Calling all Shark Masters!

[AttackFish]

Hello there!

I have a fw questions about sharks...

I have became more and more interested in them over a few days of browsing around MFK.

I never knew that there sharks that staid under 3-4ft!

I have been hearing alot about the smaller cat sharks and bamboo sharks trhat are better suited for life in home aquaria.

I hear a 300 gallon tank is a good starting point for cat/bamboo sharks correct?

Also, would it be bad start out in SW with sharks?


I also dont truely know the complete cost of a SW set-up as I have never had one before, I am only 14 but I am getting a partime job in the summer but Im thinking Im going to need quite a bit more money for a full SW set-up + shark + feeding of the shark.

If you could post some general information on keeping smaller cat/bamboo sharks it would be great.

I'm just looking at options as i am buying a new tank this summer (180g) to use as a growout for two motoros and a black arowana and will be getting a 375 gallon in two years to house the black aro, two silver aros and the motoros, but Im becoming interested in SW, particularly sharks.

But Im thinking I may be way over my head, as i have NEVER done a SW tank.

I am leaning towards wating until i am adult and moved out of my parents house and have a full time job that pays very well as I know salwater fish/tanks cost a lot more then the FW tank set-ups/species I plan to keep.

Sorry for rambling but I just weant som general info/opinions on keeping sharks in home aquaria! Thanks in advance!

 

[sharkdealer]

If you have experience with freshwater tanks then that would be a good start. Generally it is not recommended that a persons first sw tank be a shark tank, but that's what I did so I'm not going to say you can't. Keep in mind that the major difference between fw and sw is stability. Marine environments don't change rapidly so you need to keep your system stable. That means water quality within good to excellent parameters, salinity and temp. stable. The major differences you'll need to be aware of in keeping sharks as opposed to bony sw fish is their sensitivity to certain medications and stray electrical currents in the tank. A good starter reference book would be "Aquarium Sharks & Rays" by Scott Michael. It will give you some really good basic info about keeping the sharks you're interested in. A 300 gal. is a decent tank for those smaller Cat and Bamboos. And don't be discouraged if you don't have immediate success. Like any live animal husbandry there is a learning process and that always involves failures of some sort or another. I've been keeping sharks for over 24 years and have had plenty of ups and downs. Keep us posted on your progress and good luck!

 

[Brenden]

Attackfish - Greg (Sharkdealer) pretty much said it all. Most do not recommend someone's first SW tank be a shark tank, but I know many people who have done it with success. This just means make sure you do alot of research prior to making the purchase, ensure your tank is cycled and well established, and always ask questions if you have any. As for start up costs, I just set up a 330 Gallon tank for a growout tank for Smoothhounds, so far it has cost me $15,000 CDN which included Tank, Stand, Canopy, Wood Work, Filteration, Lighting, LR, Sand, RO/DI system, and all my electrical stuff. I think the United States is cheaper price wise than Canada however but its a number to think about. If you would like more information, answers to your questions, check out the website in my sig.

Good luck, and I am sure Ken will have something to say pretty soon haha

 

[AttackFish]

Well, I dont think Im going to go SW, Im already buying a 180 to use as a growout for 5 dats, two motoro fw rays, and a black arowana and will be buying a 375 for them to live in along with two silver arowanas in two years.

I think when I am an adult (Im 14 now) and have a fultime job and my own place I'll get more into SW tanks and probably start out with a nano reef and progress from there.

Thank you both for your help, I just wanted to see others opinions now so I have a better idea in the future.

 

[krj-1168]

Truthfully it's not best to start out in SW, with a shark tank.

Granted your experience in keeping FW rays will help in planning to keep a shark.

The 300 is a good grow out tank for many species - but only a few shark species can actually spend their entire life in a tank that small.

If your truely serious about the idea of keep a shark. First get "Aquarium Sharks & Rays" by Scott Michael - read it several times. Do lots of Research on sharks & their captive care. Ask lots of question to people with experience in keeping them.

Btw instead of considering keeping the shark in an aquarium - how about considering a small pond - which tend to be cheaper than most glass/acrylic aquariums of equal size.

 

[AttackFish]

Well, as I am not an adult, I have decided to hold of on my plans for keeping SW sharks.

But, when I am moved out of my parents house, have a full time job, and a house with a basement or whatever, I think it would be a fun project to build an indoor shark pond with enough size to possibly keep 4 banded bamboo sharks.

I'll probably order the enclosure from aquaticosystems.com as they have large pools/ponds with viewing windows for fairly cheap and I think you can order them with or without a viewing window.

I'm stil going to read up on there care and such, but I'll consider it fully when I have space to keep such an enclosure for such an awesome species.

Thank your for your comments/suggestions!

 

[Zoodiver]

You've got a great start already with your approach to keeping sharks. I'm impressed. Read as much info as you can get your hands on for a wide variety of people. Keep asking questions, and figure out what others are doing. Experience is the best teacher - so when you don't have any, learn from others.

 

[krj-1168]

Well, as I am not an adult, I have decided to hold of on my plans for keeping SW sharks.

But, when I am moved out of my parents house, have a full time job, and a house with a basement or whatever, I think it would be a fun project to build an indoor shark pond with enough size to possibly keep 4 banded bamboo sharks.

Your showing amazing maturity in deciding to wait. Glad to see it. It's rare to sight these days.

So take the time while you waiting to learn as much as about keeping sharks as possible. As questions, read books, magazine articles, and search the net to learn about the various species.

Who knows you - when the time arrives you may still want to keep Brown Banded Bamboos or you may want to keep another species all together.