calling all shark experts

[ronadondoh]

I am tossing around the idea of setting up a shark tank. I have never had a shark before but have several years in the saltwater hobby.there seems to be alot of different opinons on how big a tank should be for a shark and what a good beginner shark should be. the tank i currently own is a 240g 96"x24"x24". is shark possible? along with an eel and maybe a large lion? and will i be able to keep them without any stress to the fish. any experts with words of wisdom?

 

[walleye]

i have a marble cat shark in a 240. i have a snowflake eel a ghost eeland a sailfin tang in with mine . all are doing fine. a cat shark will do good with your tank.

 

[mike22cha]

Marbled Catshark wouldn't work in a 24" wide tank for life, maybe a year or a lil more than that. Your best option would be a cortez ray.

 

[ronadondoh]

ok thanks for the info i never thought about a ray. anybody else want to chime in?

 

[krj-1168]

Can you keep a Marbled Catshark(Atelomycterus macleayi) in a standard 240 gallon? Sure - it's possible after all this species average about 20" in length as adults.
But given the fact of it's maximum size (24"), and that it often mistaken for it's slightly larger cousin - the Coral Catshark (Atelomycterus marmoratus)- I would say a 260-300 gallon tank would be a better choice.
And yes, I agree a Cortez stingray would fit nicely into a 240 gallon.

 

[crashbandicoot]

The marbel cat shark is perfect for a 240 . If your serious about keeping sharks and rays your first investment should be in michael scotts book Aquarium sharks and rays . Its only about 25-30 dollars and is a good base point for any questions you might have .

 

[walleye]

i got my shark 7 months ago when it was about 8 inches long. he is about 15 inches now. he is doing fine. he eats alot of silverside everyday. he does not like shrimp or scallops. i give him white shrimp alive and he eats them very well. eveyone has there opion about it. i have a 240 and like i said he is doing great. here are some pics. thanks

 

[crashbandicoot]

Over the weekend we went to the public aquarium down town . I was very shocked to see 6 bamboo pups in a tank that couldnt have been more then 6 inches deep and had a foot print of may 18"x 5' . . .

 

[ronadondoh]

how about metal from powerheads or pumps? I have read that it may effect the shark. thanks for everyones help.

 

[ronadondoh]

Originally Posted by Crashbandicoot
http:///forum/post/2468110
Over the weekend we went to the public aquarium down town . I was very shocked to see 6 bamboo pups in a tank that couldnt have been more then 6 inches deep and had a foot print of may 18"x 5' . . .

I have been to that aquarium (in denver right?) i was very disapointed

 

[crashbandicoot]

The metal in the powerheads and pumps shouldnt bother your shark . They are sealed up and dont actually contact the water .
I dont know about the DTA , Sometimes its great but then other times its like What in the ........ are they thinking . Last time I was there they had two cat sharks in the huge pond the mimiced the beach front , no they have 6 packed in a water glass .

I guess for the general public its great , but if you have a little fish knowlage than it can be heart breaking . The best part of it was the monster porky they have now . The thing must be the size of a football .

 

[mike22cha]

Originally Posted by Crashbandicoot
http:///forum/post/2467603
The marbel cat shark is perfect for a 240 . If your serious about keeping sharks and rays your first investment should be in michael scotts book Aquarium sharks and rays . Its only about 25-30 dollars and is a good base point for any questions you might have .

That book is a good base for beginers, but the min tank sizes and other information is questionable.

 

[crashbandicoot]

Originally Posted by Crashbandicoot
http:///forum/post/2467603
The marbel cat shark is perfect for a 240 . If your serious about keeping sharks and rays your first investment should be in michael scotts book Aquarium sharks and rays . Its only about 25-30 dollars and is a good base point for any questions you might have .

Originally Posted by MIKE22cha
http:///forum/post/2468545
That book is a good base for beginers, but the min tank sizes and other information is questionable.
AS I said in my post yes it is a good base point for any questions one might have .

Just for the record how many sharks of how many different spieces have you actually kept that allowes you to pass judgement on the information given in the book ?
The marble catshark (Atelomycterus macleayi) attains a "maximum" length of 23.5" and is quoted as sutible for a 70 gallon tank . So I believe a 240 gallon tank would be more than large enough ,Since it is almost 4 times the size given .I have only seen these avalible a few times online . They are not readily avalible . It would tak some searching to get one but would be better than taking the easy road of what every mermaids purse is at the lfs .

While I dont agree with all the information given in the book "IT IS A GOOD BASE POINT" .

 

[krj-1168]

Just for the record how many sharks of how many different spieces have you actually kept that allowes you to pass judgement on the information given in the book ?
The marble catshark (Atelomycterus macleayi) attains a "maximum" length of 23.5" and is quoted as sutible for a 70 gallon tank . So I believe a 240 gallon tank would be more than large enough ,Since it is almost 4 times the size given .I have only seen these avalible a few times online . They are not readily avalible . It would tak some searching to get one but would be better than taking the easy road of what every mermaids purse is at the lfs . While I dont agree with all the information given in the book "IT IS A GOOD BASE POINT" .
First off - Scott Michael's Book is a "Good Starting point" because it's presently the only Book on shark/ray Husbandry that is generally available to private Aquarists. While it could & possible should be considered to be Elamobranch Husbandry 101. But It really shouldn't be considered to be anything more than that.
Also I have a big problem with aquarist relying too much on the info in Mr' Michael's Book (something I know from experience). As some of the information is incomplete or even inaccurate (not just referring to tank sizes). It's always best to consult more than one source - and do your own research on what a species needs before getting a shark of any kind.
As for his Figures - they are incredibly low, to the point of being almost down right cruel. Ever seen a 36" brown-banded Bamboo kept in standard 300 gallon tank (which he says is possible). I Have . And, Yeah it possible - but the poor shark can barely turn around. So IMPO - I couldn't recommend keep a 3 ft shark in a standard 300 gallon tank. Yes - it's possible to keep the species of sharks in the tank/pond sizes that he suggests - but only as pups or juveniles - not for it's entire Life. And if your planning on getting a shark - then you really need to plan on keeping for it's entire life.
But the way - I know a couple of Marine Biologists that deal with sharks in captivity - including benthic "aquaria friendly" species on a daily basis - and they tend to consider Mr. Michael's Book to be nothing more than a JOKE.
And for the record - with sharks or rays - it's not the volume that important - but the footprint, and tank/pond design that is key.

 

[footballhead]

Pardon my ignorance, but what is a footprint?

 

[crashbandicoot]

Foot print is the demensions of the tank width and length . Square footage .

 

[mike22cha]

Originally Posted by Crashbandicoot
http:///forum/post/2468598
AS I said in my post yes it is a good base point for any questions one might have .

Just for the record how many sharks of how many different spieces have you actually kept that allowes you to pass judgement on the information given in the book ?
The marble catshark (Atelomycterus macleayi) attains a "maximum" length of 23.5" and is quoted as sutible for a 70 gallon tank . So I believe a 240 gallon tank would be more than large enough ,Since it is almost 4 times the size given .I have only seen these avalible a few times online . They are not readily avalible . It would tak some searching to get one but would be better than taking the easy road of what every mermaids purse is at the lfs .

While I dont agree with all the information given in the book "IT IS A GOOD BASE POINT" .
Nope never have kept a shark in my life. While I wanted to so badly and I researched all I could, realized that I'm going to college in a couple years, and could not keep such a large tank or pond there. And I don't like the idea of keeping a shark for just a couple years and having no plans to keep it for life or making a home for it for life.
And I agree, I have no personal expierence with keeping sharks, so I can understand why people would get upset with me. But I've talked with many people who are very knowledgable with sharks and rays such as krj-1168 or Brenden and many other who are on this forum. I've seen articles they wrote and stuff and have looked at their information many times on different forums. So I get why you would say who's this cocky teenager?
And I see clearly where you said it's a good base point.
But I do hate when people take every word from that book to be true, which most due. And like as Ken said, it's because that's the only book out there. But if I took that book word for word, I'd have coral catsharks, marbled catsharks, and cortez rays in my 125g.
Not saying anything bad about your post there, just making sure people don't take it word for word.

 

[ronadondoh]

thanks for everyones advice i will put it all to good use. i guess i will most likely ditch the shark idea and go with a small ray as i want to be able to keep the animal for life and it have live a stress free life.

 

[krj-1168]

yeah Footprint = square Footage or surface area.
It's most important due to O2 enchange, and swimming are for the shark.
With most fish - they can swim in place - But generally sharks need more room than most other fishes of similar size.
Scott Michael's minimum figures for Benthic "aquaria" sharks are as follows - Tank length = 2-2.5 x shark's max. length. Tank Width = .75 x shark's max. Length.
So by his Figures - a Brown-banded Bamboo should have a minimum tank size of 7-8' L x 30"W x 24" tall. Which equals 260-300 gallons (not the 160-180 he quotes). Still these figures would be a kin to keep a large active dog in a "small pen" for it's entire life. Which is to be "Cruel" standards of living.
For Swimming sharks - Scott Michael's fgure are even worse. For active Swimming sharks such as the Blacktip Reef - He gives the following formulas. Tank Length = 4-5 x Shark's max Length. And Tank Width = 1.5 times Shark's max. Length. Or a round shaped tank that's roughly 3 x the shark's maximum length. For a Blacktip Reef -which grows to 6' long. The round tank would need to be at least 18' in diameter(using his figures). Which has a footprint of just 254 sq.ft. And with a depth of just 4' would have a total volume of 7,600 gallons(not the 5,800 gallons -he states). With a depth of 6' then the volume increases to 11,400 gallons.
But given that we are talking about an Obligated Ram Ventilator(must swim in order to breath), with the Blacktip Reef. This would be too small for these shark to live it's entire life in a tank of that size. Requiem sharks actually need several times the sq.footage & volume that Mr.Michael's suggests to live a "healthy" life in captivity.