Bala Shark

The bala shark, tricolor shark or silver shark, is a fish that belongs to the Cyprinidae family , of the Actinopterygii class. Its scientific name is Balantiocheilus Melanopterus and it comes from the Asian continent, where it was baptized as a shark, although this is really only due to its appearance, which resembles the same in terms of body shape and large fins.

Where does the bala shark live?

Its natural habitat is in Southeast Asia, specifically in the middle waters of rivers , as well as in lakes of considerable size. However, it is a highly coveted species in domestic and commercial aquariums, where they adapt without major problems.

They generally live in large families, and for this they choose certain rivers, such as the Mekong, Borneo, Chao Phaya, among others.

Bullet Shark Characteristics

They are fairly small fish that physically resemble large sharks , especially in the shapes of their four fins, which have margins or lines that make them stand out from the other parts of their body.

When it is in freedom it can reach a maximum length of 35 centimeters, while in captivity it hardly reaches 15 centimeters, this is not only due to the environment and type of water, but also to the food diet that varies drastically from one animal to another. place to another.

Your body remains stable in temperatures that are in the range of 22 to 28 degrees Celsius, where the water should have a slight acidity, with a pH that does not fall below 6.5 and does not exceed 7.

What do bala sharks eat?

As for food, they are not very demanding, these omnivores devour small living organisms , such as phytoplankton, minimal crustaceans, marine insects, larvae, etc.

However, when they are kept in ponds or aquariums, they can quickly adapt to the intake of commercial food for fish, vegetables and their derivatives, various insects, and other types of food.

Do Bala Sharks Eat People?

They do not represent any kind of threat to humans , in fact many people acquire them in order to have them as domestic pets since they are very docile. In addition to this, they are omnivores, which means that they are not hunters, and their small size makes it impossible for them to attack or try to eat a human.

Bala shark reproduction

Bala sharks reproduce through eggs , which are expelled by the female so that the male proceeds to spread his sperm on them, starting fertilization. Later the eggs are abandoned by both parents, so when the young are born they will have to take care of themselves.

life expectancy of bullet sharks

These animals, when captured, have to receive adequate care, so that they can live for around 10 years. In the natural state it is estimated that the survival rate increases.

Is the Bala Shark Endangered?

According to the statistical analyzes reported by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) this species is in the red zone, that is, they are in danger of extinction , since they have decreased considerably in the areas where they are commonly found. reproduce.

The most attributable causes are those of overfishing for the aquarium trade, environmental pollution and constant forest fires that make the water very hot, and therefore kill these animals.

Bala Shark Conservation

It is impossible to carry out a captive conservation plan for bala sharks, because they cannot reproduce outside their natural habitat area, for reasons that are still unknown.

Bala shark curiosities

• To date, it has not been possible to procreate bala sharks in captivity.
• They abandon their eggs, since if they stayed close to them they would eat them.
• They are not really a shark, they are called that because of the physical similarities they have with them.