Let's approach it this way

[sabrina]

LOL I think I intemidated everyone with my question. Sorry.
First, Would a tank with HxWxL measurements of 2ft X 4ft X 7ft (419 gallons) provide enough room for a breeding pair of California horn sharks??? Is it deep enough???
Next, If the marine grade plywood method was used to construct the tank (with Two viewing ports)and a shelf was fabricated inside. Shelf dimensions being a right angled triangle (bh 3ftX3ft) mounted 1ft down from the top and up from the bottom. Would that be an adequate sized cave for retreat??? The object of this shelf is to simulate a cave by covering the top with live rock. ( I know horn sharks are pron to knocking over flimsy rock formations)
Finally, Biologicaly speaking I know diet, size, range, etc etc but.........)
What is the Reproductive age of the California Horn Shark???
Assuming you were smart enough to put in a male and a female shark <G> would they have enough biological habitat to induce mating????
Thank you all for this second attempt at an answer. This is purley a hypothetical question for me. I'm working on getting my degree and specializing in the aquarist field so this paper's subject was directly designed to help me get some aquarium problem solving experience.
Sabrina
Queenbeana@aol.com

 

[grouperhead]

risc, our resident shark expert, will be able to give you the best and most knowledgeable insight on this question. Bo

 

[sabrina]

Thanks for the Reply Bo.
But, I think I may have stumped him, and Blacktip is otherwise occupied. However; if anyone has been reading this and going hmmmmm that might work. I have determined that yes that size display would be too shallow (although it was the perfect depth to clean <sigh>). Horn Sharks are bottom dwellers with a very small range. They are mostly found around 8-35 ft of H2O. Considering that we generally divide the sea column in Upper, Mid and Lower a 1/3 of an 8 foot column would be 2ft 8in deep. This depth raises overall capacity to ~559g.
Thanks
Sabrina

 

[risc]

STUMPED ME? NEVER! heheh... I've been gone and dealing with a lot of problems here at home. But I'm back now.
California Horn sharks reach sexual maturity at around 22 to 28 inches. Depends on the --- of the shark. Awhile after this stage they will reproduce readily in captivity. You size tank would do fine for the pair of sharks but no other. Once the female lays the eggs you would have to remove them from the tank immediately as well. Otherwise the occupying sharks could damage the eggs with their large bodies. The female sharks lay pairs of egg cases every 11 to 14 days for about 4 months. Egg laying usually occurs 1 to 2 weeks after copulation, but can take much longer. The eggs will take between 6 to 9 months depending on water factors.

 

[sabrina]

Ahhhh there you are.
I knew you wouldn't resist a challenge. Anyway thanks for the information. As far as not being able to add anything else to the breeding tank, Not a problem. I was desigining it with an express purpose. Not really as a public display, or the normal hobby tank. I am also for this project going to design (on paper, and model) a Trough like tank that can be sectioned off in approx 20 gallon sections to house the egg sacks until they are hatched.
Now if I could just figure out how to get someone to give me a grant so I can really play. LOL. Seriously though, If breeding sharks is as relativly easy as this, Then why aren't more people doing it and offering the Tank raised specimens at LFS???? Yes it does have it's cost factors but considering what these fish go for. I'm sure there would be a net profit. Not that I think everyone should own a shark. I just think that if you do feel the need to buy a shark and plop it in your home aquarium it would be better to do so with a tank cultivated one. You could even breed for size. Not that I want to stunt the fish. I don't but it would be possible to select mating adults according to a certain spec and pass those genes on. O the mind races with the possiblities of science.
I wish all my papers could be this much fun.
Sabrina

 

[risc]

It's not as easy as it sounds. Not to mention to even make it a profitable exercise one would have to have MANY tanks with MANY sharks to produce massive amounts of eggs. And you can't exactly just force animals to mate. I mean... how realistic is that. Maybe the shark is homosexual... you don't know.
It would cost a lot of money to develop a system for this purpose and it would be very time consuming, especially if you were breeding to sell. Look at the horn sharks alone (which are a very small shark) they command a price of $75 to $200 once hatched and a tank can only hold so many of a given size. Plus it takes months for the eggs to even hatch. You just blew a year of your life in hopes 2 sharks will "do it". How do you solve this... well buy a bigger thank... just remember the larger the tank the less frequently the male and female may ever come in contact with each other. How do you solve this... buy LOTS of males and females... now your cost just when from $200 to $400 all the way up to about who knows! $4000 to $5000 for all you know.
There is a point at which it is realistic and a point at which it isn't. But in reality there isn't enough sufficient demand to prove such a development.
Jim

 

[sabrina]

Spoil Sport.
You know how to burst my bubble. I was going to play them some Nina Simone and set the mood lighting. Maybe a candle lit dinner might help. I can't imagine why they wouldn't want to mate <img src="graemlins//angel.gif" border="0" alt="[angel]" />
Anway again thanks for the information. Atleast that part of my paper is done. Now I get to figure out how to make the mechanics work on my proposed trough infant tank. As for expense. No pain no gain.. LMAO.
Sabrina