Tank Size Recommendations

[turbo253]

So what other species do we need to do next?

Any thoughts. And should we also include rays, skates and guitarfish in to the mix?

THE BULL SHARK

Just joking

[krj-1168]

Yellows, Round, Cortez, Atlantic (assuming you keep them marine).

Do we venture bigger? Cownose, batrays, Southerns?

I was definitely thinking the likes of the round stingrays, and smaller Dasyatis species. As for species like cownose & bat rays - if we can do requiem sharks - then why not.

THE BULL SHARK

Just joking

I'm not - if for no other reason than to show people how big they can get, and what it would actually keep one for life.

[FLESHY]

Looking forward to the bullshark tank, sorry for my absence (not like my presence was needed, but...) things have just been super crazy around here.

Cant wait to get back to full time fish in the next week.

[krj-1168]

I've been wondering about the various types of rays. And how to figure a good minimum tank/pond sizes for them.

For benthic species of rays - like the rounds stingrays - I'm considering using the same basic figures as for active benthic sharks.

While for swimming rays - such as the cownose and bat rays, I'm thinking of using the same basic figures as non-ORV swimming sharks.

And then should we base it of the Disc width or total length of the rays?

[FLESHY]

What happened to the bull shark post?

[krj-1168]

Nothing - I just haven't posted it yet.

But I can tell you - think of a good size Public Aquarium(about 250,000 gallons) - because Bulls can get very large (12-13 ft).

[FLESHY]

This has been strange for me because most of the time IMOE fish in captivity sizes are usually expected to be smaller...as far as shark sizes go, you have listed fish that are much larger than wild averages.

Zoo says those are accurate however, so Im just along for the ride.

[Kevin8888]

This has been strange for me because most of the time IMOE fish in captivity sizes are usually expected to be smaller...as far as shark sizes go, you have listed fish that are much larger than wild averages.

Zoo says those are accurate however, so Im just along for the ride.

It likely has to do with better nutrition/less energy spent to get the food, resulting in more energy to devote to growth... but thats just an educated guess on my part.

[FLESHY]

It likely has to do with better nutrition/less energy spent to get the food, resulting in more energy to devote to growth... but thats just an educated guess on my part.

Agreed, but shouldnt that be standard with all fish? 90% of the time people say that fish dont get as big in captivity. Are they just saying that because they take lousy care of them?

Who knows.

[Zoodiver]

It's been my experience that fish kept well get bigger and live longer (if anything) in controlled environments. Less work for food. 90% of the time they are OVER fed. No predation to pick off animals (well, usually haha).
If you look at fish kept in larger tanks (vs the people who go bare minimums for tank size) who feed a variety closely matching what those fish eat in the wild (not just flake food from Wal Mart), you'll see great color, thick and active fish.


One of the biggest things we've seen with captive sharks over the years is developmental issues. Young sharks being raised in smaller spaces / exhibits and having incorrect growth related to it. A great example is sandtigers (grey nurse/ragged tooth sharks). They are very common in the aquarium world. One thing you'll see a lot of is spinal issues (sclerosis / curved spine). Some aquariums now refuse to keep sandtigers due to that one issue. You see small ones that out grow the tanks get a curve or a hump in their back. After time they slowly develop into an animal that can only turn one direction. After that they stop eating and can no longer swim. It's a slow painful death to see happen.