Can bala sharks live with pearl gouramis?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Bala sharks and pearl gouramis 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 pearl gouramis.

Bala shark72–82°F · pH 6.5–7.5

Pearl gourami77–82°F · pH 6–7.5

What to watch

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

What works

Both are fine at 77–82°F.
pH 6.5–7.5 suits both.
They use different parts of the tank: bala sharks the mid, pearl gouramis 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	Pearl gourami
Temperature	72–82 °F	77–82 °F
pH	6.5–7.5	6–7.5
Adult size	13.0 in	5.0 in
Minimum tank	125 gal	30 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Peaceful
Swims at	Middle	Top
Group	Groups of 4+	Alone or in pairs
Diet	Omnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for bala sharks

All bala shark tank mates

Better tank mates for pearl gouramis

All pearl gourami tank mates

Questions

Can bala sharks live with pearl gouramis?

Yes, with care. Bala sharks and pearl gouramis 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 pearl gouramis.

What temperature suits both bala sharks and pearl gouramis?

77–82 °F. Bala sharks need 72–82 °F, pearl gouramis need 77–82 °F.

What size tank do bala sharks and pearl gouramis need together?

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