Black tip tank?

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Squirtle919

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Sep 5, 2011
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Hello Guys

So Always wanted one but the tank size.... Anyways I have my 8x4x3 sitting there empty and my boss from work who used to keep sharks (sold them to the aquarium after 5 years) reckons a black tip and a few other fish would be fine in there for a few years? he said its the bare minimal he would go for a black tip but it will still work. any of you more experienced shark keepers have any advice on this?

I care for the sharks at work so I have some basics and know what I am doing just dont want to get the fish and find him stressing out. Last time we got 3 black tips they where very small 15-18 inch we sold them right away so I am unsure on the growth rate.

I have always wanted one and I have a massive skimmer sitting there a big tank sitting there can get live rock almost free so its like a massive brain tease on me. I actually dreamed about it last night hence the post lol.

what do you guys think? I will have a bigger tank 1-2 years I am still in school so the 8x4 was all I could get for the time! already have plans for a 15x5 tank for sharks which my boss and myself will build once I finish school its just the time the shark will last in a small-med tank for a shark.
 
First - DON'T DO IT.

Black tip reefs - need very large tanks or ponds. Even newborn pups need a tank or pond which is at least 1,000 gallons or so.They are Obligated Ram Ventilators, which means they need to contantly swim, or keep moving in order to breath.

Generally a juvenile Blacktip Reef needs a pond/tank that is at least 15 ft in diameter, to keep it til it reachs maturity(about 40"). An Adult would need a tank or pond that is at least 25,000-30,000 gallons.
 
I agree...don't do it.

A local fish shop has a 36" Blacktip in a 10'x4'x4' and it is a very sad sight to see. It swims from one end of the tank to the other bumping it's nose constantly. These fish need large bodies of open water. They are not fit to live in a rectangular box.

I would say 99% of the "I will get a bigger tank" folks end up never getting a bigger tank. Don't put the cart before the horse. Get the 25k gallon pond first, then get the shark. What's the rush?
 
Rush is we have some coming into the aquarium. which is not very often, its very hard to ship the black tips here as were they are farmed theres no main airport so it goes from a little airport in a massive tub with pumps etc to the main airport then arrives down here.

Yeah I understand a lot of people say they will get bigger tanks and never do, I am not one of them... I actually have more friends talking me out of ideas because they cant be stuffed moving any more big tanks around. I help building tanks with my boss so the only cost for me is glass and a tube of silicone which makes tanks very cheap.

But Yes I do understand they need a big tank but I dont see anyone who actually keeps the sharks keeping them in a 25k gallon pond.. which makes me think along the lines someone else will most likely buy one and put it in a 6x2x2 or so. Its not the right mind to think it but it will occur.

I also notice they have a very slow growth rate. anyways food for thought I guess I will see who comes and looks at them if everyone has small tanks I may take one if they have a larger tank then my own which will result in the shark having a better life better he takes it then me for the time.
 
Check a thread in the photo section of zoodiver! 4000gal tank


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Yes I have seen it but it still does not make sense theres 3 sharks in there and a lot of other fish in a 5000G tank (not 4000?) which means each shark is getting ruflly 1200G of water each not as much as recommended still.... they would also have less swimming space then in my tank by the looks of it but I do understand sharks find it easier to swim in a circle tank.

One idea only idea I can afford right now allow the shark to grow up in my tank, move him into a above ground pool if he really will outgrow that tank in less then 1-2 years then from the pool into the final tank.
 
Yes any idea how old this shark is but? my understand from what I was told the ones we are getting are all being shipped in a 6x4 tub so I believe they would be much smaller?

I just checked also can get a 4000G pool for 900$. Anyways I think the first step would be to think it over a lot more I woke up this moroing thinking about them. Maybe I should first see how big they actually are if they are small it may work if they are the same size as the one in the video forget it.

I wish we had something like this in aus. http://www.aquaculturetanks.com/index.html. the one with the window is a great idea, My original idea was to copy how the salt water suppliers keep the baby sharks in round water tanks but I wanted to add a window to the water tank and no company offered this then made the plans for the 15x5 tank but if I can find a fiberglassing company that does something like this it would be extremely cheap vs getting the tank and I will be able to view from the front.
 
I wouldn't do it. My lps has a 3 feet black tip in like a 5000 gallon. The nose was clearly battered.
 
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