plants. In captivity, they can be fed flakes, live or frozen food. The best diet is a mix between flanks and live food like brine shrimp or bloodworms.

Not much is known about this specie’s breeding habits except that it is an egg scatterer.

This species can be found in Sumatra, Borneo and Malaysia. It inhabits rivers and lakes.