Can hillstream loaches live with bala sharks?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Hillstream loaches and bala sharks can share a tank, but watch one thing. At 13 inches a bala shark can swallow a small hillstream loach. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.

Hillstream loach68–75°F · pH 6.5–7.5

Bala shark72–82°F · pH 6.5–7.5

What to watch

Watch outAt 13 inches a bala shark can swallow a small hillstream loach. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Watch outBala sharks grow to 13 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for hillstream loaches.

What works

Both are fine at 72–75°F.
pH 6.5–7.5 suits both.
They use different parts of the tank: hillstream loaches the bottom, bala sharks the mid.

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

	Hillstream loach	Bala shark
Temperature	68–75 °F	72–82 °F
pH	6.5–7.5	6.5–7.5
Adult size	2.5 in	13.0 in
Minimum tank	20 gal	125 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Peaceful
Swims at	Bottom	Middle
Group	Groups of 3+	Groups of 4+
Diet	Herbivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for hillstream loaches

All hillstream loach tank mates

Better tank mates for bala sharks

All bala shark tank mates

Questions

Can hillstream loaches live with bala sharks?

Yes, with care. Hillstream loaches and bala sharks can share a tank, but watch one thing. At 13 inches a bala shark can swallow a small hillstream loach. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.

What temperature suits both hillstream loaches and bala sharks?

72–75 °F. Hillstream loaches need 68–75 °F, bala sharks need 72–82 °F.

What size tank do hillstream loaches and bala sharks need together?

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