Anyone have a port jackson???

[supermanvx]

I am very curious on this species shark and would appreciate it if anyone who has one could give me some information...i like them when they are grey ALOT, but lately i have been seeing some ugly pictures of larger ones that are brown. Also would like to see some pics, would like to know their eating habits, any advice and how active they are. Thanks
oh ya, i want to keep this thread to a serious note and dont want to see a bunch of replies of; "hope you have a big tank" or "what size tank is it going in"...dont worry

 

[krj-1168]

Well - I've never seen a grey Port Jackson. All the ones I've seen are Brown. And as a whole it's a very attractive species.
Port Jackson's get very large - average 4-4.5', and max out at 5-5.5'. In fact they are the giants of the genus. But they tend to grow very slowly - about 2-3" per year. Taking up to 20 yrs to reach their maximum size. Like all heterodontids the mainly feed on inverts - like crabs, clams, shrimp, urchins, starfish, octopi, squid, and also small fish.

By the way - because their large adult size - A Port Jackson will require a tank over 1,000 gallons.

 

[supermanvx]

yep...i knew all that...heres a couple pictures...of some people the first one is someone on another forums...and the one below is AC's (a member here, but he doesnt have him anymore)

 

[supermanvx]

the guy uptop is a 240g...and i believe AC's was in a 300g

 

[krj-1168]

Here's another couple of photos.

The people that I've talked to online about Port Jackson's, basically say that they are as easy to keep as Horn Sharks. The only really difference other appearence is size.
But personal I like the looks of this Port Jackson.

 

[supermanvx]

Ya those are more of an adult portjackson...the enlongated snout..and they must turn to a brownish color...the pups that i posted seem to be grey and with a flatter snout.

 

[krj-1168]

I've seen pics of port jackson pups - that are also brown in color.
Of course - it could be that their some color variation within the wild population of Port Jackson's.

 

[supermanvx]

ah i like that yellow one

 

[krj-1168]

It's a Lutino Mutation of the Port Jackson's - I believe it's in an Australian Zoo or Public Aquarium.
But it's very cool looking.

 

[supermanvx]

yep it is...so if i got a pup when its grey....eventually it would turn brown?

 

[supermanvx]

these are really cool sharks, but the second and third picture that you posted with an enlongated snout, doesnt look good to me...they look sick, miserable, or maybe just ugly...but i dont kno..im really just hopeing someone who owns one or had one could help me out here

 

[reeftank27]

love the port jackson...that will be the shark i get once i get my new tank once i move. does anyone know if the ports and horn get alone ok..that is what i would like to get..a port and a horn should be good in what size tank...i was thinking like 10ft by3 by 2.5 that should be plenty right???

 

[supermanvx]

Originally Posted by reeftank27
love the port jackson...that will be the shark i get once i get my new tank once i move. does anyone know if the ports and horn get alone ok..that is what i would like to get..a port and a horn should be good in what size tank...i was thinking like 10ft by3 by 2.5 that should be plenty right???
when they are young...and with no decoration...that tank would be barely enough for one

 

[krj-1168]

i was thinking like 10ft by3 by 2.5 that should be plenty right???
Like superman said - maybe fine for a horn or Port jackson, while a juvenile - til either reachs about 24". But I would recommend some live rock.
As for keeping a Port & Horn together - may be possible in a large enough tank - provided you don't have two males. Although each do better with their only species.
Still an adult horn will need a minimum tank size of 7' x 3.5' x 2' (about 365 gallons).
The adult Port Jackson needs a minimum tank size of 10' x 5' x 2.5' (about 935 gallons).

 

[supermanvx]

hey just curious, you didnt answer my question..if i buy a pup thats grey, will he stay grey or eventually turn brown?

 

[reeftank27]

thanks for the info...it nice to see what i will have to build for a tank...the basement is going to be my fish room so skys the limit well at least within reason. lol

 

[krj-1168]

I believe the "gray" Port jackson's will turn brown as they get closer to adult hood.
As for tank sizes - The sizes I gave above would only work for a single Horn or PJ.
If you have the room in your basement - build the pool/tank large enough to kept a pair of Horns or PJs.
A 10' long x 5' wide x 2-2.5' deep(750-930 gallons) should be fine for a couple of Horns.
Or a if you go with 12' long x 7' wide x 3' deep(about 1800 gallons) for a pair of PJs.
The problem with breeding PJs - is you will have to want for nearly a decade, before they will start breeding.
Horns on the other hand may breed at about 3-4 years old.
The males of both species are are known to eat egg cases.

 

[ac]

Wow I haven't seen that picture of my port jackson in a long time. Absolutely beautiful shark. I lost him due to a very bad wrasse(before I knew better). I'm currently building a pond for a couple of smooth hounds and was thinking about getting another PJ for it. supermanvx, mine was in a 320.

 

[krj-1168]

Well, AC _ I know it's very possible to keep Horns with Smoothhounds - I've talked to people who have done it(on other boards). I've also heard of Horns being kept with Leopards.
So keeping a PJ with a smoothhound shouldn't be a problem either.

 

[supermanvx]

Originally Posted by AC
Wow I haven't seen that picture of my port jackson in a long time. Absolutely beautiful shark. I lost him due to a very bad wrasse(before I knew better). I'm currently building a pond for a couple of smooth hounds and was thinking about getting another PJ for it. supermanvx, mine was in a 320.
I was hopeing you would see this thread. Thank you for checking in..how long did you have him before he died? How did you feed him, let him eat the crabs/snails? Also, by the way, I love the picture of yours. Am i correct, was he grey? And did his color shift at all? Anything you want me to know would be great. OH and how big was he when you bought him?? THANKS