noob plans to keep a shark, any suggestion?
- Thread starter jiapei
- Start date
I suggest you read and research for another year or two. Sharks require many many gallons, perfect water conditions, everything a 'noob' cannot provide. You don't come into the hobby with a right attitude. IMO sharks should only be kept in public aquaria unless you are an expert in the highest sense of the word.
huge tank and great water condition is not a ban 
for me. but i am still not very confident if keeping a shark, so i want to pick a small and easy shark
Well - actually sharks aren't recommended for noobs.
IMO - An aquarist should have at least a couple of years experience with keep saltwater tanks before even attempting to keep a shark. Shark's require both large tanks & virtually perfect water conditions, to be successful.
Also I suggest research - ask others about keeping sharks, as well as read book, magazine articles & various online sources. But your best info will usually come from other aquarists.
That said - there's over half dozen species that are considered to "beginner sharks".
But none of these species - should be kept in any tank smaller than 225 gallons for it's entire life. Most actually require tanks over 450 gallons. And most species tend to prefer water temps in the range of low 70's to low 80's.
The most suited species are --
- Marbled Catshark (Atelomycterus macleayi) grows to about 24" - generally considered to be the smallest shark generally available to most home aquarists. Needs a tank of at least 225 gallons (6'L x 2.5'W x 2'T).
- Coral Catshark (Atelomycterus marmoratus) grows to 28". More active and colorful than it's smaller cousin. Needs a tank of at least 270 gallons (6'L x 3'W x 2'T).
- Gray Bamboo (Chiloscyllium griseum) grows to 30". Needs a tank of at least 315 gallons (7'L x 3'W x 2'T).
White-spotted Bamboo (Chiloscyllium plagiosum) grows to 37". Some say the most active of Bamboo sharks. Needs a tank of at least 480 gallons (8'L x 4'W x 2'T).
California Horn Shark (Heterodontus francisci) grows to about 39". Tends to prefer warm temperate water temps in the upper 60's-mid 70's. Also tends to be a more active species than most bamboos are. Requires a tank that's at least 600 gallons (10'L x 4'W x 2'T).
Brown-banded Bamboo (Chiloscyllium punctatum) grows to 41". Most common of sharks available for home aquaria. Requires a tank of at least 540 gallons (9'L x 4'W x 2'T).
Epaulette (Hemiscyllium ocellatum) grows to 42". Requires a tank of at least 600 gallons (10'L x 4'W x 2'T).
That should help you get started on your research.
IMO - An aquarist should have at least a couple of years experience with keep saltwater tanks before even attempting to keep a shark. Shark's require both large tanks & virtually perfect water conditions, to be successful.
Also I suggest research - ask others about keeping sharks, as well as read book, magazine articles & various online sources. But your best info will usually come from other aquarists.
That said - there's over half dozen species that are considered to "beginner sharks".
But none of these species - should be kept in any tank smaller than 225 gallons for it's entire life. Most actually require tanks over 450 gallons. And most species tend to prefer water temps in the range of low 70's to low 80's.
The most suited species are --
- Marbled Catshark (Atelomycterus macleayi) grows to about 24" - generally considered to be the smallest shark generally available to most home aquarists. Needs a tank of at least 225 gallons (6'L x 2.5'W x 2'T).
- Coral Catshark (Atelomycterus marmoratus) grows to 28". More active and colorful than it's smaller cousin. Needs a tank of at least 270 gallons (6'L x 3'W x 2'T).
- Gray Bamboo (Chiloscyllium griseum) grows to 30". Needs a tank of at least 315 gallons (7'L x 3'W x 2'T).
White-spotted Bamboo (Chiloscyllium plagiosum) grows to 37". Some say the most active of Bamboo sharks. Needs a tank of at least 480 gallons (8'L x 4'W x 2'T).
California Horn Shark (Heterodontus francisci) grows to about 39". Tends to prefer warm temperate water temps in the upper 60's-mid 70's. Also tends to be a more active species than most bamboos are. Requires a tank that's at least 600 gallons (10'L x 4'W x 2'T).
Brown-banded Bamboo (Chiloscyllium punctatum) grows to 41". Most common of sharks available for home aquaria. Requires a tank of at least 540 gallons (9'L x 4'W x 2'T).
Epaulette (Hemiscyllium ocellatum) grows to 42". Requires a tank of at least 600 gallons (10'L x 4'W x 2'T).
That should help you get started on your research.
port jacksons are great sharks, but they are expensive. if you get a shark try to do it from an egg. A bamboo will be 30 inches in 2 years
This guy in another thread said Arownanas can live in a 4ft tank
...
I bet he will buy one and put in an undersized tank
.
...I bet he will buy one and put in an undersized tank
.
krj-1168;1322975; said:Well - actually sharks aren't recommended for noobs.
IMO - An aquarist should have at least a couple of years experience with keep saltwater tanks before even attempting to keep a shark. Shark's require both large tanks & virtually perfect water conditions, to be successful.
Also I suggest research - ask others about keeping sharks, as well as read book, magazine articles & various online sources. But your best info will usually come from other aquarists.
That said - there's over half dozen species that are considered to "beginner sharks".
But none of these species - should be kept in any tank smaller than 225 gallons for it's entire life. Most actually require tanks over 450 gallons. And most species tend to prefer water temps in the range of low 70's to low 80's.
The most suited species are --
- Marbled Catshark (Atelomycterus macleayi) grows to about 24" - generally considered to be the smallest shark generally available to most home aquarists. Needs a tank of at least 225 gallons (6'L x 2.5'W x 2'T).
- Coral Catshark (Atelomycterus marmoratus) grows to 28". More active and colorful than it's smaller cousin. Needs a tank of at least 270 gallons (6'L x 3'W x 2'T).
- Gray Bamboo (Chiloscyllium griseum) grows to 30". Needs a tank of at least 315 gallons (7'L x 3'W x 2'T).
White-spotted Bamboo (Chiloscyllium plagiosum) grows to 37". Some say the most active of Bamboo sharks. Needs a tank of at least 480 gallons (8'L x 4'W x 2'T).
California Horn Shark (Heterodontus francisci) grows to about 39". Tends to prefer warm temperate water temps in the upper 60's-mid 70's. Also tends to be a more active species than most bamboos are. Requires a tank that's at least 600 gallons (10'L x 4'W x 2'T).
Brown-banded Bamboo (Chiloscyllium punctatum) grows to 41". Most common of sharks available for home aquaria. Requires a tank of at least 540 gallons (9'L x 4'W x 2'T).
Epaulette (Hemiscyllium ocellatum) grows to 42". Requires a tank of at least 600 gallons (10'L x 4'W x 2'T).
That should help you get started on your research.
wow~~~that's so nice of you!
i'll try to learn more about it!*KrAmEr*;1323059; said:This guy in another thread said Arownanas can live in a 4ft tank
I bet he will buy one and put in an undersized tank
it's not SAID, it's the TRUTH! some keeper in china did this way, and the fish is ok, you can see my RTG, it's in a 120cm(4') tank, it's 30cm(12'') and i'll move it to the bigger tank(200cm) when it grow bigger, but it lived in even smaller tank in my friends house before (80cm), tank size cant prove everything, if you keep it with care, it can still be a great fish!!
Another ignorant fish-haver who does not intend to keep the fish in optimum conditions. To correctly house a full marine shark, the very first thing you require is common sense. 2nd is the extreme knowledge and 3rd is to have the finnancial capabilities. You may think you are a 'great' asian arowana keeper, but very few people are suited to own a marine shark.