Bala Sharks

As the glittering silver body of the shark darted through the cool waters, Emily did not get the jitters although she was in close contact with a shark! Well, this was not because Emily was one of the bravest girls on earth; the shark I am about to mention out here is the Bala shark. The Bala shark as the name suggests is really not a shark and is quite tiny in appearance as compared to other sharks. In facts, the Bala sharks can live with you in your own home if you like the idea of having an aquarium at home! Here’s a look at the description and details regarding the Bala sharks.

Bala Sharks: Description and Distribution
The Bala sharks have a silver colored body that can grow to a length of 35 centimeters. This sleek fish definitely looks like a shark hence it has been given its name. This shark also has large fins and is found in rivers and lakes. The body of the Bala shark is shaped like a torpedo, which is on similar lines to the body of the shark. The Bala sharks are found in the Rivers basins of Meking and Chao Phraya as well the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra. A noticeable feature of the Bala shark is the black markings on all the fins. The common names for the Bala sharks are the tricolor shark, silver shark and it is also known as the shark minnow.

Bala Sharks: Popular fish for an aquarium
The Bala sharks are very popular as aquarium fish. Their temperament is quite different from an actual shark as these are generally peaceful creatures. These sharks are also easily available in most pet stores. As compared to other fish, Bala sharks would need a relatively large aquarium. It may be noted if the Bala sharks are really young, they can be kept in a small aquarium. As the Bala sharks grow in size, they would need a 6 feet fish tank.

Bala sharks are known to get along well with other types of tropical fish. These fish are better kept with groups of 5 or more. The Bala sharks being an omnivore, these can eat other fish and animals that are smaller in size. The Bala sharks also prove to be easy on maintenance, as they do not require too much fussing around from any person. They do take time to adapt themselves to a new aquarium and they can tolerate temperature changes in the water. Ideally, you would require to maintain a temperature which is between 22-28 degrees C. Besides, you would also need to keep a check on the water hardness, this should be between soft to medium. Bala sharks are not really aggressive in nature and are also known to be highly skilled jumpers. Therefore, experts believe in keeping them in covered aquariums.

When it comes to decorating the aquarium, the Bala shark would need large areas for swimming. You would need to keep this in mind when you add plants to provide it an atmosphere that is as natural as possible. Bala sharks also feel secure when it is in a group. The large size of the Bala sharks intimidates other fish and does not let it get bullied by others, which works in its favor!

Bala Sharks: Food habits
Bala sharks can eat anything especially live prey. They have a natural behavior pattern to hunt on the bottom areas for food bits. They are known to feed on small sized fish, shrimps, insects etc. It is also known to eat various kinds of algae that grow in the waters.

Bala Sharks: Breeding patterns
The males are larger than the females. When this fish reaches a length of 10 cms, it is known to become sexually mature. When in the wild, Bala sharks are known to find new grounds for mass spawning. They use external methods of fertilizing their eggs. The females look bigger than the males during the breeding season.

Today, the numbers of the Bala sharks are on the decline in its natural habitat. Experts have the opinion that the sole reason for this is the due to over fishing and pollution of the rivers as well.