Freshwater Fish
Bala Shark / Silver Shark.
A sleek, silver schooling fish with black-edged fins — peaceful despite the 'shark' name, but it grows over a foot long and needs space. Best for a large 120-gallon-plus tank in a group, with room to put on the speed they love.
In-store purchase only. Live fish, coral, and invertebrates are sold at our Erie store only. They cannot be bought online, and we do not ship live animals under any circumstances.
Live fish are priced per supplier batch — prices may vary. Call to confirm current pricing.
- Condition
- new
- Fulfillment
- Local pickup — Erie, PA
Live animals are sold in store only — we do not ship fish, coral, or invertebrates. Every animal is acclimated and health-checked in-house before it reaches the sales floor. This is a species we carry — it's most likely in the tanks around delivery days, but live stock changes daily. Please call (814) 456-9445 to confirm availability before you drive in.
Care at a glance
What to know before you take one home.
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Community
- Semi community
- Adult size
- 13"
- Min tank size
- 50–150 gal by age
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Scientific name
- Balantiocheilus melanopterus
Grows into its tank
Juvenile (purchased size ~3–4 in)50 galAdult (12 in+, group of 5)150 galGood tank mates
Peaceful but listed semi-community because of size and speed: it grows over a foot long and shoals, so house it with other large, active, peaceful fish that won't be intimidated or eaten. Good matches are bigger barbs, larger rainbowfish, peaceful gouramis, and similarly sized catfish. Avoid tiny fish like neon or ember tetras that fit in its mouth, and steer clear of slow or long-finned tankmates it may outcompete or startle. Not for a small or nano tank.
Good to know
Despite the name, the bala shark is not a shark at all but a member of the carp and minnow family, Cyprinidae.
Stock and individual temperament vary — call (814) 456-9445 for pairing advice before you buy.
Good tankmates
Plays well with.
Species we’d keep in the same tank, with why each pairing works. Stock and individual temperament vary — call (814) 456-9445 to confirm before you buy.
New to stocking a tank? Read our guide on which fish live together.
Clown Loach
Grows to 8–12 inches and occupies the substrate, not competing for midwater space with the Bala. Equally peaceful and requires the same warm tropical conditions (26–30°C). Widely confirmed across multiple reputable aquarium sources as one of the top Bala Shark companions, provided the tank is 125 gallons or more.
- B
Boesemani Rainbowfish
Reaches 4–4.5 inches — large enough to clear the Bala Shark's relatively small mouth — and is a fast, active schooling fish that matches the Bala's energetic midwater style. Compatible tropical water parameters (75–86°F). Must be kept in a group of six or more. Confirmed as compatible by multiple aquarium care sources.
- G
Garra
Larger Garra species are explicitly named by Seriously Fish in the Balantiocheilos melanopterus species profile as appropriate, robustly sized tankmates for adult Silver Sharks in very large aquaria sharing the same fast-water, high-oxygen conditions.
- B
Barilius
Active open-water cyprinids from overlapping South/Southeast Asian river habitat, explicitly cited by Seriously Fish alongside Garra as suitable companions that match the Silver Shark's fast-swimming, schooling nature in large tanks.
Visit the store
660 East 14th Street,
Erie, PA.
Mon–Fri 12–6 · Sat 11–4 · Sun closed. Call ahead on livestock — what's on the floor rotates.