Can bala sharks live with siamese algae eaters?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Bala sharks and siamese algae eaters 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 siamese algae eaters.

Bala shark72–82°F · pH 6.5–7.5

Siamese algae eater75–79°F · pH 6.5–7.5

What to watch

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

What works

Both are fine at 75–79°F.
pH 6.5–7.5 suits both.
They use different parts of the tank: bala sharks the mid, siamese algae eaters the bottom.

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	Siamese algae eater
Temperature	72–82 °F	75–79 °F
pH	6.5–7.5	6.5–7.5
Adult size	13.0 in	6.0 in
Minimum tank	125 gal	30 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Peaceful
Swims at	Middle	Bottom
Group	Groups of 4+	Alone or in pairs
Diet	Omnivore	Herbivore

Better tank mates for bala sharks

All bala shark tank mates

Better tank mates for siamese algae eaters

All siamese algae eater tank mates

Questions

Can bala sharks live with siamese algae eaters?

Yes, with care. Bala sharks and siamese algae eaters 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 siamese algae eaters.

What temperature suits both bala sharks and siamese algae eaters?

75–79 °F. Bala sharks need 72–82 °F, siamese algae eaters need 75–79 °F.

What size tank do bala sharks and siamese algae eaters need together?

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