Can bala sharks live with zebra plecos?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Bala sharks and zebra plecos 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 zebra plecos.

Bala shark72–82°F · pH 6.5–7.5

Zebra pleco79–88°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 zebra plecos.

What works

Both are fine at 79–82°F.
pH 6.5–7.5 suits both.
They use different parts of the tank: bala sharks the mid, zebra plecos 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	Zebra pleco
Temperature	72–82 °F	79–88 °F
pH	6.5–7.5	6–7.5
Adult size	13.0 in	3.5 in
Minimum tank	125 gal	30 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Peaceful
Swims at	Middle	Bottom
Group	Groups of 4+	Alone or in pairs
Diet	Omnivore	Carnivore

Better tank mates for bala sharks

All bala shark tank mates

Better tank mates for zebra plecos

All zebra pleco tank mates

Questions

Can bala sharks live with zebra plecos?

Yes, with care. Bala sharks and zebra plecos 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 zebra plecos.

What temperature suits both bala sharks and zebra plecos?

79–82 °F. Bala sharks need 72–82 °F, zebra plecos need 79–88 °F.

What size tank do bala sharks and zebra plecos need together?

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