Bala Sharks, tagged as the “gentle giants,” are good fish pets. Their peaceful temperament makes it easy to find a variety of Bala Shark tank mates.
Bala Sharks can go well with aggressive fishes as long as they are smaller; peaceful yet smaller fishes are not recommended, for they might become victims of their omnivorous nature. And more importantly, Bala Sharks are not sharks, so you must not keep them together with real sharks.
Contrary to the name, the Bala Sharks are peaceful aquatic fishes. Having such temperament and size can benefit you as a pet owner since you can add more fishes of different species.
Best Bala Shark Tank Mates
Bala Sharks make an ideal aquarium pet since their size and temperament are enough to keep aggressive fishes in check. However, because of their omnivorous nature, they can feed on smaller fishes.
Here are the best Bala Shark tank mates available in the market to guide your selection:
1. Angelfish (Pterophyllum Sp.)
Size: 4 to 14 inches (varies)
Minimum Tank Size: 30 Gallons
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Diet: Omnivorous
Care Level: Easy
Appearance:
Angelfish is a staple in most large aquariums mainly due to its appearance and striking color patterns.
The most common is the Pterophyllum Scalare or the generic angelfish. The Pterophyllum Altum, or Orinoco angelfish, looks similar to the generic angelfish but has thinner dual stripes.
Lastly, the Pterophyllum Leopoldi, or Leopold’s angelfish, is distinguished by the lack of a pre-dorsal notch. As indicated in the name, this fish has gracefully large fins as if they were angel wings.
Care Requirements:
This type of cichlid can be relatively easy to take care of, and when paired with other cichlids, they are not seen as aggressive as usual. However, they tend to bully other fish species.
When it comes to Bala Shark, their aggression is neutralized since the latter is bigger. The ideal conditions for angelfishes are similar to that for Bala Sharks but with denser vegetation.
Breeding:
All species of angelfishes are monogamous. However, during mating season, angelfishes are at their most aggressive state.
With a Bala Shark present, that temperament can be subdued. The eggs of angelfishes are usually laid on a log submerged or beneath an aquatic plant.
2. Kissing Gourami (Helostoma Temminckii)
Size: 12 to 16 Inches
Minimum Tank Size: 75 Gallons
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Diet: Omnivorous
Care Level: Easy
Appearance:
Kissing Gouramis are medium-sized fishes. The term “kissing” comes from their action when meeting their fellow gouramis, but it is not an act of affection but rather a show of aggression.
The variations in the color of Kissing Gouramis include a pink variety, a mottled variety, and a silver-green one. The green coloration is the most abundant, while the pink variation is just a consequence of a pigmentation reduction.
Care Requirements:
Kissing Gouramis prefer their water warm. That won’t be a problem if the water current flows steadily.
In terms of feeding, even though they are omnivores, they like to munch down plants. So, expect them to feed on any aquatic plants you add to the tank for decoration.
Breeding:
If you want to breed Kissing Gouramis to have more tank mates for the Bala Shark, you may do so as long as your tank is enormous. Also, don’t forget to keep the water warm, around 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
The reproduction is relatively straightforward for Kissing Gouramis. Like any other medium to large-sized fish, removing the young from the main fish tank is advisable since they can become food.
To raise the fries, feed them with fine flake foods or recently hatched brine shrimp.
3. Blood Parrot Cichlid (Amphilophus Citrinellus × Vieja Melanurus)
Size: 7 to 10 Inches
Minimum Tank Size: 30 Gallons
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Diet: Omnivorous
Care Level: Intermediate
Appearance:
The Blood Parrot Cichlid is a hybrid fish; however, the result produces anatomical deformities, including the beak-shaped mouth, which cannot be closed fully. Their throat muscles are more developed for crushing food to compensate for their lack of mouth movement.
Being a cross between a Midas and a Redhead Cichlid, the Blood Parrot Cichlids boast an attractive coloration. They have red, yellow, or orange coloration.
On top of the other internal deformities, they have large eyes and round bodies.
Care Requirements:
The deformities make the Blood Parrot Cichlids a bit more challenging to take care of. There is a risk of malnutrition since they can’t consume food that most fishes usually do.
Despite all those physical disadvantages, the Blood Parrot Cichlids can still display aggression by bumping their heads.
This fish also produce a tremendous amount of waste. Therefore, you need to have a proper filtration system to maintain the water quality for the sake of other fishes.
The Blood Parrot Cichlids are active swimmers but tend to hide when threatened. You can add some wood or vegetation for them to settle.
Breeding:
Another challenge for this type of fish is breeding since most male Blood Parrot Cichlids can become infertile while their female counterparts are fertile. Hormone injections are necessary to overcome this hurdle.
4. Common Pleco (Hypostomus Plecostomus)
Size: 12 to 20 inches
Minimum Tank Size: 75 Gallons
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Diet: Omnivorous
Care Level: Easy
Appearance:
The Common Plecos are primarily known as armored catfishes. They have the typical appearance of a catfish: a flat belly, expansive fins, and underturned mouth.
What makes them different is the color variations based on which environment they originated. Furthermore, this fish type has armor plates for protection against predators.
Care Requirements:
The Common Plecos are active during nighttime. They patrol the fish tank to look for algae to feed on.
Usually, they stay at the bottom, but during the day, they spend their time in hiding, making it hassle-free to care for them.
Common Plecos can get aggressive when they don’t belong to a school. That feeling of vulnerability heightens their fighting tendencies.
Bala Sharks may be a bit smaller, but their durability allows them to withstand hits from Common Plecos, making them great tank mates for Bala Sharks.
Breeding:
Since Common Plecos love belonging to a school, it will be appropriate if you breed more of them. However, breeding them is a huge challenge.
They need a water volume of at least 300 gallons. Furthermore, these fish become territorial and will fight any other fish in sight to death, so it is recommended to leave the breeding to experts.
5. Clown Loaches (Chromobotia Macracanthus)
Size: 6 to 12 Inches
Minimum Tank Size: 100 Gallons
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivorous
Care Level: Intermediate
Appearance:
Clown Loaches have a similar body type to most Botia Loaches. They have elongated bodies, sharp and pointed noses, flat stomachs, protruding mouth whiskers, and deeply forked tails.
As younglings, there are bright orange colors along the Clown Loaches’ bodies, including multiple black stripes. When they get older, the colors change.
The orange will become less prominent, and the stripes will fade and blend with the dark brown hue.
Care Requirements:
Clown Loaches need at least five of them to make them feel comfortable. Otherwise, they will just hide from anybody.
They do have peaceful temperaments and similar adult size to the Bala Sharks. Therefore, having Clown Loaches as tank mates for Bala Sharks is a great choice.
You’ll probably have a hard time with the tank size; since Clown Loaches are bottom dwellers, you need to have large enough space so the bottom will not get crowded.
One important thing to be wary of is that Clown Loaches are prone to ich infections. If such an incident is unavoidable, be careful with medication since they are also sensitive to chemicals.
Breeding:
Clown Loaches are nearly impossible to breed in an aquarium setting and are more inclined to breed in the wild.
So it is best not to try breeding them but instead, just purchase another Clown Loach if you like it as tank mates for Bala Sharks.
6. Discus Fish (Symphysodon Sp.)
Size: 15 to 20 Inches
Minimum Tank Size: 50 Gallons
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivorous
Care Level: Intermediate
Appearance:
Discus fishes are named that way because they are shaped like a disc, the kind used for the sports discus throw. Their flat bodies become more attractive with their vibrant colors.
Four different colors can be seen on the patterns and markings of a Discus fish. There are also several vertical stripes across the body, and the brightest variations result from hybridization.
As the Discus fishes mature, the coloration becomes complete. If their environment suddenly changes, their colors will adapt.
Care Requirements:
The Discus fish may be a great companion of Bala Sharks, but taking care of them can be challenging. The state of the fish tank and how you feed the Discus fish are directly proportional to the health of the said fish.
Fortunately, the ideal conditions required are similar to that for Bala Sharks. Discus fishes are peaceful and avoid anything that intimidates them.
They also have a carnivorous diet, so you must prepare a live feed such as worms or insects. The more you care for them, the brighter their colors will appear.
Breeding:
One of the main reasons for seriously breeding Discus fishes is wanting to have different color patterns. It may be hard, but you can do it as long as you have the patience to pursue selective breeding.
7. Tinfoil Barbs (Barbus Schwanefeldi)
Size: 10 to 14 Inches
Minimum Tank Size: 55 Gallons
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Omnivorous
Care Level: Easy
Appearance:
Like the Bala Sharks, Tinfoil Barbs have a silver yet reflective color, hence the term “tinfoil” in the name. On the tips of their pins, there is a bright red coloration.
Their bodies are compressed laterally, and their chests are deep. With an average length close to a foot, a Tinfoil Barb can be a perfect partner to the Bala Shark.
Care Requirements:
Tinfoil Barbs are some of the easiest aquatic creatures to take care of. They are generally low maintenance, and they are pretty docile too. Even though they are peaceful creatures, they can’t be viewed as food by the Bala Sharks because they are similar in size.
The aquarium environment is well-maintained, so the Tinfoil Barbs wouldn’t catch any illnesses. They are resilient and have that survival instinct.
When push comes to shove, these fish can also get aggressive.
Breeding:
Although taking care of Tinfoil Barbs is easy, breeding them can be tricky, so it is essential to find the right method. The female Tinfoil Barbs are egg-scatterers, meaning that the male Tinfoil Barbs can fertilize the eggs in a random region of the fish tank.
The biggest problem is that the parent fish feed on the eggs. You have to separate them from the younger ones as soon as the fertilization is done.
Additionally, breeding Tinfoil Barbs require a larger tank than usual.
8. Black Ghost Knifefish (Apteronotus Albifrons)
Size: 18 to 20 inches
Minimum Tank Size: 100 Gallons
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Diet: Carnivorous
Care Level: Intermediate
Appearance:
This fish’s name is quite a mouthful, but as you see it in person, you’ll soon understand the reason for the name. The Black Ghost Knifefish can be distinguished by its combination of very dark blue and black colors.
The only exception is the two small white bands on the rod-like tails. Another distinguishing feature besides the color is that this fish has no fins at the back.
The body of Black Ghost Knifefish is flat and elongated. Furthermore, while navigating, these fish unleash a small amount of voltage.
When they swim in the fish tank, it’s hard not to stare at their gracefulness.
Care Requirements:
There is no denying that the Black Ghost Knifefish is so elegant-looking but can be a handful to take care of. Because it has no scales, the fish is sensitive to water quality.
You need to comply with the ideal parameters all the time. Otherwise, the Black Ghost Knifefish will easily get sick.
Breeding:
The Black Ghost Knifefishes are usually not bred in fish tanks. Some hobbyists may have done it, but it takes experience and skill to pull that off.
Many factors contribute to its difficulties, such as requiring huge tanks, plenty of hiding places, dense plantations, and constant draining and flooding of the tank.
9. Boesemani Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia Boesemani)
Size: 4 to 8 Inches
Minimum Tank Size: 40 Gallons
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Omnivorous
Care Level: Easy
Appearance:
The Boeseman’s Rainbowfish is such a magnificent creature to look at. The body is thick, the chest is deep, and the head is a bit small.
The front part of the body is vividly colored blue, while the back part up to the tail is bright yellow. It may be colorful, but the Boeseman’s Rainbowfish also reveals its best colors when kept with the same species.
Care Requirements:
The best part about Boeseman’s Rainbowfish is taking care of it. Typically, the fish requires little maintenance.
It can tolerate various water conditions and rarely gets sick. You will have nothing to worry about as long as you comply with the recommended water parameters.
The Boeseman’s Rainbowfish is a peaceful creature. Although it likes being in a densely populated aquarium, it tries its best to avoid confrontation.
Breeding:
Breeding this species is easy as long as the ideal parameters are met. However, the hard part is trying to raise the fries; they need specific food until they mature.
10. Tetras (Tetragonopterus Sp.)
Size: 1 to 2 inches
Minimum Tank Size: 10 Gallons
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Omnivorous
Care Level: Easy
Appearance:
The Tetras are known to be small. Almost all species are similar looking with just a few minor distinguishing features.
Their greatest asset is their bright colors, and when a school of 10 to 12 Tetras is swimming, it is beautiful to watch.
Care Requirements:
As a tiny type of fish, you may be wondering how come the Tetras made it to this list. First, you have to add many Tetras to make them viable Bala Shark tank mates. They are also one of the easiest fishes to take care of.
Breeding:
Breeding Tetras can be easy, even for those with minimal experience. However, like most small fishes, the challenge lies in raising younglings.
An Overview Of The Bala Shark (Balantiocheilos Melanopterus)
Size: 14 Inches
Minimum Tank Size: 120 Gallons
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Omnivorous
Care Level: Easy
Appearance:
Originally found in Southeast Asia, Bala Sharks is popular due to its easygoing temperament and large size. They can grow up to 14 inches long, so you need a large fish tank.
The “shark” in their name is due to their shark-like frame, but it has nothing to do with their nature.
Usually, they are silver in color with yellow, gray, and black fins. This three-color scheme makes them very attractive for pet owners.
Sometimes, they are also called “the tri-color shark.” Their eyes are large and well-defined.
Care Requirements:
Taking care of Bala Sharks can be pretty easy, and you can do it even with only a basic knowledge of fish care. As mentioned, they can grow over a foot long, so your fish tank must be large enough to accommodate a few of them.
Having that expected size means you must feed the Bala Sharks high-quality foods. In terms of illnesses, it will be easy to spot any symptoms since the fishes are large.
Changing 25 to 35 percent of the water weekly is recommended even if you have a filtration system.
Breeding:
With a life expectancy of ten years, you’ll have many chances of breeding more Bala Sharks. Bala Sharks are schooling fish.
Therefore, putting at least two of them from opposing genders will be convenient. You can leave them there and wait for eggs to appear.
The appropriate age for Bala Sharks to reproduce is when they are at least three years old and have a minimum height of 5 inches. The ideal breeding environment is having at least 65 gallons of water kept at 77 degrees Fahrenheit.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bala Sharks
How do aquatic creatures become good tank mates for Bala Shark?
Since Bala Sharks are gentle creatures with a large frame, any fish similar to their size can be a good tank mate, regardless of the temperament. However, Bala Sharks are omnivorous and can feed on smaller fishes.
Add at least three more if you prefer to have only Bala Sharks in the tank since they are schooling fish.
At which part of the aquarium do the Bala Sharks prefer to settle?
The Bala Sharks enjoy swimming around. They usually find food in the middle regions of the fish tank.
They also travel near the surface in anticipation of eating some lost insects and scavenging for food below the fish tank. You have no urgent need to attend to them since they can manage independently.
What creatures must be avoided in selection for a Bala Shark tank mate?
Since Bala Sharks are omnivorous, you must avoid adding small, slow-moving fishes. They will just become food for the Bala Sharks.
Aside from that, snails and shrimps are just heavenly meals for them, so be wary of adding them to the tank.
Another thing to note is that Bala Sharks are not sharks, so do not add small sharks to the fish tank. Aside from making the food competition much stiffer, Bala Sharks might not take the aggression from the actual baby sharks well.
Conclusion
There are more fish species that make excellent Bala Shark tank mates. This is due to the generally peaceful temperament of these gentle giants despite their size.
However, never add more than two more species as companions for the Bala Shark. You may end up having a hard time managing maintenance due to their differences in temperaments and sensitivity.
Still, it’s up to you. If you are up to the challenge, then add more if preferred. Just ensure that the tank is large enough so you won’t cause undue stress to your fish.
You can also keep it simple and add three more Bala Sharks since they are schooling fish, meaning they need companions to thrive.
