Can kuhli loaches live with bala sharks?

Verdict

Yes, with care

Yes, with care. Kuhli loaches and bala sharks 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 kuhli loaches.

Kuhli loach75–86°F · pH 5.5–7

Bala shark72–82°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 kuhli loaches.

What works

Both are fine at 75–82°F.
pH 6.5–7 suits both.
They use different parts of the tank: kuhli 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

	Kuhli loach	Bala shark
Temperature	75–86 °F	72–82 °F
pH	5.5–7	6.5–7.5
Adult size	3.5 in	13.0 in
Minimum tank	20 gal	125 gal
Temperament	Peaceful	Peaceful
Swims at	Bottom	Middle
Group	Groups of 6+	Groups of 4+
Diet	Omnivore	Omnivore

Better tank mates for kuhli loaches

All kuhli loach tank mates

Better tank mates for bala sharks

All bala shark tank mates

Questions

Can kuhli loaches live with bala sharks?

Yes, with care. Kuhli loaches and bala sharks 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 kuhli loaches.

What temperature suits both kuhli loaches and bala sharks?

75–82 °F. Kuhli loaches need 75–86 °F, bala sharks need 72–82 °F.

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

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