Can african cichlids live with bala sharks?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. African cichlids and bala sharks can share a tank, but watch one thing. Different water: african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6, bala sharks want pH 6.5–7.5.

African cichlid75–82°F · pH 7.8–8.6

Bala shark72–82°F · pH 6.5–7.5

What to watch

Watch outDifferent water: african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6, bala sharks want pH 6.5–7.5.
Watch outAfrican cichlids are aggressive, though bala sharks are big enough to shrug most of it off.

What works

Both are fine at 75–82°F.

Water side by side

The green band is the temperature range both can live in.

No pH suits both. One would live in the wrong water all the time.

Size to scale

Adult length in an aquarium. A fish can swallow anything that fits in its mouth, roughly a third to half its own length for predators.

Care at a glance

	African cichlid	Bala shark
Temperature	75–82 °F	72–82 °F
pH	7.8–8.6	6.5–7.5
Adult size	5.0 in	13.0 in
Minimum tank	55 gal	125 gal
Temperament	Aggressive	Peaceful
Swims at	All levels	Middle
Group	Groups of 6+	Groups of 4+
Diet	Herbivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for african cichlids

All african cichlid tank mates

Better tank mates for bala sharks

All bala shark tank mates

Questions

Can african cichlids live with bala sharks?

Yes, with care. African cichlids and bala sharks can share a tank, but watch one thing. Different water: african cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6, bala sharks want pH 6.5–7.5.

What temperature suits both african cichlids and bala sharks?

75–82 °F. African cichlids need 75–82 °F, bala sharks need 72–82 °F.

What size tank do african cichlids and bala sharks need together?

At least 125 gal, set by the bala shark. Add space for each extra fish.