Leopard shark ?
- Thread starter ratzman
- Start date
tony detroit
Active Member
They get huge and needs lotsa swimming room. They grow very fast, so if you get one you will have to eventually
1. euthanize it
2. buy or build a monster tank on the order of 4000 gallons
3. get somebody to take it
I want one too, but it is very dumb for fish stores to even consider selling these. Only zoos and oceanariums can really keep one of these for life. Maybe a casino or restaurant with a monster tank. The only person that can keep sharks that big is Novice and even then that is kinda pushing it for that shark, they swim almost non-stop.
I've been really wanting to buy one myself, buy you just gotta say no. Even if you do find somebody to take it, how do you think you're gonna transport it. They grow pretty quickly. Most places won't want to accept your shark anyway, believe me. This question comes up all the time. Your tank is too small for any shark for life, a bamboo or epaulette or catshark would be alright for a while, but would eventually become too cramped in that tank after only a couple of years.
Buy the book Aquarium Sharks and Rays if you are truly serious about keeping sharks. It is by Scott Michael, you should be able to find it online or possibly your lfs may have it.
1. euthanize it
2. buy or build a monster tank on the order of 4000 gallons
3. get somebody to take it
I want one too, but it is very dumb for fish stores to even consider selling these. Only zoos and oceanariums can really keep one of these for life. Maybe a casino or restaurant with a monster tank. The only person that can keep sharks that big is Novice and even then that is kinda pushing it for that shark, they swim almost non-stop.
I've been really wanting to buy one myself, buy you just gotta say no. Even if you do find somebody to take it, how do you think you're gonna transport it. They grow pretty quickly. Most places won't want to accept your shark anyway, believe me. This question comes up all the time. Your tank is too small for any shark for life, a bamboo or epaulette or catshark would be alright for a while, but would eventually become too cramped in that tank after only a couple of years.
Buy the book Aquarium Sharks and Rays if you are truly serious about keeping sharks. It is by Scott Michael, you should be able to find it online or possibly your lfs may have it.
joe hildreth
Member
I have a leopard that I just got from Dallas North Aquarium and I love him. My maintanance service told me they are the best for adapting to your tank size. I asked a few questions the other day and everyone told me smooth hounds and loepards get way to big. You are looking a proble six years just for it to bust 3 foot in a larger tank. I have mine in a 300 with 3 other sharks and they love it. And he is very right when he says all they do is swim. Thats what I love about him. He is only about 10 inchs now, So I guess I will find out the hard way. Let me know what you think. Thanx, Joe
tony detroit
Active Member
Originally posted by Joe Hildreth
My maintanance service told me they are the best for adapting to your tank size.
Wow somebody that you give money to gave you false advise...what a crazy idea.
tony detroit
Active Member
Originally posted by Gibbus
Also sharks need length and width more then health.
Yeah good thinking ace
length and width are really going to do a unhealthy shark a lot of good.
jim27
Member
Gotta agree with tony on this one. Its very irrisponsible to buy these sharks, and moreso for lfs's to carry them. They are a potential 6 foot long active shark that will need a tank around 4000-5000 gallons when full grown.
One would probably last a year or so in your 125g before it would need more room. So do the right thing and pass on the shark unless you have a new home for it lined up in advance.
And tony, I think Gibbus ment height not health.
One would probably last a year or so in your 125g before it would need more room. So do the right thing and pass on the shark unless you have a new home for it lined up in advance.
And tony, I think Gibbus ment height not health.
tony detroit
Active Member
good call
saltfisher
Member
Well, I just redid my 180 with a baby Leopard, Smooth Hound and Nurse. They are all about 8". I know people with tanks in the high hundreds that will take these when they outgrow the tank. It'll be over two years before they do. The speed of their growth depends on the feeding.
In reality, Novice has a 1700g tank, but is that really big enough for a Blacktip, full grown? No matter what size tank you have it doesn't compare to the ocean. So we are all doing the fish an injustice in some way, shape, or form.
Novice, not knocking your setup at all. You system is something I wish I had.
In reality, Novice has a 1700g tank, but is that really big enough for a Blacktip, full grown? No matter what size tank you have it doesn't compare to the ocean. So we are all doing the fish an injustice in some way, shape, or form.
Novice, not knocking your setup at all. You system is something I wish I had.
tony detroit
Active Member
Nurse sharks make great aquarium pets
pfffffffffffft!!!!!!!!!!!
pfffffffffffft!!!!!!!!!!!
novice150
Member
Saltfisher: No offense taken
Is my tank big enough for the BT for life? Nope. I knew this when I built the tank, and when I bought the shark. It is however big enough for the other two sharks for life, and the black tip for quite some time. In the future I either "will" build a bigger tank (done it once already) or my local aquarium "will" take the shark. All arranged before hand. IMHO, the people you have sought out with high hundred gallon tanks, are only a temporary fix though. They'll end up looking for someone with a tank in the high thousands.
I'm sure your tired of hearing negative feedback and defending your position, and I'm not here to rag on you. In truth, I know the feeling. There are plenty of people who consider my keeping of the black tip, immoral/wrong/cruel. I know what I'll do in the future for the sharks, and that's really all that matters to me.
Please don't take offense to this, but I find it worth noting that you have as many sharks in your tank, as I do mine. All three of your sharks have the potential of growing nearly as big or bigger than my black tip. Just some food for thought.
Is my tank big enough for the BT for life? Nope. I knew this when I built the tank, and when I bought the shark. It is however big enough for the other two sharks for life, and the black tip for quite some time. In the future I either "will" build a bigger tank (done it once already) or my local aquarium "will" take the shark. All arranged before hand. IMHO, the people you have sought out with high hundred gallon tanks, are only a temporary fix though. They'll end up looking for someone with a tank in the high thousands.I'm sure your tired of hearing negative feedback and defending your position, and I'm not here to rag on you. In truth, I know the feeling. There are plenty of people who consider my keeping of the black tip, immoral/wrong/cruel. I know what I'll do in the future for the sharks, and that's really all that matters to me.
Please don't take offense to this, but I find it worth noting that you have as many sharks in your tank, as I do mine. All three of your sharks have the potential of growing nearly as big or bigger than my black tip. Just some food for thought.
tony detroit
Active Member
http://auslander.homeunix.org/~dylan.../Image105.html
There's a quick pic I found of a leopard shark with a person, and keep in mind that is still nowhere near full grown.
There's a quick pic I found of a leopard shark with a person, and keep in mind that is still nowhere near full grown.
jim27
Member
Originally posted by NOVICE150
I'm sure your tired of hearing negative feedback and defending your position, and I'm not here to rag on you. In truth, I know the feeling. There are plenty of people who consider my keeping of the black tip, immoral/wrong/cruel.
Oh God I think EVERY shark keeper that goes to messageboards like this has been flamed about there tank atleast once. LOL. I know I have been multiple times(not here but at others).
And I agree with novice. Saltfisher, you're friends with tanks in the high hindreds are only a temporary fix. The nurse you have can potentially grow 14', the leopard maxes out at around 6', and the smoothhound around 4'. These are big fish. I'd try to find some bigger homes if possible. Not trying to get on your case because you obviously have the right idea.
saltfisher
Member
I'm one who knows about being flamed on this site. I usually do after every post. Today I got rid of my Nurse which was a baby due to the fact that it kept trying to attack my Leopard, which is about 5 to 7", a real baby. The first Nurse I had which was about 24" I donated because she was a horse and killed everything smaller. I realize that the tanks I have made available for these guys may be a temp fix, but whose to say in two or so years when they outgrow my tank that I wont have a much bigger tank. No matter what there is always going to be someone saying I am being cruel no matter how big of tank I have.
I believe Tony is a bit ignorant on the subject of sharks. He makes it seem like they grow to maximum size in no time. My LFS, which is nationally known has 3 Leopards in a 600g that are 6 years old and are not very large.
I believe Tony is a bit ignorant on the subject of sharks. He makes it seem like they grow to maximum size in no time. My LFS, which is nationally known has 3 Leopards in a 600g that are 6 years old and are not very large.
tony detroit
Active Member
Originally posted by SaltFisher
Today I got rid of my Nurse which was a baby due to the fact that it kept trying to attack my Leopard, which is about 5 to 7", a real baby. The first Nurse I had which was about 24" I donated because she was a horse and killed everything smaller.
A good example of ignorance is not learning the first time around and buying a second nurse shark.
If I locked you in a porta-pottie wouldn't you say that was cruel???
Nurse sharks get monstrous.
saltfisher
Member
Actually, you're wrong there. As I said, the first fish was over 2'. Anything in his way was in trouble. I bought a baby one the second time because it would be easier to deal with, but he was still bigger than my leopard. My leopard looks like a new born banded cat str8 out of the egg, very small. Nurse shark infants are still much larger than that. I made the decision to get rid of him because I can buy that anytime I want, not seasonal like the leopard. Dude, the word "ignorant" just means your slack on info. I didnt say it to flame you, relax.
Jim, not very large is about 27". That is a decent size for 6 years old.
Jim, not very large is about 27". That is a decent size for 6 years old.
tony detroit
Active Member
Don't worry I'm not freaking out or anything I just think a nurse shark in ANY home aquarium is complete BS, unless your pool in the back yard is your aquarium. And as far as slacking on info, I''ve been reading everything I can get my hands on for the last year before setting up my 300. Trust me on that one. I see nurse sharks at the lfs and think they would be cool in my tank too. Just gotta say no man. They're just gonna order more when the ones they have sell.
If your leopard is that small maybe you were unaware of
Wholesalers/distributors used to get leopard sharks to fish stores at such a small size because they were catching soon to be due pregnant mothers, gutting them and taking their babies. I think I read that a leopard shark fetus is 6 or 7'' when born. I have seen multiple banded cat sharks recently hatched from eggs and they are nowhere near 6''. If your shark is shorter than that than are you aware you probably supported a very inhumane act of collection of ornamental fishes.
There was a leopard shark at a lfs here in Michigan and they had a leopard shark for barely a year and it was about 20'' when I saw it. Maybe theirs was overfed, or maybe your lfs is underfed???
If you were novice I'd say cool. But from what I understand this is all in a 180gal. How long are you expecting on keeping them in there??? Are you just going to buy new fish every 3 years???
If your leopard is that small maybe you were unaware of
Wholesalers/distributors used to get leopard sharks to fish stores at such a small size because they were catching soon to be due pregnant mothers, gutting them and taking their babies. I think I read that a leopard shark fetus is 6 or 7'' when born. I have seen multiple banded cat sharks recently hatched from eggs and they are nowhere near 6''. If your shark is shorter than that than are you aware you probably supported a very inhumane act of collection of ornamental fishes.
There was a leopard shark at a lfs here in Michigan and they had a leopard shark for barely a year and it was about 20'' when I saw it. Maybe theirs was overfed, or maybe your lfs is underfed???
If you were novice I'd say cool. But from what I understand this is all in a 180gal. How long are you expecting on keeping them in there??? Are you just going to buy new fish every 3 years???