Proper home tank for Bonnethead

[lipton]

The title says it all.... What is the proper home tank set up to host a Bonnethead or two? Also, what would the rough monthly costs be in keeping the proper tank with the proper feeding?

[krj-1168]

Well for an Adult Bonnethead or two - you will need a tank/pond/lagoon that has a footprint of at least 475-500 sq.ft. and roughly 15,000 gallons or more. Also the tank/pond/lagoon shape should either round or oval is shape, and a minimum depth of 4 feet.

Juveniles can be kept in smaller tanks or ponds for a limited time.

As for their diet - it's mostly crabs, shrimp and shellfish(Clams, & Scallops) and some fish -like flounder.

[Jabba954]

Thin WAY bigger and WAY more expensive than you were talking about buying the other day. My current running tanks aren't nearly big for bonnets, though the BIG tank will be, and hopefully I'll get a few in there.

Numbers KRJ mentioned above are good.

[lipton]

Thank you @Jabba954 and @krj-1168 I definitely wont be putting in bonnetheads when I get my tank.... Do you think I will be able to put any of the more agressive looking sharks in a tank 500 to 600 gallons?

[krj-1168]

It really depends on how you define "aggressive looking".

If you mean - something that looks like a requiem Shark or a Hammerhead - then the short Answer would be no.

But if you define "aggressive looking" - as cool looking, voracious feeder, that doesn't need to constantly swim - then it certainly possible to keep some species for at least a little while in a 500-600 gallon tank.

Some cool looking species that tend to be voracious feeders include the following.

-"Dwarf" Wobbegongs - these are species of Wobbegongs that have a maximum size of less than 39 inches(99 cm) in length. Such species include the Japanese Wobbegong, the Northern (Ward's) Wobbegong, and the Cobbler Wobbegong.

- Horn Sharks(Bullhead Sharks) - while most available species will eventually get to be nearly 4 ft (120 cm) or more in total length. They also tend to be fairly slow growers, and may take several years to outgrow a 500 gallon tank. They also have a cool prehistoric shark look to them.

- Coral Catsharks - While they resemble "eel-like" sharks in their general appearance. they are know to swim in a very requiem shark style, and often come out to hunt as the lights go out.

[Jabba954]

I'd recommend a horn shark as well. I love mine - he's very cool looking, and moderately active. My wobbegong on the other hand... half the time I have to poke him with the feeding tongs to make sure he's still alive - which makes sense, he's an ambush predator (and very good at it, having taken out most of my groupers and the couple of wrasses in the tank that had otherwise survived everything else).

[lipton]

Thank you so much for the help you guys.... Just found out the offer i put on my new place was accpeted, so I'm hoping to get a big beautiful tank in there in about 2 to 3 months

[Jabba954]

Might I suggest a tank from www.aquaculturetanks.com - BIG (all the way up to BBBIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG) and very cheap for what you get.

[bobjoeman]

For a tank 500 to 600 I'd get a japanese leopard shark

[Exoticoceanaquatics]

Wobble gongs are nice