Can bala sharks live with rosy barbs?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Bala sharks and rosy barbs 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 rosy barbs.

Bala shark72–82°F · pH 6.5–7.5

Rosy barb64–77°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 rosy barbs.

What works

Both are fine at 72–77°F.
pH 6.5–7.5 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	Rosy barb
Temperature	72–82 °F	64–77 °F
pH	6.5–7.5	6–7.5
Adult size	13.0 in	4.0 in
Minimum tank	125 gal	30 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Semi-aggressive
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 rosy barbs

All rosy barb tank mates

Questions

Can bala sharks live with rosy barbs?

Yes, with care. Bala sharks and rosy barbs 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 rosy barbs.

What temperature suits both bala sharks and rosy barbs?

72–77 °F. Bala sharks need 72–82 °F, rosy barbs need 64–77 °F.

What size tank do bala sharks and rosy barbs need together?

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