Bala Shark (Balantiocheilos melanopterus)

Scientific Name(s): Balantiocheilos melanopterus, Barbus melanopterus, Puntius melanopterus

 

Common Name(s): Bala Shark, Silver Shark, Tricolor Shark

 

Family: Cyprinidae

 

Species Type: Cyprinids

 

Maximum Size: 14 inches

 

Life Span: 10 years

 

Natural Habitat: Asian Rivers

 

Minimum Tank Size: 120 gallons

 

Tank Region: All over

 

Possible Tank Mates: Danios, Guppies, Swordtails and Corydoras

 

Description: Bala Sharks require a large aquarium with driftwood, rocks, and spots of dense vegetation. This Cyprinid does best in small groups of 3 or more, as they prefer to school in the aquarium. Feed with flakes or worms. Very large tanks are recommended. Easy to keep. A heavy cover on the tank is much needed, as Bala Sharks can jump up to six feet in the air!

 

Temperature Range 72°F - 82°F

60°F

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85°F

90°F

 

pH Range 6.2 - 7.8

pH 5.0

pH 6.0

pH 7.0

pH 8.0

pH 9.0

 

Hardness 5° - 15°

0°

10°

20°

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40°

 

Breeding Information: This species is too large to breed in an aquarium.

 

Sexing Information: Females tend to have a rounder belly.

 

Diet: Carnivorous - does well with flake or pellet foods supplimented with worms and live snails.

 

Temperment: Schooling; Usually peaceful and passive but will violently attack invertabrates, such as ghost shrimp and snails as they make up a major part of its diet in the wild. The greater number of sharks in the school the bolder they will be; single specimens are extremely timid.

 

Common Diseases: None specifc to species

 

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Bala Shark (Balantiocheilos melanopterus)