Baned cat shark!

cartman101

cartman101

Active Member
I just got a 3in baby "baned cat shark" for my birthday today.Its in a 55gal with a chainlink eel(7in,)and a 3in lion.Some of my freinds said that the shark will do fine in a 55 for a little more then a year.And a great person at the pet store i know said the shark will do perfect in that tank.I guess i might have to get a bigger tank.Right?The shark just sits at the bottom.
 
cincyreefer

cincyreefer

Active Member
To put it lightly yes... I have found about 4 months to be the maximum amount of time a baby bamboo can be kept healthy in a 55 gallon. And its perfectly normal for it to "lay" around the bottom all the time. If you want to see it more active (other than at feeding time) put a moonlight on the tank... They are normally much more active at night.
Congrats on the new shark!
 
cartman101

cartman101

Active Member
I have 15 pounds of LR in my tank.I dont want my shark to get scratched what should i do????And i have some fake plants and a BIG fake treasure chest.
 
gasguzzler

gasguzzler

Active Member
Ditch the treasure chest!!! Try to create as much swimming space as possible. A small cave will do well in the way of acclimation. In terms of a bigger tank, you will need at least a 180 to house it for its entire life. In my opinion, you will get maybe three months out of it in a 55. My female is now 9 months old and 23". They are incredibly interesting animals but yes, most of the day they sit at the bottom. As it ages it will be more active in the open, but unless you upgrade, you will never see this stage of development. Save every penny until you puchase a tank suitable for an elasmobranch with a filtration system to match. So far, soup to nuts, Ive spent about $3,500 on my 125 with 2 bamboos, 2 cali rays, a zebra moray and a volitains lion. I realize that I contradict myself above by keeping all of this in a 125. However, I have a 980 project nearing completion. Overall, beginning with research, the right equipment, some more research and experience will be the best tools for keeping sharks and rays. Good luck to you and your shark. Happy B-Day, -Gas.
 
gasguzzler

gasguzzler

Active Member
Okay, youre being concerned with the wrong issues here. Even if the shark lasts until December, you still have a large filtration problem. You NEED a sump/wet-dry system to keep it alive with at least an 800 gal/hr flow rate. I also read on another thread that you were planning on feeding it ghost shrimp to sustain it. I think you need to abandon the shark idea for now and wait until the 125 is up and running. There is no sense in risking the sharks life on it. I dont mean to blast you here, but I see this all the time. People need to slow down, do some research, and make informed decisions. I believe someone else with shark experience will back me up on this also.
 
chandler04

chandler04

Active Member
To answer yer other question, no, they dont really bite, Since their mouthes are located below them, they are more meant for bottom feeding, and their coloration is their largest defense. They are extremely docile, but also hard to get to eat. I hatched one, but mine never ate, and it wouldnt've of survived in the 55 anyway. You have to bring that hing back man, get a large tank, get proper filtration, do more research here, know wat yer doing, and not rush into things. It is also easiest for you to just buy a sump off of ---- or smthing. They come all setup with pumps and overflows, bioballs and even built in skimmers for only like $180-$200, which is a DEAL if u ask me. For a 125? You need some serious filtration, Then u will need a uv probably for disease and water clarity purposes. Taking the necessary precautions is key in this hobby, and if you dont, then things can get disastrous. And imo, you should have a lot more lr in yer tank. Dont mean any harm btw, only trying to help.
 
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