shark help

[reedlog]

Okay... according to my "Marine Fishes" book the Whitespotted Bamboo Shark (Chilosycllium plagiosum) has a very high aquarium suitability rating, meaning it is a very harty and readily acclimates to aquarium confines.
Also, it states that "A juvenile can easily be kept in smaller quarters, even in a tank as small as a 20 gallon long, but the aquarist must be prepared to provide a larger system as the shark grows."
Therefore, I am interested in getting one of these for my 75gallon (with the intentions of having a larger tank in the future). But, I have some questions about the type of shark, to assure that I am not confusing this particular shark with another similar species. According to some sites such as this: (I know I shouldnt probably put the link here, but im not advertising or purchasing through them, just have questions about the fish)
{EDIT - out of respect for the owner and operator of this site, please do not post links to competitors, thanks }
"The Bamboo Shark is also known as a Cat Shark because the barbels at the mouth look like cat whiskers. It is also referred to as the Whitespotted Bamboo Shark, and has a brown-colored body with broad tan stripes and spots. "
They also have it described as the "Chiloscyllium plagiosum."
Is this as well as any "bamboo cat shark" the actuall whitespotted bamboo shark that I am looking for? I'm actually looking to purchase this from a friend of a friend and he says it is a 'Bamboo Cat.'
I hope I have made some sense and didnt confuse anyone!
Thanks so much for any help!

 

[jr2857]

the minumum tank size is 180 not 20 gallon what the hell are they thinking

 

[sharkboy97]

must have been a typo and they forgot another 0

 

[jjjoey]

i plan on getting a 400 in 5 years.. get one of those u can wutever u want

 

[jcrim]

Such advice is often manipulated and used as an excuse to justify housing sharks in small tanks. I have read these books and articles also. The point being made is that a newborn shark will often take to feeding quicker in a smaller space. Those same publications should and generally do emphasize that this is to promote feeding in newborns only and minimun tank size is 125 or 180 or more... depending on the publication and species of shark.

 

[ams153]

IMO if you want to start small have the bigger tank already.. a 20 gallon tank wouldnt even house a newly hatched shark and a 75 is good for 6 months tops..

 

[unleashed]

Originally Posted by ams153
IMO if you want to start small have the bigger tank already.. a 20 gallon tank wouldnt even house a newly hatched shark and a 75 is good for 6 months tops..
I agree.
as for names of cat shark all bamboo sharks are referd to as catshark for there catfish appearance(whiskers) the 75 would be ok to start with but I def would not recomend a 20 sharks normaly double even triple in size each year until its reaches it full size so and upgrade in 5 yrs to a 400 would not be acceptable you would want to make sure its placed into at least a 6x2 tank by 1 yr to ensure the proper space needed.bamboo sharks can seam to be lasy lounging around in the rockwork during the peak hours of lighting but once those lights dim a bit he becomes more active at least this is how mine reacts.they do require space below is a pic of a spotted bamboo shark he aprox 11 in long I have had him for just a couple months and he has grown 3 inches in the short period of time i have had him

 

[reedlog]

thanks for all the help

 

[mitzel]

The concept of using a twenty gallon long is only ment for the incubation / hatching period. I have read this in a few diferent places. I wouldn't see anything wrong with hatching them into a twenty gallon long or similar size . "As long as the larger tank was set up and waiting " Don't but a shark of any speicies thinking anything With a foot print smaller then 6x2 will work for any length of time .