sharks

[i don't have a clue]

what types of sharks can i have if i spend the money and get one of those huge tanks at Wal-mart? i think they are like 55 gallons. i know that $199 is a lot of moola but i think it would be cool to have a tank like snoop dog had in his garage. i like the nurse sharks or a small hammerhead ( those look cool on animal planet. can you really feed steak to them. also can i feed them those fish that i see floating in lake michigan? thanks for all your help. jay

 

[reefgirl]

NOTICE to all that TAKE THIS POST SERIOUSLY - he's obviously just looking to get a reaction.
If you're going to be a SUCCESSFUL troll wanting to piss people off, you need to a bit more subtle...sheesh - next time ask about great whites, k?
RG
[ November 01, 2001: Message edited by: ReefGirl ]

 

[porkchop]

Judging by his name, I think he just doesn't know what he's talking about. I don't think he's trying to piss people off. If this is the case, then you cannot get any kind of shark in a 55. A 55 is really small for an aggressive tank.

 

[ozzfan84]

hey, maybe the guy is seriously looking for advice. I had no idea about tank sizes or anything when i started either.

[hr]
If you want a shark, you should first learn as much info as you can about the hobbie. There are plenty of books that will explain the basics to you. I would suggest something like a banded cat shark, because all the others will be too large for any size tank, and i hear cats are the best to acclimate to an aquarium setting. Some people say a 125g tank is okay for babies, but I would start in a 220 gal or higher. Dont attempt keeping a shark untill you are confident that you can keep it properly. good luck

 

[i don't have a clue]

reefgirl, i'm sorry if i don't have any experience with sharks. you need to understand that not everyone is as experienced as you are. the goldfish i have are nothing like this saltwater world i am new to. have a nice day.

 

[risc]

i don't have a clue:
If you are not experienced with sharks then I do not suggest getting them. A 55 gallon tank is not huge by any means. Not to mention that $200 is no where near the amount of money you will spend to setup a simple saltwater tank. An advanced salt tank (the type that can contain animals like sharks) are going to cost you many thousands. My smallest shark tank is a 55, and with all the equipment and lighting for it it probably cost me around $3000 to setup. That specific shark tank I only keep baby sharks like bamboos and cat sharks in until I get them to feed regularly.
You will never be able to keep a nurse shark in anything less than a 7,000 gallon tank... or a bonnethead shark either. Mine are in 12,000+ gallon tanks and even that is slightly cramped for them. Nurse sharks don't stay 8" and cute for long. Within a year you can easily have yourself a 20" nurse shark. They grow tremendously fast and will get between 9 to 14 feet. And a 55 gallon tank is not big enough for even a 8" baby nurse shark. You should not feed them anything but fish or marine life. Steak and freshwater fish should be avoided.
Jim

 

[i don't have a clue]

thanks jim for all your advice. i don't have nearly the money or space for something that big. you must have some super neat aquariums! do all aquariums cost that much. maybe i will do a 10 gallon

 

[goldfish]

Dear clueless,
You have got to be kidding??? You know NOTHING about saltwater but want to keep sharks?? Hello!! Anyone home?
Learn how to handle a saltwater tank with regular fish first before trying to do something as exotic as sharks. Anyone here will tell you that learning about the tanks is the FIRST and most important step. Then, find a good lfs and talk with someone who knows about saltwater. It will be a blessing to find a knowledgable person. A 55 gallon tank from a place like walmart is not a good choice. The people working there will know squat about saltwater fish...I hate to say that but it's true.
Once you have established your tank and keep fish alive, then maybe it would be ok to try something more exotic, but jumping into something like sharks is insane unless you have researched and studied about the species and what they need to survive.
Be smart--slow down and read, read, read.

 

[porkchop]

Why don't you relax GOLDFISH. I'm sure you were new to the hobby at one time also. You act like you're the authority on saltwater fish or something. Anyways, I don't have a clue, if I were you I would go with the 55 from Wal-mart. I know exactly what tank you're talking about...its a package deal for like 160 and the stand is like 70...thats a really good deal. You should go for it. Theres nothing wrong with that tank. I would not get a small tank like a ten gallon because they are very difficult to keep. Think about it like this, the ocean is very stable because of its tremendous volume. A ten gallon tank would flucuate alot. You should definitely read some books before you do get a tank though. Having the right knowledge will save you a buttload of money and headaches. Peace.

 

[goldfish]

Porkchop-I don't even come close to claiming to be an authority on saltwater fish. Trust me...I ask tons of questions in here.
My point to clueless was stop and read before jumping into this hobby. I read tons of material before even going to my lfs to get my tank. I bought from a reputable guy who only deals in saltwater fish...going to walmart is not the place (at least for me) to buy equipment. They will not have the first clue in what to do or how to help him make good, smart decisions.
My other point was how can he even THINK about putting sharks in a tank??? Common sense will tell you that sharks are NOT the fish that a new person starts out with. You have to have quite the knowledge about sharks before beginning to work with them. The people that have sharks on this bb are very knowledgable and experienced with them--they are definately NOT new to saltwater.
Again, I am no expert. I Would not even try to fake it. I rarely can answer "disease" questions--I leave it to the professionals. I would hate to see someone jump into this fabulous hobby expecting to put sharks in a 55 gallon tank.

 

[sharkbait]

Hey give the guy a break. I know for a fact we all went out and bought something because it was cool, without proper research. It's just like buying your first new car. You only find out later that it would have been better to wait and do the leg work first. Oh well, hey newbe go to a fish store buy a tank and a couple of shark eggs. Watch them grow and set them free in the sewers of New York. Who knows they just make a movie from it. P.S. if you do want sharks go big 150++.

 

[predator]

That tank would be a good starting place. That leaves you some room to play with and up-grades are always a possiablity. Be sure to read and if you can find someone who knows there stuff ask him all kind of questions. I bug people all the time with em'. Good luck.