smooth hound question

ac

ac

Member
How big do they get, and minimum tank size? The reason I ask is I just got back from a business trip to Las Vegas and I stopped by one of the saltwater stores there. They had two smooth hounds for $180 each. They seemed fairly inactive. I thought they were pretty much contiuously in motion. It made me think that one might go well in my 320. On another note I went to shark reef at Mandaly bay hotel. They had a hammer head. It was cool to see one in person, but this one was swimming kind of side ways. Didn't look very healthy or happy. Very sad. I tried to get pictures, but it was just too dark.
 
mattiej

mattiej

Member
Most smooth hounds average around 4 feet. Even though they are open water sharks they will spend a fair amount of time resting on the bottom. However if they spend too much time on the bottom it could be due to health issues or poor water quality. The Mustelus genus is one group of sharks that is able to move enough water over the gills with buccal pumping, but as I said they should not spend all their time resting. Did you noticed if you could see the muscularture of the sharks? If so then they were severly malnourished and on the way to a slow death.
What is the footprint of your tank? As long as it atleast 8 foot long and three feet wide then you could keep a hound for its life. You might or might not be aware that it is a myth that sharks will stay small if in a smaller tank. The rest of the myth is also that it can be fed sparingly or kept at lower water temps. All any of these will do is lead to a shortened life span, period. As to temp, the smooth hound is a temperate species and should be kept between 65 and 70 degress. They are also great jumpers, so be prepared with a good cover. These sharks feed primarily on small crustacea and fish. It is best to feed them every other day. Below is a pic of the smooth dogfish (Mustelus canis) I caught on a recent fishing trip.
 
ac

ac

Member
They smooth hounds I saw didn't strick me as being very healthy, that's why I was asking. My tank is 7 feet long and 3 feet wide. I think I'll just stick with my bamboo. I hate the idea of the shark being cramped and not happy. Thanks for the info.
 
tony detroit

tony detroit

Active Member
I've seen mine stop maybe 15-20 times at the most. Keeping water cool might help, I'm not sure. Very cool shark though.
Matt I have a leopard looking for a new home.....
 
tony detroit

tony detroit

Active Member
200, I would like pics of your setup before purchase though, I hope you understand. Mattiej has first dibs, if he passes, it is yours.
As far as I know mine was bought before the new law and I am "grandfathered" in, but I could be wrong.
 
gkp

gkp

Member
[QUOTE
As far as I know mine was bought before the new law and I am "grandfathered" in, but I could be wrong. [/B]
]
The law only egsists in very few states. For instance here in my state the pet stores cannot order any lepords from Cal under 3 feet but can order them from other states.( so Cal runs the smaller ones to other places...... I know this becouse our LFS gets 150 pups every july and this is how they do it.)
 
cincyreefer

cincyreefer

Active Member
California Fish and Game Code Section 8388.5 states:
(a) A person shall not take, possess, sell, or purchase for commercial purposes any leopard shark less than 36 inches in total length.
(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), leopard sharks less than 36 inches in total length possessed by a person for aquarium display on or before January 1, 1994, may be retained by that person if a letter declaring that the shark was legally obtained prior to January 1, 1994, is provided to the Sacramento office of the department on or before January 1, 1995.
So I guess it comes down to exactly where the shark was collected and brought in the country. Even if collected out of California's boundary, it is kind of hard to bring them in the country without illegally doing it or somehow bypassing California.
Nice pic Tony. I would love to see the tank if I am ever in the area.
 
moraym

moraym

Active Member
very nice looking set-up tony, would love to see pics of the filtration and such, the whole system sometime.
but no rush, I'm not going to have a house where I can install a tank like that for quite a few years.:D
 
moraym

moraym

Active Member
ha ha, well with my travelling half my life for the next two years, I'd have to teach my girlfriend how to take care of WAY too many tanks and fish. I think I'd come home to her standing over the tanks with a bottle of liquid soap and a note that says "them or me".:eek:
She's already said, if you get a 5th tank, I'm going to sell your dog, but she was kidding...I think....
 
tony detroit

tony detroit

Active Member
Thanks, filtration is a blueline 100 pump, Macro Aqua skimmer(euro reef knockoff that is awesome for 175 bucks) and a ProclearAquatics.com wet dry. 2, 1'' drains, and 1 3/4'' return for plumbing.
 
cincyreefer

cincyreefer

Active Member

Originally posted by tony detroit
Anytime, I charge $50 admission though
What are there coupons available somewhere now? :confused: :D
 
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