True Shark

[DemonShark]

I just came back from vacation in the bahamas. While there I snorkled in the open ocean, without any sort of special suit or chain mail protection, with grey carribean reef sharks for hours. They are truely beautiful creatures, very personable and love to be patted (call me crazy). I'm sold.

For my next thousand dollar mega-project, I want to go big. Really big.
I'm setting up an indoor SW concrete aquarium/pond.

The one fish I really want to keep is a shark, or preferably more than one.

A TRUE shark.

Not a cyprinid that looks like a shark, not a shark egg invert and not a bottom dwelling nurse or bamboo shark (nothing against people that keep these, but its not what I'm looking for).

A TRUE shark.

Remember, I have access to about everything. I can get pretty much any species out there, except those that are critically endangered.
Money is no object, space is of no concern.
The concrete tank can easily top several thousand gallons. The only issue is that my basement is only about 38' across, so the tank can not top 20' in length if possible. If that doesn't work I may have to build an extension on the house.

Here's my question.

What kind of shark would be best?

Blacktip, carribean reef, grey reef, lemon?

Right now I'm leaning towards grey reef sharks, only because they would be the easiest to obtain and stay "small" relatively. As a result I may be able to keep a trio of sharks in that tank.

I doubt anyone on here has kept this guys, but I'm sure the experts know something.
What to feed? Minimum tank size? Temperment? Exact species? How much this is going to cost me?

Anything to get me started.

Thanks!

 

[krj-1168]

Well - Bamboos, Nurses, Eppies, Wobbies, horn sharks & catsharks are every bit as much of a real shark as carcharhinids & other active swimming species are. And most tend to be more friendly than the carcharhinids usually are.

But since it's an active swimming species that you want. You will need a pond or tank with at least 25' in diameter(nearly 500 sq.ft.), with a volume of at least 15,000 gallons even for the smallest carcharhinid species. And that would be for the Atlantic Sharpnose (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae) & Bonnethead sharks (Sphyrna tiburo). Both Sharpnose & Bonnetheads tend to feed on fishes, and benthic invertebrates such as shrimp & crabs. Their preferred water temp range is sub-tropical to tropical - 73-84F(23-29C). Temperment - is quick, active, and a bit high strung. Both species prefer to be kept in groups of at least 3-4 sharks of their species.

For the smallest reef sharks - i.e. Blacktip Reefs - you need a pond/tank with a minimum of 30' in diameter (about 700 sq,ft.) and a volume of at least 25,000 gallons. Similar diet & water temperature preferrences to the Sharpnose & bonnetheads. Temperment - active, but usually calmer & less high strung.

 

[alcohologist]

have you thought about getting a couple of smooth hounds? smaller than what you're shooting for so far but they look like your idea of "true" sharks, and you could use a smaller pond/house more specimens.

 

[Thedaniokeeper]

Blacktip would work in a 15000 or so... Big Als have them...

 

[Zoodiver]

I'd start small and work your way up to the big ones. Go for sharpnose or something similar at first. Then look into your large body sharks. When you get there, sandbar sharks (brown sharks) are going to be your best bet. You're still looking at several hundred thousand gallons.

 

[Natural_Born_Killer]

Whatever you finally decide to do it sounds like quite an amazing project... keep everyone posted!