Swell and Horn Sharks

[magic]

Do Swell and/or Horn sharks make good pets? Ive seen them for sale and they are the smallest sharks in the US. I have easy (free) acess to them so i think that would be a cool aquarium if they arent too hard to care for.

:feedback:

[fishyboi]

All I know is that you might need a 280 gallon tank or bigger, with rock since they like to hide.

[NeonTetraFan]

Most horn sharks require chillers, which will run you $1,000 and up. You will also need an aquarium of at least 300 gallons. You will need a very large sump, UV sterilizers, Protien Skimmers, and lots and lots of salt. You should also have knowledge of saltwater aquariums before keeping a shark. They are very messy and will require large water changes (35%-50%) every week. Feeding is not difficult, you could probably just get some shrimp from a store and give him about 5 large, peeled, uncooked shrimp every 3 days. I am not sure if a Horn Shark can withstand live rock, since they are bottom dwellers and they may scratch themselves on it, which causes very bad wounds. If you have any other questions, I'd be glad to help you out!!!

[magic]

Awesome thanks for the advice. I dont think they need chillers cause they live down too Baja Mexico and their favorite place to live (where i live) is in the back bay where the water always stays very warm cause its shallow. If they like to hide, what should i do for caves? Cause i wouldnt want it to get cut on a rock. Can more than one be kept together? So an aquarium with a 6' by 3' foot print would be good? (i think that is what a 300 gal has).

[Gr8KarmaSF]

anybody got pic to post? sounds like an interesting monsta.

[NeonTetraFan]

The first picture is of a Horn Shark, or California Horn Shark. The second is of a Port Jackson Shark, but is also called the Horn Shark. The difference of them is the California Horn needs a chiller, and the Port Jackson does not.

[NeonTetraFan]

Also, a 6'x3' tank would be alright. If you do caves make sure they have smooth edges and not pointy or sharp ones. Also, in that tank you can probably house 2 without a problem. Just keep up with water changes.

[magic]

I gotta check to see if these things even legal in cali. lol. Um maybe i could make a chiller out of a small fridge? (like the ones they like to call like "dorm fridges"). Ill definatly have a large sump etc... but why UV sterilizer? I thought that was only fresh water.

[NeonTetraFan]

UV Sterilizers are used with any saltwater setup, expecially sharks, to keep out disease and ich. A very important peice of eqiuptment.

[magic]

Anyone got links or tips on building a diy chiller? Does anyone have pics of a shark tank? I can find info on keeping them but no pics of the tanks!!

[NeonTetraFan]

I'll try to find you some pictures of sharks in aquaria. I am going to Myrtle Beach Sunday-Thursday and I will get some pics of sharks at Ripley's Aquarium down there.

[elasmo]

Magic, Horn sharks do very well in aquariums as long as their conditions are met. Of course the bigger the tank the better, but small horn sharks can easily be kept in a 210 or 220. California horn sharks do well in water temps in the low 70's as lond as your D.O. is good. A chiller is good, but if you can keep your water temp in the low 70's without one I'd sink the money into a high quality protein skimmer instead. I'll try to post a couple of pictures of my small horn sharks. By the way you say you have easy and free access. I would love to get a few more juvie horns for research I am doing. Can you ship me some of these free and easy horns for a small fee, plus all shipping costs? I am serious, this is for personal research and these fish will not be re-sold.

[elasmo]

Here are a couple of pics. Horn sharks love to have some structure in the form of a cave or a couple of live rocks, but the tank should have lots of open space as well.

[DeLgAdO]

i was feeding one yesterday at where i work, it was funny, his head was out of the water and he was squirting water. i put a squid right in his kisser, almost lost my finger as well.

[magic]

Elasmo- I might have free acess but i dont know how legal it is lol. I know they live in the bay where i live, so i could probably set a fish trap and get some little ones. However i dont know how legal this is cause i dont have a collecting permit. I do have a sport lisence however. So i dont think there is a size limit but ill have to check on that, but im thinking if i catch ones legaly cant i keep them? I dunno cali laws are all screwed up. Where it i plan on keeping one the temp of room probably rarely if ever gets over 70. But this time of year seems to kinda average out around 70. I would like to ship some to u, if i can get them or enough. Ive never shipped fish b4 tho... i think i can but ill have to get that part figured out and maybe buy some breather bags. Thanks for the advice, and nice pics. DO u have other fish in with them? What do u feed them? DO they hide alot?

[elasmo]

Magic, My horn sharks are in a tank by themselves. I have read reports where aggresive fish can pick at the eyes of the sharks, so you don't want to keep them with triggers or even damsels. Non-aggresive fish should be okay. No, the sharks don't hide a lot, athough I don't have a ton of live rock. They do like to poke their heads under a crevice or cave, so I do give them some cover so they can feel secure. The main diet for my horns is squid which they love. I also give bits of shrimp, clams, and frozen silversides. Do NOT feed them goldfish. I have a source in Ca. that can get me as many horns as I need for 50. each, but I had to ask you sine you said they were free and easy where you live. I would love to be able to catch legal leopards (36"+) and horns, but I am stuck with Sandbars and dogfish. If I travel south about 500 miles I can get Sharpnose and bonnetheads. In order to ship you use large double bags with enough water to cover the fish and fill the bags with oxygen from an o2 tank. Secure the bags in a styro box and ship overnight first delivery or airport to airport. I am not an expert on Ca. fish regulations, since I don't live there, but for you to keep legally caught fish I would think it would be okay. Of course to catch and sell large quantities you might need more than a fishing license so the gov. will get a cut. Horn sharks are great aquarium fish if you give them a good size tank and good water conditions and care. They can live a couple of decades in a tank.

[magic]

I think i better make a fish trap and see if i can even catch em. I think i can but i could take awhile.

[guppy]

You can line catch them on #1 barbless circle hooks using clams, just use a steady ull without trying to set the hook.

[magic]

Yeah i could try... but i dont think i would catch any... The only sharks ever caught in the bay are leopards... Oh yeah, a Great White baby was recently caught in the bay, about 3' :headbang2: Ive never heard of a horn shark being caught, but im sure ppl rarely do. My dad is a commercial fisherman and he says he gets horn sharks in his crab traps. So i think i could easily get 1 in a fish trap... Hopefully...

Also, how big (or small) do i want it if i want to keep it? Im sure not too big but maybe a foot?

[Fish Finder]

if you get some let me know i can use some sharks

[magic]

I will, but remember i dont know how many, if any i can get. But ill try.

[NeonTetraFan]

If you are going to catch one, get one about 14". 12" is pretty small.

[iansilv]

Are you talking about the Back Bay in Newport? How big do they get?

[Fish Finder]

any new's on the collection?

[magic]

Not the back bay in newport, and no news yet... i still need to build a fish trap, cause of school i havent got around to it, maybe next weekend.