Can bala sharks live with peacock cichlids?

Verdict

Yes, with care

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

Bala shark72–82°F · pH 6.5–7.5

Peacock cichlid76–82°F · pH 7.8–8.6

What to watch

Watch outDifferent water: bala sharks want pH 6.5–7.5, peacock cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6.

What works

Both are fine at 76–82°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

	Bala shark	Peacock cichlid
Temperature	72–82 °F	76–82 °F
pH	6.5–7.5	7.8–8.6
Adult size	13.0 in	6.0 in
Minimum tank	125 gal	55 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Semi-aggressive
Swims at	Middle	Middle
Group	Groups of 4+	Groups of 4+
Diet	Omnivore	Carnivore

Better tank mates for bala sharks

All bala shark tank mates

Better tank mates for peacock cichlids

All peacock cichlid tank mates

Questions

Can bala sharks live with peacock cichlids?

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

What temperature suits both bala sharks and peacock cichlids?

76–82 °F. Bala sharks need 72–82 °F, peacock cichlids need 76–82 °F.

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

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