Black/Brown Banded Bamboo Shark

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frinklinduds

Guest





I really am in love with the juvenile bamboo shark wondering if anyone knew the requirements for these guys. Temperment, tanks mates, substrate, salinity level, what they eat normally, corals/invertebrates they can live with?
been considering getting one in the near future and would like to learn about them first!




 

btldreef

Moderator
Since you're from LI, and a LFS near me just hatched a few of these, I have to ask if Aqua Hut is the reason you're not really interested in them.
The big issue with these guys is being able to provide an adequate sized aquarium for them once they're full grown.
 
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frinklinduds

Guest
Funny you say Aqua Hut because my boyfriend and I just discovered that fish store. We were searching on google for some decent LFS and that came up. I actually seen the bamboo shark out in another LFS Pet Den in Commack? and then also seen smaller ones at Aqua Hut shortly after.
 

aquaknight

Active Member
Temperament is quite passive. They will typically hide in the rocks most of the day. They are nocturnal, but even at night, activity is limited. They will adjust to your standard lighting schedule though. Being so passive and a bottom-dwelling fish, they are easily picked on by tankmates, no triggers, large angels, butterflyfish, puffers, etc. Basically no fish with teeth/beaks. Naso tangs usually make great tankmates, and as you'll need a big tank anyway, will fit into the aquarium. Usually large dumb fish make the best, Porkfish, Squirrel/soldierfish, Emperor snapper, etc. A Spanish or Cuban hogfish would make for a great active fish for the tank. Of course many people keep different species of catsharks together, along with different types of rays as well. Though the tank sizes you'll need, starts to shoot through the roof. Substrate is finer the better, absolutely no crushed coral. Salinity 1.021-1.025. They don't eat corals, but likely will knock them around the tank causing their demise. They will eat any invert they can. Prestine water conditions are demanded. They are susceptible to burns from excessive nitrates, and goiters from nitrates.
Banded shark pups have a pretty high morality rate. I would guess above 50%. The hardest part is weening them onto prepared food. Usually you start off with gut-loaded live ghost shrimp, then start holding the shrimp via tongs or rigid airline, and then switch to dead ghost shrimp, then frozen foods.
As for tanks, the ideal situation is to start off with the young shark in around a 40g breeder to a 90gal by itself, as the pup us weened. After that, usually into a 180gal-240gal (or larger) as the shark continues to grow. Eventually with a 3 to almost 4 foot shark on your hands, a tank in the 4 figures, thousand gallons, will be required.
 
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frinklinduds

Guest
Thank you aquaknight for answering all my questions, considering they grow so big and the normal person wouldn't be able to house them in a suitable size tank for very long is it possible to donate or sell them to places such as Atlantis Marine World or other similar places or even a LFS?
 

btldreef

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by frinklinduds http:///t/388021/black-brown-banded-bamboo-shark#post_3419119
Thank you aquaknight for answering all my questions, considering they grow so big and the normal person wouldn't be able to house them in a suitable size tank for very long is it possible to donate or sell them to places such as Atlantis Marine World or other similar places or even a LFS?
Most local fish stores won't take them once they're larger because they're not an easy sell and a lot of places don't have large enough tanks to even house them. I know for a fact that Atlantis won't take it.
 
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frinklinduds

Guest
Well I guess I wont be getting one then that's a disappointment. Do you know of any other nice looking sharks that don't grow too big and no to aggressive?
 

aquaknight

Active Member
The smallest commonly available shark, is the Coral Catshark (Atelomycterus marmoratus). It usually only reaches 24"-27" max in captivity, and is much less thick-bodied then typical of other sharks. It would be fine in something like a 125/150 for quite a while as a growing pup. Though ultimately will need a minimum of a 6' long by at least 2' deep tank, which is typically a 180gal, though larger is always preferred.
Good read about Coral cats here on SWF;
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/309289/coral-catshark
Goes back and forth back tanks sizes, etc.
 
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frinklinduds

Guest
Quote:
Originally Posted by AquaKnight http:///t/388021/black-brown-banded-bamboo-shark#post_3419311
The smallest commonly available shark, is the Coral Catshark (Atelomycterus marmoratus
). It usually only reaches 24"-27" max in captivity, and is much less thick-bodied then typical of other sharks. It would be fine in something like a 125/150 for quite a while as a growing pup. Though ultimately will need a minimum of a 6' long by at least 2' deep tank, which is typically a 180gal, though larger is always preferred.
Good read about Coral cats here on SWF;
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/309289/coral-catshark
Goes back and forth back tanks sizes, etc.
Thank you I will look into them!
 
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