Can bala sharks live with paradise fish?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Bala sharks and paradise fish can share a tank, but watch one thing. Bala sharks grow to 13 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for paradise fish.

Bala shark72–82°F · pH 6.5–7.5

Paradise fish61–79°F · pH 6–8

What to watch

Watch outBala sharks grow to 13 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for paradise fish.

What works

Both are fine at 72–79°F.
pH 6.5–7.5 suits both.
They use different parts of the tank: bala sharks the mid, paradise fish the top.

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	Paradise fish
Temperature	72–82 °F	61–79 °F
pH	6.5–7.5	6–8
Adult size	13.0 in	3.5 in
Minimum tank	125 gal	20 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Semi-aggressive
Swims at	Middle	Top
Group	Groups of 4+	One per tank
Diet	Omnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for bala sharks

All bala shark tank mates

Better tank mates for paradise fish

All paradise fish tank mates

Questions

Can bala sharks live with paradise fish?

Yes, with care. Bala sharks and paradise fish can share a tank, but watch one thing. Bala sharks grow to 13 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for paradise fish.

What temperature suits both bala sharks and paradise fish?

72–79 °F. Bala sharks need 72–82 °F, paradise fish need 61–79 °F.

What size tank do bala sharks and paradise fish need together?

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