Can goldfish live with bala sharks?

Verdict

No. Goldfish and bala sharks should not share a tank. Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); bala sharks need 72–82°F. They overlap only at 72–74°F, the edge of both ranges.

Goldfish60–74°F · pH 7–8

Bala shark72–82°F · pH 6.5–7.5

What to watch

Deal breakerGoldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); bala sharks need 72–82°F. They overlap only at 72–74°F, the edge of both ranges.

What works

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

	Goldfish	Bala shark
Temperature	60–74 °F	72–82 °F
pH	7–8	6.5–7.5
Adult size	10.0 in	13.0 in
Minimum tank	40 gal	125 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Peaceful
Swims at	All levels	Middle
Group	Alone or in pairs	Groups of 4+
Diet	Omnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for goldfish

All goldfish tank mates

Better tank mates for bala sharks

All bala shark tank mates

Questions

Can goldfish live with bala sharks?

No. Goldfish and bala sharks should not share a tank. Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); bala sharks need 72–82°F. They overlap only at 72–74°F, the edge of both ranges.

What temperature suits both goldfish and bala sharks?

72–74 °F. Goldfish need 60–74 °F, bala sharks need 72–82 °F.

What size tank do goldfish and bala sharks need together?

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