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| Scientific name | Balantiocheilus melanopterus |
| Common name | Silver Shark, Bala Shark |
| Natural Habitat | South East Asia - Borneo, Sumatra, Thailand and the Malay peninsula |
| Appearance | Shiny silver fish with striking black bands on all fins and dark eye |
| Maximum size | Can grow to 12 inches, but very slow-growing : more usual aquarium length 6 - 8" |
| Aquarium Compatibility | Peaceful : likes to shoal with others of its species and will cruise quietly around in mid-water. |
| Diet | Omnivorous - will happily eat anything you give it. Feed on good quality flake food and supplement with live food occasionally. |
| Notes | The Silver
Shark is (like all the other freshwater aquarium so-called "sharks")
NOT a shark at all and is peaceful and easily startled. They can jump
out of the tank if frightened and so your tank must have a secure lid;
they may also dart away to hide, so make sure your aquarium decorations
have no sharp edges on which they could injure themselves. I currently have five Silver Sharks in my aquarium, two about 3½ inches long and three about 2 inches, bought as two separate batches from entirely different sources. Despite the difference in their sizes they shoal together and go about their business quite peacefully, completely ignoring their neighbours. |
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