Compatibility brief
Can Bala / silver shark live with Chocolate gourami?
Risky. This mix is commonly discouraged for typical setups.
Bala / silver shark + Chocolate gourami: Bala / silver shark may eat Chocolate gourami. Bala / silver shark (35cm) is predatory and Chocolate gourami (5cm) is small enough to be eaten. This pairing is unsafe. Real tanks add variables Fishori cannot model; treat this as a high-risk read, not certainty.
Compatibility score
Profile confidence: medium
Order of checkstank volume vs adults → predation mouth gap → temperament / fin nipping → shared water windows.
500L
Combined minimum footprint reference for these two species: about 500L (larger active fish often want more length).
Bala / silver shark (35cm adult) may treat small Chocolate gourami (~5cm) as food once grown — plan adult sizes, not shop sizes.
Assessment details
Compatible temperaments
Both Bala / silver shark and Chocolate gourami share a peaceful temperament.
Bala / silver shark may eat Chocolate gourami
Top issueBala / silver shark (35cm) is predatory and Chocolate gourami (5cm) is small enough to be eaten. This pairing is unsafe.
Compatible temperature range
Both fish can comfortably share similar water temperatures.
Narrow pH overlap
These fish can share water but their ideal pH ranges overlap only slightly. Aim to keep pH stable in the shared range.
“Bala / silver shark (35cm) is predatory and Chocolate gourami…”
Bala / silver shark may eat Chocolate gourami
Next steps
Concrete changes, not "research more" filler.
- •Bala / silver shark should be kept in a group of at least 5 for best health and behaviour.
- •Chocolate gourami should be kept in a group of at least 4 for best health and behaviour.
Try instead
- →Bala / silver shark should be kept in a group of at least 5 for best health and behaviour.
- →Chocolate gourami should be kept in a group of at least 4 for best health and behaviour.
- →Build a species-only tank for the larger fish, or restock with fish too large to be eaten at adult sizes.
- Seriously Fish. Balantiocheilos melanopterus
Primary: aquarium size, water chemistry, behaviour, and compatibility (URL verified in upgrade script; recheck if site content changes).
- FishBase. Balantiocheilos melanopterus
Secondary: taxonomy, distribution, and maximum length in nature; cross-check with aquarium import lines and measured tank parameters.
- Wikipedia. Balantiocheilos melanopterus
Secondary: general species context; verify all husbandry numbers against a dedicated aquarium care sheet and your test kit, not a single table row.
- Seriously Fish. Sphaerichthys osphromenoides
Primary: aquarium size, water chemistry, behaviour, and compatibility (URL verified in upgrade script; recheck if site content changes).
- FishBase. Sphaerichthys osphromenoides
Secondary: taxonomy, distribution, and maximum length in nature; cross-check with aquarium import lines and measured tank parameters.
- Wikipedia. Sphaerichthys osphromenoides
Secondary: general species context; verify all husbandry numbers against a dedicated aquarium care sheet and your test kit, not a single table row.
- Wikipedia. Chocolate gourami
Encyclopaedia-level overview; verify all aquarium care numbers on specialist care sheets for your stock.
Try this next
Build the full stocking list with Bala / silver shark + Chocolate gourami
Plan further
Try both species in the full-stock tank check, or open either fish profile for mates lists. Methodology explains how verdicts are produced.
Individual fish vary in personality. Fishori uses conservative hobby rules. Observe any new introduction closely, feed thoughtfully, and keep a quarantine or backup plan. This is not veterinary advice.
Profile data confidence: high. Based on multiple reputable aquarium care sources with strong agreement.