Tank Size Recommendations

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Everything I have read online say max recorded size is 30#...maybe this is a wild caught record.

Strange that the captive record would be larger, however conditions are better so it technically makes sense.
 
Everything I have read online say max recorded size is 30#...maybe this is a wild caught record.

Strange that the captive record would be larger, however conditions are better so it technically makes sense.
Click to expand...


Actually it's less about wild verses captivity - than it is about the size of the shark that generates the figures in question.

In the case of the 30lbs(14kg) figure for Blacktip Reefs it comes from an IGFA fishing record. But fishing records rarely tell the complete story for a species maximum weight or size, unless a very large specimen is caught. In the case of the recorded Blacktip Reef - it was likely about 4ft long (120-130 cm)*. * Estimate Based off larger Blacktip Reefs.
 
I will also say another thing about 'fishing records' is that not everyone reports what they are catching. Most don't even care about length.
 
Here are a few more species of sharks that are often asked about. As well as species which are better suited for private aquarists.

Arabian Bamboo Shark - Chiloscyllium arabicum , Maturity at about 1.5-1.8ft. Average Adult Size is about 2.1-2.25ft. Maximum Size is about 2.5ft.
Preferred Water Temperatures - 74-82F
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 14-15 sq.ft or 6ft x 2.5ft oval.
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 28-32 sq.ft. or 8ft x 4 ft oval.
Minimum Water Depth - 2ft for juveniles, 2ft + for adults.

Brown-banded Bamboo Shark - Chiloscyllium punctatum , Maturity at about 2.1-2.4ft. Average Adult Size is about 2.9-3.2 ft. Maximum Size is about 3.5ft.
Preferred Water Temperature is about 74-82F.
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 25-28 sq.ft or 8ft x 3.5 ft oval
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 64-70 sq.ft. or 12ft x 6ft oval
Minimum Water Depth - 2 ft for juveniles, 2+ft for adults.

California Horn Shark - Heterodontus francisci , Maturity at about 1.8-2.4ft. Average Adult Size is about 2.8-3.2ft. Maximum Size is about 4ft.
Preferred Water Temperatures - 64-75F
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 29-32 sq.ft or 9 ft x 3.5ft oval.
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 85-90 sq.ft. or 16ft x 6 ft oval.
Minimum Water Depth - 2ft for juveniles, 2ft + for adults.

Chain Catshark - Scyliorhinus retifer , Maturity at about 1.1-1.3ft. Average Adult Size is about 1.4-1.6ft. Maximum Size is about 2ft.
Preferred Water Temperatures - 48-62F
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 9-10 sq.ft or 5ft x 2ft oval.
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 22-24 sq.ft. or 8ft x 3 ft oval.
Minimum Water Depth - 1.5ft for juveniles, 2ft for adults.

Common Epaulette Shark - Hemiscyllium ocellatum , Maturity at about 2-2.3ft. Average Adult Size is about 2.9-3.2 ft. Maximum Size is about 3.5ft.
Preferred Water Temperature is about 74-82F.
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 25-28 sq.ft or 8ft x 3.5 ft oval
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 64-70 sq.ft. or 12ft x 6ft oval
Minimum Water Depth - 2 ft for juveniles, 2 ft for adults.

Coral Catshark - Atelomycterus marmoratus , Maturity at about 1.6-1.8ft. Average Adult Size is about 2ft. Maximum Size is about 2.25ft.
Preferred Water Temperatures - 74-84F
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 19-21 sq.ft or 7ft x 3ft oval.
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 29-32 sq.ft. or 9ft x 3.5 ft oval.
Minimum Water Depth - 2ft for juveniles, 2ft + for adults.

Dusky Smoothhound Shark - Mustelus canis , Maturity at about 2.6-3.3ft. Average Adult Size is about 3.8-4.2ft. Maximum Size is about 5ft .
Preferred Water Temperature - about 59-72F
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 130sq.ft or 18ft x 8ft oval.
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 350 sq.ft. or about 30ft x 13ft oval.
Minimum Water Depth - 2-2.5ft for juveniles, 3.5+ft for adults.

Northern Wobbegong - Orectobolus wardi , Maturity at about 1.5-1.75ft. Average Adult Size is about 2.1-2.3 ft. Maximum Size is about 2.6-2.9ft.
Preferred Water Temperatures - 72-82F
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 12 sq.ft or 5ft x 2.5ft oval.
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 28-32 sq.ft. or 8ft x 4 ft oval.
Minimum Water Depth - 2ft for juveniles, 2ft + for adults.

Ornate Wobbegong - Orectobolus ornatus , Maturity at about 2.2-2.6ft. Average Adult Size is about 3.1-3.4 ft. Maximum Size is about 3.8-4ft.
Preferred Water Temperatures - 63-77F
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 28-32 sq.ft or 8ft x 4ft oval.
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 64-70 sq.ft. or 12ft x 6ft oval.
Minimum Water Depth - 2ft for juveniles, 2ft + for adults.

Papuan Epaulette Shark - Hemiscyllium hallstromi , Maturity at about 1.5-1.8ft. Average Adult Size is about 2.1-2.3 ft. Maximum Size is about 2.5-2.6ft.
Preferred Water Temperature is about 74-82F.
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 14-15 sq.ft or 6ft x 2.5 ft oval
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 32-36 sq.ft. or 9ft x 4ft oval
Minimum Water Depth - 2 ft for juveniles, 2 ft for adults.

Port Jackson's Shark - Heterodontus portusjacksoni , Maturity at about 2.6-3.2ft. Average Adult Size is about 3.6-4.2ft. Maximum Size is about 5.5ft.
Preferred Water Temperatures - 56-70F
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 60-64 sq.ft or 13ft x 5ft oval.
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 164-176 sq.ft. or 22ft x 8 ft oval.
Minimum Water Depth - 2ft for juveniles, 2.5ft + for adults.

White-spotted Bamboo Shark - Chiloscyllium plagiosum , Maturity at about 1.7-2.1ft. Average Adult Size is about 2.4-2.6 ft. Maximum Size is about 3ft.
Preferred Water Temperature is about 74-82F.
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 19-21 sq.ft or 7ft x 3 ft oval
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 45-50 sq.ft. or 11ft x 4.5ft oval
Minimum Water Depth - 2 ft for juveniles, 2+ft for adults.
 
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I dont know...big fish are a big deal.

Someone even comes close to a record they usually holler about it.

A lot more sharks get killed every year then sharks kept in captivity.

At this point I obviously believe you, however it is hard to think with all the sharks that are killed a year that the biggest one ever was 30# and yet all of them in captivity are considerably larger.
 
Fleshy, as I've said before - the 30lbs if the fishing record for Blacktip Reefs - Which means it's the largest recorded caught on fishing tackle(i.e.rod & reel). But that doesn't mean that it is the largest Blacktip reef ever caught in the wild by other means. Or that the largest Blacktip Reefs caught in the wild have been official weighed.

And btw - most of the sharks that are caught and killed ever year - aren't weighted or measured. In fact doubt that most have little information taken other than what their species is.
 
krj-1168;5082038; said:
And btw - most of the sharks that are caught and killed ever year - aren't weighted or measured. In fact doubt that most have little information taken other than what their species is.
Click to expand...

Harder to get an accurate species ID than a weight...but you are most likely right.
 
I'm cool with that. Lots of rays out there make great additions.

Yellows, Round, Cortez, Atlantic (assuming you keep them marine).

Do we venture bigger? Cownose, batrays, Southerns?
 
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