Bala shark | Facts & Information

# Bala Shark | Facts & Information

Bala Shark | Discover Fascinating Facts and Information About Bala Shark

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Bala Shark

Bala Shark

The Bala Shark, also known as Sphyrna lewini, belongs to the Sphyrnidae family and is one of the most interesting and fascinating species of sharks. It is named 'Bala' because of its unusual head shape, which resembles a bullet. This shark is widely spread in tropical and temperate oceans around the world.

The Bala Shark is one of the largest sharks, reaching a length of approximately 4 meters and a weight of up to 230 kilograms. Females are generally larger than males and can reach up to 5 meters in length. The body of the Bala Shark is elongated, and its distinctive head shape makes it easy to recognize. The head has a bullet-shaped form with a central groove, which allows the shark to detect movements around it more accurately and locate prey more easily.

This species of shark has a gray or brown color on the upper part of its body and white on the lower part, which helps it camouflage when it is near the ocean floor or near the water's surface. These colors give it an advantage in hunting and help it hide from predators.

The Bala Shark is an efficient predator and feeds primarily on small fish, squid, and octopus. However, these sharks are not exclusively piscivorous, as they also feed on other marine creatures such as crustaceans and even smaller shark species.

Another interesting characteristic of the Bala Shark is its migratory behavior. These sharks can travel long distances in search of food or during the breeding season. Their journeys can take them along the coast or into the open sea, following well-established migration routes. This migratory behavior allows them to explore new territories and find new food sources.

Bala Sharks are solitary animals most of the time, but they can form small groups during migration or near areas with a high density of available food. In these groups, Bala Sharks can cooperate in hunting large prey and help each other during attacks.

Although the Bala Shark is a feared predator, it also faces threats from humans. Excessive hunting for shark fins and jaws, as well as accidental capture in commercial fishing, have had a significant impact on Bala Shark populations. These sharks are also vulnerable to pollution and changes in their natural habitat, which can lead to a decrease in their numbers.

Despite the need for urgent measures to protect these species, there is still much we do not know about the Bala Shark. Researchers and marine biologists continue to study these sharks to better understand their behavior, migrations, and their role in the marine ecosystem.

In conclusion, the Bala Shark is a remarkable and important species for the marine ecosystem. Its unique head shape, impressive size, and migratory behavior make it one of the most extraordinary species of sharks. However, this shark is increasingly exposed to threats caused by human activities. Conservation and protection actions are necessary to ensure the survival and perpetuation of this wonderful species in the future.

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(Balantiocheilos melanopterus)

Although not a true shark, it is commonly called so because of the slender torpedo shape of its body and the triangular shape of its dorsal fin.

Its silvery color is given by the large scales that cover the entire body, with the edges of the pelvic, anal, dorsal and caudal fins black.

The mouth is small, located anteriorly, without spines or whiskers and large eyes.Life expectancy is 10 years.

Feeding the silver Shark

They are omnivorous fish; they feed at medium depth with phytoplankton, small crustaceans, rotifers, insects and larvae; in the aquarium they can be fed with industrial food (flakes and pellets) supplemented with live worms and snails.

Carefully research the substrate in search of food pieces left over from previous feeding.

Some articles also note that they are consumers of algae and plants and a larger population helps to control the growth of algae.

Appearance Silver Shark

Females have a bulging abdomen and are smaller in size than males; males have more brightly coloured fins.

Features silver Shark

It is a popular aquarium fish; contrary to the name shark, it is a peaceful but very active fish.

It is a card fish being preferred to be kept in groups of at least 3 after some authors, 5 after others; although they can survive and alone become shy and withdrawn, preferring to stay hidden.

It violently attacks invertebrates, like snails and Ghost prawns, because in the natural environment they are part of their diet.

They are not aggressive, while they are small they can be good companions for Danio, guppies, Xipho and Cory, however they should not be kept with fish much smaller in size than them.

Breeding the silver Shark

Unfortunately, the reproduction of this species is not documented; however, they are bred in professional breeders in Asia.

Bala shark is an oviparous species; it spawns and fertilization is done externally. They don't guard their eggs or their young. In the wild they migrate to special places where they lay en masse.

The small shark becomes sexually mature after reaching a minimum length of 10 cm. It is not an easy species to reproduce, in aquariums it rarely reproduces. However, if reproduction is attempted, a few conditions are required.

The breeding aquarium should be about 500L, with the deposition sieve. The breeding ratio is 2 males to one female. The required temperature for deposition is 25-26grc, slightly acidic pH 6.4-7.0 and hardness less than 10dgh. The chicks are fed on nauplii.

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Bala shark | Facts & InformationBala Shark | Discover Fascinating Facts and Information About Bala Shark