Can bala sharks live with cardinal tetras?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Bala sharks and cardinal tetras can share a tank, but watch one thing. At 13 inches a bala shark can swallow a small cardinal tetra. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.

Bala shark72–82°F · pH 6.5–7.5

Cardinal tetra76–84°F · pH 4.6–7

What to watch

Watch outAt 13 inches a bala shark can swallow a small cardinal tetra. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Watch outBala sharks grow to 13 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for cardinal tetras.

What works

Both are fine at 76–82°F.
pH 6.5–7 suits both.

Water side by side

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

The green band is the pH both tolerate.

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

	Bala shark	Cardinal tetra
Temperature	72–82 °F	76–84 °F
pH	6.5–7.5	4.6–7
Adult size	13.0 in	2.0 in
Minimum tank	125 gal	20 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Peaceful
Swims at	Middle	Middle
Group	Groups of 4+	Groups of 6+
Diet	Omnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for bala sharks

All bala shark tank mates

Better tank mates for cardinal tetras

All cardinal tetra tank mates

Questions

Can bala sharks live with cardinal tetras?

Yes, with care. Bala sharks and cardinal tetras can share a tank, but watch one thing. At 13 inches a bala shark can swallow a small cardinal tetra. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.

What temperature suits both bala sharks and cardinal tetras?

76–82 °F. Bala sharks need 72–82 °F, cardinal tetras need 76–84 °F.

What size tank do bala sharks and cardinal tetras need together?

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