ehh my friend got a black tip shark

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Feeder Fish
Nov 18, 2006
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toronto
in around midnight my friend bought a black tip shark and i thought he was crazy:screwy: but he said they were picking it up from the airport and droping it off to the aquarium store so i went and waited at the fish store.about thirty minutes they came with other shipments of fish and we all gathered around the box awaiting if the shark survived.we opened it with a hammer and with flash lights he was still alive and swimming about 18inches(we were guessing).we'd talked after a few min about someone ordered a hammerhead shark :drool: but that wont come in until the next shipment.we'd immediately went to his place and started to change his water so his PH was the same as his tank.its about 2A.M and its was really late we finally we put the shark in his aquarium and he was swimming but every so often he would drop down to the ground but would get back up (i don't know if thats normal or not i'm no shark expert nether is my friend).unfortunately we had to leave because it was 3A.M and some of us have work in a few hours.i would of took pictures but my f-ing camera battery's died so i was soooo PISTOFF because that might be the last time i would see the shark..EVER.oh and i wasted the some of the battery of his arowana tank:wall: Hmmm the only time i would get some pic is the weekend and he might be long gone :/ well hope it survived and some info would be great.oh yea and i will bring pics ASAP (if alive):/
 
Yes, very sad that the world will have one less shark. Last minute parameter change - what a way to start.
 
i hope the shark lives a long life
 
Hmmm - sad indeed. :(

First off no one should get a Shark - without first reading & researching them. To realize how much it takes to keep & raise a shark.

Second a Blacktip(I'll take it you mean Blacktip Reef) Shark, Should only be kept by experienced shark keepers - with experience in at least a couple of other species of sharks such as bamboos, Horns, smoothhounds, or catsharks - before attempting to keep such an active shark.

And no info on the size of tank, filtration or water primeters of the tank - i.e. nitrate/nitrite/ammonia levels. That in self is not a good sign. As sharks require nearly perfect water conditions.

Also Hope your friend realizes that the Blacktip shark he's got will eventually reach 5-6 ft in length(if it lives long enough), and require a large swimming pool size tank. And even a Blacktip reef pup needs a pool/pond that's at least 20' L x 10'W or 15' Diameter(if round)-No less.

Your friend has made a very unwise buy. And the shark will most like pay the price with it's life. Unless your friend learns about sharks very fast, and has the resources to make the needed changes.
 
To help out - here's a few points you friend out.

1.) buy a good book about Shark Husbandary & read it ASAP- "Aquarium Sharks & Rays" by Scott W. Michael is a good beginners book.

2.) Build or buy the Shark a good size pool/pond. Some small pools of 1,400-2,000 gallons can be bought for under $300.

3.) make sure you have enough Filtration system - for tanks/pond under 1,000 gallons this means a turn over of about 5-6 times the tank/ponds volume. For a pond of 1,000-3,000 gallons it about 4-5 times. Also the filtration system should include the follow equipment, at least - Protein Skimmer, & LR Sump. Additional filtration equipment such as Sand Filters, UV filters, Bio Towers, heater, chiller & Mechanical filtration would be useful.

4.) Do Not Feed the shark - Freshwater fish/invertebrates - such as goldfish, or guppies - as these are bad for it health. The Shark Must Eat Saltwater fish/inverts only - such Shrimp, Crab, Squid, Flounder, Cod, & Tuna. Fresh Seafood from the Supermarket is best. Also a good multi-vitamin would help.

5.) As for the Levels of Nitrates/Nitrites & Ammonia - Best is 0 PPM, but not above 10 ppm. And no copper or metal in the tank/pond.
 
A black tip on the bottom is a short time away from death. Is it Atlantic or Pacific?

Who on Earth in the private world has a salt tank large enough for a hammerhead?
 
Who on Earth in the private world has a salt tank large enough for a hammerhead?
Click to expand...

Maybe someone like Bill Gates or Donald Trump. But then they have enough money to build their own Public Aquarium - if they wanted to. ;) But if it a LFS selling it- then it's likely means a Bonnethead.

Point of interest for those considering keeping a Bonnethead or any small requiem shark(for that matter) - there's an article in Sept. 2007 issue of TFH magazine that kind puts things in perspective. The Article is entitled - The Bonnethead Shark(Sphyrna tiburo): Is it Suitable for Home Aquariums. The Basic Cliff Note version of the article is - if you don't have a tank/pond of several thousands of gallons to keep a bonnethead in - forget the idea of keeping a Bonnethead - instead just plan a trip to see them in a Public Aquarium.

For majority of Requiems like the Blacktips, & the hammerheads, to rest on the bottom tank - is a certain death sentence. This is likely caused by the fact that the shark does not have enough room to swim normally - due to being in a tank that too small.
 
Wow, what a terrible idea! Why not just pay someone to go and kill a shark for you in the open ocean? Would save time, and the result would be the same.
 
WOW, sound really bad, those sharks are so amazing. Lets all hope that he has a 30,000 gallon tank. The bad thing is that it sounds like they basically threw the shark right in, those sharks have to be acclimated for several hours atleast or they will deffinetly die. I hate to hear this, I only wish they would stop making those sharks available for anyone other than zoos or public aquariums.
 
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