White-spotted Bamboo

[krichardson]

earthworms is not a very good shark diet... I would feed pieces of squid, clams, fish, crab, etc.

Of course worms are not what the sharks would normally encounter in the sea,but I have delt with enough of these little guys not eating all usual foods,I dont mean for you to feed them exclusively on worms but I have noticed that the worms do give them a good start and stimulates the appetite.The information that I offer comes from experience or from the many books that I keep on hand,the worm idea is one that I first tried some years ago after reading what I consider the best book for shark keeping information.Anybody publish any good books lately?

 

[Brenden]

Does that book happen to be "Aquarium Sharks & Rays" by Scott Micheal? If so don't live your life based off that information alone. No new elasmobranch books have been published recently to my knowledge however there is one in the midst of being written.

 

[krichardson]

That is the book I was talking about and there is another that I have for reference.BTW I have noticed your posts for some time now,what are you keeping currently?

 

[Brenden]

Leopard Sharks among others.

 

[krj-1168]

Ok- theres' a pretty big difference between earthworms & marine worms. In the wild - juvie benthic sharks are sometimes known to feed on marine worms.

Feed a bamboo pup earthworms is a kin to feed them freshwater fish - basically like feeding candy to a child - not good at all. On the other hand - marine worms can be a really good food source for juvie bamboos.

BTW - for the record "Aquarium Sharks & Rays" is 7 years old - so it's far from the most up-to-date source for information about keeping sharks & rays. While the basics of elasmobranch husbandary may not have changed much in the last 7 years. Some the information that Mr. Michael's has in his book is either out dated, just plan inaccurate, or unrealistic.

Personally - I consider the Elasmobranch Husbandary Manual to be a much better source of information - even though it's very technical, and geared more toward public aquariums. There's still lots of good inforamtion for private shark.ray aquarists.

 

[Zoodiver]

Does that book happen to be "Aquarium Sharks & Rays" by Scott Micheal?

I wondered when that would be asked. Micheal and that book are like Benchly and Jaws. So many follow it, and it's no where close to up to date info.

 

[krichardson]

I told myself that I was done with this thread but I keep returning to it.Please point me toward more up to the minute information since Michael's book has just about been deemed obsolete.I may not have my name in red above the avatar but my elasmos have done and grown well with what I have raised them on .

 

[Zoodiver]

I'm not saying you haven't, but people look at his book like it's the Bible of shark care. One member here posted a list of other great captive elasmo books. I'll see if I can find it.
My biggest problem with Micheal's book is that he never kept those sharks.

Like Ken posted, EHM is a great technical work to have in a collection.

 

[oceanobsession289]

Do I smell a Sticky coming???

 

[Zoodiver]

Was this your list?? It's the one I was thinking of.

As far as books goes heres a good one...
The Elasmobranch Husbandry Manual: Captive Care of Sharks, Rays, and their Relatives. Edited by: Mark Smith, Doug Warmolts, Dennis Thorey, and Robert Hueter. 2004, Ohio Biological Survey, Inc. It's an anchor of a book and can be quite dry but has TONS of info. I know at least part of it is online. http://www.colszoo.org/internal/elasmo_2005/page1.htm

I own Aquarium Sharks and Rays, and its a good book but i'm sure someone on here will tell you all about how Scott Michael's minimum tank size requirements are incorrect.

Here is also a list of some books that someone else posted on her a while ago. These shoud be good to get you started. Good Luck!

Sharks in Question the Smithsonian Answer Book
By Victor Springer and Joy P. Gold
1989; 187 pages with pictures, in paperback​

Sharks and Rays (Time life Books)
By Tricas, Deacon, Mc Coster, Walker, and Taylor
1997, 288 pages in hardcover​

The Sharks of North American Waters
by Jose I. Castro.
1983, 180 pages, no pictures, plenty of sketches and good info.
Specific to sharks in the United Sates.​

Shark Smart: The Divers Guide to Understanding Shark Behavior
By Richard Martin
Illustration and 177 pages​

Sharks
John D. Stevens, consulting editor
Facts on file publications, 1987​

Sharks of the World
By Leonard J.V. Compagno
The United Nations Development Program, 1984​

The Natural History of Sharks
By Thomas H. Lineaweaver III and Richard H. Backus
Lippincott, 1970​

Sharks of the World
By Rodney Steel
Facts on File, 1969​

Sharks of Tropical and Temperate Seas
By R.H. Johnson
Pisces Books, 1995​