They are a very hardy fish but they will grow large enough to where you should have at least a 90 gallon or above tank to house him in. Also he will need a nice soft sand bottom with very little rock work.
bamboo catshark
- Thread starter RTCatz
- Start date
I think Aquascaper is talking about the coral catshark that has been mentioned in the post before. The Bamboo shark needs 180 gallons! Nothing Less! Most important is that you have a bottom surface area of 6ft x 2ft.
Justin_James;464848; said:
yes. 180 gallon min for bamboo sharks! try coral catsharks! 110 gallon is the min tank size!
Well - there are actually 3 members of this genus of sharks that are commonly seen in the U.S.A.
These are -
The Brownbanded Bamboo - AKA the Banded Catshark(note - it's not a true catshark), or banded Bamboo. The Brownbanded is a very hardy species, and the largest member of it's genus. While they can reach up to 40 inches in length(not 4ft), the rarely get above 3ft in length. It also should be noted that the adults lose than banded stripes, and actually look more like a small(3 ft long), tan colored, nurse shark.
Yes, the 180 gallons is the minimum tank size for this shark recommended by in Scott Micheal's book. But the really do better in a custom build 240 gallon(7ft long x 3 ft wide x 1.5ft high) or even a 300 tank.
The Whitespotted Bamboo - AKA the Marbled Cat shark(not to be confused with A. macleayi - which is the Marbled Catshark). The Whitespotted Bamboo can grow to about 3 ft in length, but usually averages about 30-32 inches in length. While they can live in tanks as small as a 150 gallon, they will do better in a 180 to 240 gallon tank.
The Grey Bamboo is the smallest of the group - with a maximum adult size of just 30 inches, and usually average about 26-27 inches. So these little guys can be kept in a 140 gallon tank. Also they are usually a bit rarer(and harder to find) than the Brownbanded or Whitespotted, but are still priced less than 150 bucks.
But the truth is for aquarium sharks - it kind of hard to beat the Bamboo sharks. All three are wonderful little sharks.
Also they have a close cousin species - called the Epaulette shark, which is fairly popular.
These sharks can grow to 3.5ft, and general require at least a 250 gallon tank.
These are -
The Brownbanded Bamboo - AKA the Banded Catshark(note - it's not a true catshark), or banded Bamboo. The Brownbanded is a very hardy species, and the largest member of it's genus. While they can reach up to 40 inches in length(not 4ft), the rarely get above 3ft in length. It also should be noted that the adults lose than banded stripes, and actually look more like a small(3 ft long), tan colored, nurse shark.
Yes, the 180 gallons is the minimum tank size for this shark recommended by in Scott Micheal's book. But the really do better in a custom build 240 gallon(7ft long x 3 ft wide x 1.5ft high) or even a 300 tank.
The Whitespotted Bamboo - AKA the Marbled Cat shark(not to be confused with A. macleayi - which is the Marbled Catshark). The Whitespotted Bamboo can grow to about 3 ft in length, but usually averages about 30-32 inches in length. While they can live in tanks as small as a 150 gallon, they will do better in a 180 to 240 gallon tank.
The Grey Bamboo is the smallest of the group - with a maximum adult size of just 30 inches, and usually average about 26-27 inches. So these little guys can be kept in a 140 gallon tank. Also they are usually a bit rarer(and harder to find) than the Brownbanded or Whitespotted, but are still priced less than 150 bucks.
But the truth is for aquarium sharks - it kind of hard to beat the Bamboo sharks. All three are wonderful little sharks.
Also they have a close cousin species - called the Epaulette shark, which is fairly popular.
These sharks can grow to 3.5ft, and general require at least a 250 gallon tank.
krj-1168;485510; said:
If only i had your patience to type... At least somone else knows a thing or 2 about shark husbandry!
yep, it's nice to meet people that not only keep sharks but know what the heck they are talking about at the same time. I love my little girls (banded bamboos) and they even get excited when they see me walk into the room like a couple of dogs.
I've actually heard of people have a baby(about 6"-8" in length) Brownbanded in a 45 gallon(36"x 18" footprint) tank. And that's okay - so long as you move it to a much larger tank say a 180 gallon before the shark gets to be 15" long.
Also for any shark - a custom built tank(with a bigger footprint) is much better than any standard tank.
You need to remember that Scott Micheal's book Aquarium Sharks & Rays- is a great book - it also basically Shark Husbandary 101. Don't look at it as the Bible for Shark Keeping. It's great for novice shark & ray keepers, that is highly recommended for any one even thinking of keeping sharks & rays. Personally I wish I'd had it about 10 yrs ago.
But the more knowledgeable keepers - realize that most of Scott's figures for tank sizes for those species is actually on the low side(in some cases extremely low).
Jeffery Anderson's (from His article "Shark Aquarium Ethics" in the Oct. 2005 issue of Tropical Fish Hobbist Magazine) guide for figuring tank sizes for sharks is actually a much better guide for true minimums for any shark species.
And since we're talking about the Brown-banded Bamboo - I'll use it as the example.
Now realize the Brown-banded grows up to 40", but averages about 36"
Scott's minimum tank size for the Brown-banded is 7' long x 2.5' wide x 1.38' deep or about 180 gallons.
Jeffery's minimum footprint for a tank for the Brown-banded is about 7' long x 4' wide.
now if you use the depth figure from Scott's tank - you'll end up with a 290 gallon tank
Also for any shark - a custom built tank(with a bigger footprint) is much better than any standard tank.
You need to remember that Scott Micheal's book Aquarium Sharks & Rays- is a great book - it also basically Shark Husbandary 101. Don't look at it as the Bible for Shark Keeping. It's great for novice shark & ray keepers, that is highly recommended for any one even thinking of keeping sharks & rays. Personally I wish I'd had it about 10 yrs ago.
But the more knowledgeable keepers - realize that most of Scott's figures for tank sizes for those species is actually on the low side(in some cases extremely low).
Jeffery Anderson's (from His article "Shark Aquarium Ethics" in the Oct. 2005 issue of Tropical Fish Hobbist Magazine) guide for figuring tank sizes for sharks is actually a much better guide for true minimums for any shark species.
And since we're talking about the Brown-banded Bamboo - I'll use it as the example.
Now realize the Brown-banded grows up to 40", but averages about 36"
Scott's minimum tank size for the Brown-banded is 7' long x 2.5' wide x 1.38' deep or about 180 gallons.
Jeffery's minimum footprint for a tank for the Brown-banded is about 7' long x 4' wide.
now if you use the depth figure from Scott's tank - you'll end up with a 290 gallon tank
Yes Scott def gives the minimum tank size. I am only keeping my bamboo paor in the 180 till they are big enough to go in with the others, and epauletes. There is no way i would ever keep a shark its whole life in an aquarium, with the exception of smaller catshark species. Most carpet sharks dont move around much, till night, and dont need a hell of alot of space as it is. But i usually recomend ponds/pools over tanks regardless.
I love the Bamboo Sharks - especially the Brown-banded, since it was my very first shark.
They are wonderful sharks, especially for beginner shark keepers. And yes, they are hardy- very hardy. But as most people will tell you - get a hatched & feeding juvenile - instead of the egg case.
Yes, the hatched juvenile costs more - but it will be worth it - since it will also greatly increase the odds of the pups survival.
Trying to get a recently hatched Brown-banded , to feed can be a real problem - and has cost the lives of many a bamboo pup, by novice keepers.
They are wonderful sharks, especially for beginner shark keepers. And yes, they are hardy- very hardy. But as most people will tell you - get a hatched & feeding juvenile - instead of the egg case.
Yes, the hatched juvenile costs more - but it will be worth it - since it will also greatly increase the odds of the pups survival.
Trying to get a recently hatched Brown-banded , to feed can be a real problem - and has cost the lives of many a bamboo pup, by novice keepers.
