Horn Shark Questions

robn

robn

Member
Anybody out there with Horn Shark experience that can give me some insight into their behaviors/eating habits/temp preference? Are they mostly nocturnal? Do they have a habit of munching on their fellow fish? What is their activity level? My tanks usually stay around 78-80 in the summer, will I need a chiller for a Horn?
I have bought and read (several times) Scott Michael's book, but it didn't specifically address my questions.
Thanks!
 
sebae09

sebae09

Member
as a temperature range of 55 - 70°F (13 - 21°C) and has a natural diet of benthic invertebrate and small fishes. Requires a meaty diet and fed twice a week. They need a large, well-filtered and well-oxygenated system with few environment obstructions. Can not be treated with heavy metal solutions such as copper. Fresh seafood, such as shrimp, fish flesh, crab, scallops and freshwater mollies are welcomed. Do not house with large triggerfishes, angelfishes, wrasses, and pufferfishes as they can pick on the shark and cause skin and/or eye damage are mostly nocturnal.
 
psusocr1

psusocr1

Active Member
i wouldnt put him in a 240 gallon if thats what tank your looking to put him in,
they do get 4 feet... thats one BIG shark
 
robn

robn

Member
No, I don't plan to.....I am about to break down the 2 240's and sell them... going to get a 475.....8' long, 2' high, 4' front to back.....wanted to get something that will give a shark some room to turn around in...
 
sebae09

sebae09

Member
that will be perfect for him. and yes you will need a chiller and you wont be able to keep alot of fish with it considering it is a coldwater tank. a catilina goby would be nice if it wouldn't get eaten. but it will.
 
krj-1168

krj-1168

Member
Horn sharks(Heterodontus francisci) are very cool sharks -and I'm not talking water temps.
Generally they're a very hardy species. - The main medical problem that they often have is a problem with their eyes - which may be caused by one of 3 things.
-Iodine levels(salt mixes often don't have the same levels as actual sea salt).
- tankmates - some fish species pick on bottom-dwelling sharks.
- vitamins - as in not enough of.
As for the water temperature range of the Horn Shark. While often called a cool water shark. But the truth is they aren't. They are more a temperate ro sub-tropical shark. The complete true water temperature range that horns can tolerate is between 55-82F. But most wild studies show that horns seem to prefer water temps between 65-75F.
And I've talked with people on other aquatic forums that have successful kept horn sharks in aquariums that were in the upper 70's.
Horns generally live their entire lives within a 10-12 miles of their birth. And the range from the Central California coast all the way down to the southern tip of Baja California, and are even found within the sea of Cortez(Gulf of California).
Still a chiller would be a good idea - even it just used to keep the water temperature from going above 78F.
The 8'x4'x2' is okay for an adult horn.
Although personally - I would consider a 8' diameter poly pool(as a shark pond), a better option.
 
robn

robn

Member
Thanks for all the advice....
I've read both opinions about temps....I wouldn't think I'd need a huge chiller though....although it's a good amount of water, the pulldown would only need to be 2-5 degrees.....
Hate to ask a stupid question, but what exactly is a poly-pool? I have read that term quite a few times in regards to shark tanks.....is it just liner in a structural edge?
 
krj-1168

krj-1168

Member
Poly-Pools is a short name for Polyethylene Pools.
A good name brand is Rubbermaid.
And generally they are much cheaper(but a tougher) than a standard glass aquarium of equal volume.
Generally the range for about $150-500, depending of size and quality.
They can also be found in major stores were livestock supplies are sold.
As for a chiller size - you likely could get by with a smaller one.
 
krj-1168

krj-1168

Member
yes, generally.
Someplaces can custom install - view ports in your pools.
but the pools do - give a natural tidal pool feel, over standard aquariums.
 
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