Silver Shark

Name: Silver Shark
Brand: Brooklands
SKU: TL18
Price: 32.5 NZD
Availability: InStock

SKU TL18

$32.50

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Silver Shark

Product Details

Silver Shark / Bala Shark (Balantiocheilos melanopterus)

NOT AVAILABLE FOR SHIPPING - In-store Only

Overview: The Silver Shark (widely known in the global hobby as the Bala Shark or Tricolor Shark) is a sleek, breathtakingly beautiful fish that looks like a miniature marine shark. Despite the name, they are not true sharks at all; they belong to the carp family. They feature a striking, metallic-silver torpedo body with large, expressive eyes. Their true claim to fame is their magnificent, high-contrast fins—the dorsal, caudal (tail), anal, and pelvic fins are a bright yellowish-white, boldly outlined with a thick, velvety jet-black border.

Origins: They are native to the large, deep river systems and lakes of Southeast Asia, specifically Sumatra, Borneo, and the Malay Peninsula.

Personality: Despite their fierce "shark" appearance, Silver Sharks are actually gentle giants. They are incredibly peaceful, active, and can be quite skittish or easily startled. They are tireless mid-water swimmers that spend all day cruising the tank in tight, synchronized formations. While completely harmless to other fish of a similar size, they are opportunistic feeders—if a tiny fish like a neon tetra can fit into their mouth as they grow, they will inadvertently gulp it down.

Care Level: Intermediate to Advanced (Purely due to their massive size and schooling needs)
Temperament: Peaceful but highly active
Diet: Omnivore (Unfussy, enthusiastic eaters. Thrives on high-quality flakes, pellets, and frozen foods like bloodworms, brine shrimp, and chopped prawns)
Max Size: 30 – 35 cm (This is the ultimate "buyer beware" fish—they are sold as cute 5 cm babies but grow into massive, muscular powerhouses!)
Family: Cyprinidae
Tank Size: 500 – 600 Litres+ minimum for a small adult school. They require a long tank (at least 1.8 to 2 meters) to allow them to swim at full speed without hitting the glass.
Temperature: 22°C – 28°C
pH: 6.5 – 7.5
Should be kept in groups? Yes, strictly. They are highly social, schooling fish and must be kept in a group of at least 3 to 5 (ideally 6+). If kept completely alone, a Silver Shark becomes intensely stressed, highly aggressive out of fear, or will literally scare itself to death darting into the glass.

⚠️ Two Crucial Safety Guidelines for Silver Sharks:

1. The "Olympic Jumper" Hazard: Silver Sharks are elite, high-velocity jumpers. If the tank lights turn on suddenly, or if someone walks past the tank quickly, they can panic and launch themselves straight up. You must have a heavy, completely sealed, tight-fitting lid. Many hobbyists have tragically lost large Silver Sharks because the fish managed to flip open a loose glass lid.

2. The "Clicking" Sound: Don't be alarmed if you hear a distinct clicking or snapping sound coming from your aquarium! When Silver Sharks are feeding from the surface or communicating with their school, they frequently produce an audible clicking noise by manipulating their jaws and swim bladder.