Well - 1st off the Horn shark isn't really a bad choice.
Allow me to explain why.
-These guys can get grow to 4ft(max in the wild), but really average about 3 -3.25ft about the size of a large Brownbanded Bamboo.
- Also while Scott Micheal's book states that they live in water temps between upper 50's to 70F. The truth is there are follow shark hobbists that have raised them successfully in water temps in to the lower 70's(or about normal room temperature - around 72F).
- Also The normal range of the Californian Horn Shark goes to the southern tip of Baja California, where summer water temps regularly gets to the mid & upper 70's. And Horn sharks don't migrate - but stay close to their original home range for all of their life.
- Also because of their average adult size - the only require a 240 gallons tank - so generally a 500 would be more than big enough.
- And generally horns are very hardy sharks, and a fairly easy species of shark to keep.
But really it does depend on the dimensions of your tank - for any bottom-dwelling species of sharks - the following guideline are best of determining if a species could fit in your tank. The length should be about 2.2-2.5 times the shark's adult length.The width should be equal to the shark's average adult length. The tank's deep should be about twice the shark's height(from tip of dorsal fin to it's belly).
Still if your tank is of the following dimensions - 8ft long x 3.33ft wide x 2.5ft deep(about 500 gallons).
Then the following species should be very possible for you to keep(although not at the same time).
1.) Coral Catshark - (A. marmoratus) - about 2ft long - Water temps 74-84 F
2.) Marbled Catshark - (A. macleayi) - about 2ft. long - Water temps 74-84 F
3.) Brownbanded Bamboo - (C. punctatum) - about 3ft long - Water temps 74-82 F
4.) Whitespotted Bamboo - (C. plagiosum) - about 3ft long - Water temps 74-82 F
5.) Grey Bamboo - (C. griseum) - about 2.5ft long - Water temps 74-82 F
6.) Horn Shark - (H. francisci) - about 3ft long - Water temps 62-74 F
7.) Epaulette - (H. ocellatum) - about 3.25ft long - Water temps 74-82 F
8.) Japanese Wobbegong - (O. japonicus) - about 3.33ft long - Water temps 64-77F
That's a pretty nice list - don't you think?
