Can bala sharks live with swordtails?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Bala sharks and swordtails 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 swordtails.

Bala shark72–82°F · pH 6.5–7.5

Swordtail72–79°F · pH 7–8.3

What to watch

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

What works

Both are fine at 72–79°F.
pH 7–7.5 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	Swordtail
Temperature	72–82 °F	72–79 °F
pH	6.5–7.5	7–8.3
Adult size	13.0 in	5.0 in
Minimum tank	125 gal	30 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Semi-aggressive
Swims at	Middle	Middle
Group	Groups of 4+	Groups of 3+
Diet	Omnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for bala sharks

All bala shark tank mates

Better tank mates for swordtails

All swordtail tank mates

Questions

Can bala sharks live with swordtails?

Yes, with care. Bala sharks and swordtails 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 swordtails.

What temperature suits both bala sharks and swordtails?

72–79 °F. Bala sharks need 72–82 °F, swordtails need 72–79 °F.

What size tank do bala sharks and swordtails need together?

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