Help IDing a Bamboo Shark

[krj-1168]

I need help IDing a Bamboo Shark.

It's often sold thru online dealers & LFS as a Zebra Shark (some go as far as to actually claim it's real Zebra Shark - Stegostoma sp.).

This shark is clearly a bamboo - but not a Brown banded, Whitespotted, Gray, or Arabian Bamboo.

Here's a photo of a sub-adult

And of a pup

 

[Mattcomptonassvanhorn]

The bottom photo sure looks like a zebra shark, but the top one looks like some sub-species of cat shark. Are you saying that this is'nt a cat shark or what?

 

[chrisdef15]

Yes its either some sort of catshark or possibly even an epaullette (bad spelling sorry) although the markings are alot darker then i have seen before on them.

 

[UnderwaterGirl]

Hey KRJ. That shark is an indonesian bamboo shark. I have also heard of them called zebra bamboo sharks. We have had very very little luck at raising them. We currently only have one and it is only about 4 inches long and doesn't seem to be growing much at all.

 

[krj-1168]

Thanks - UnderwaterGirl.



That certainly helps to clear up the mystery.

I had thought it maybe be Chiloscyllium hasselti aka the Hasselt's Or Indonesian Bamboo - based on what I read. But I wasn't sure, since I've never seen even a photo of juvi or sub-adult (labeled as Indonesian or Hasselt's Bamboo) before.

Also am I right in guessing(again based on what I've read), these guys get about the length of Coral Cat.

[The bottom photo sure looks like a zebra shark, but the top one looks like some sub-species of cat shark. Are you saying that this is'nt a cat shark or what?/QUOTE]

Nope. I'm saying it's not a true Zebra Shark(Stegostoma varium). Or I'm saying it is a fairly exotic looking Bamboo shark. Take up pick.

BTW - the Pup & the sub-adult - same exact species.

Word to wise - any shark listed (be it a dealer or LFS) as Zebra Shark that costs about 80-200 bucks - isn't a real Zebra Shark. True Zebra Sharks(Stegostoma varium or fasciatum) generally aren't available for sale to private individuals.

 

[Brenden]

Look wise this is my favourite Bamboo. Are they hard to aquire or?

 

[UnderwaterGirl]

We keep getting our indonesians from some wholesaler who is trying to get rid of them. It sounds kind of like we are doing him a favor. We had about 4 the first batch and they all ended up dieing. They were eating fine but for some reason they kept dieing. We think it might be some sort of genetic thing. We just got four more and within a few days we only had 1 left. This 1 is still alive and eats very well, but i don't think it has grown in the 2 months we have had it. Very strange. If this one doesn't do well, we are not going to get anymore. I am not sure about how big they get as I don't have any experience with anything other than the hatchlings.

 

[davo]

Nice. They are the same specimen right?

 

[chrisdef15]

We keep getting our indonesians from some wholesaler who is trying to get rid of them. It sounds kind of like we are doing him a favor. We had about 4 the first batch and they all ended up dieing. They were eating fine but for some reason they kept dieing. We think it might be some sort of genetic thing. We just got four more and within a few days we only had 1 left. This 1 is still alive and eats very well, but i don't think it has grown in the 2 months we have had it. Very strange. If this one doesn't do well, we are not going to get anymore. I am not sure about how big they get as I don't have any experience with anything other than the hatchlings.

Sorry to say it like this but unless you get them for free all you are doing is encouraging him to biring more in. If you personally have KILLED 7 of the poor things i wonder how many others he has brought in have died. Not the best idea and you should maybe give up.

 

[UnderwaterGirl]

from my understanding we are doing this wholesaler a favor and are only paying for shipping. we aren't encouraging anything and i am pretty sure its nothing we are doing that is killing them. we have other bamboo species in the same system that are doing great.