what fish can i mix with sharks?
- Thread starter wayner
- Start date
meowzer
Moderator
I realize you didn't ask this, BUT I had a stingray in a 225G, and donated her to a large aquarium because the 225G was too small for her
SO PLEASE rethink the ray in a 180
NOW...I had all types of fish, and IMO as long as you feed the ray well, the fish will be fine...shrimp maybe not though...LOL...I had a hard time keeping shrimp
IDK about the shark
but it says minimum of 180G....also in my opinion...that shark will quickly outgrow the 180G
P.S. WELCOME TO THE SITE
SO PLEASE rethink the ray in a 180
NOW...I had all types of fish, and IMO as long as you feed the ray well, the fish will be fine...shrimp maybe not though...LOL...I had a hard time keeping shrimp
IDK about the shark
P.S. WELCOME TO THE SITE
wayner
Member
the ray i was looking at says it will only get 10 inches http://www.***********.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+288+2225&pcatid=2225, but need some help with the shark, will they eat all fish put in the tank?
aquaknight
Active Member
They are pretty misinformed. Urobatis halleri's disc gets over a foot in width, and they grow to around 2 feet in length. Here's one over 18".
To directly answer your question about mixing sharks and other fish, the problem actually isn't with the shark, it's with the other fish picking on the shark/ray, usually their eyes. No Angels, Butterflies, Puffers, Acanthurus genus Tangs, Triggers (except Xanthichthys genus), and most large Wrasses.
Naso genus tangs, Snappers, Grunts, Porkfish, Eels, Groupers, etc, generally make for good tankmates. The main problem, is going to be the same issue with the shark and ray, tank size. Most of the fish I just mentioned, need larger tanks, and a 180gal will only hold juvenile sharks and rays for a short period. If you honestly don't see yourself upgrading in the future, I would strongly encourage you to take a different stocking approach.
To directly answer your question about mixing sharks and other fish, the problem actually isn't with the shark, it's with the other fish picking on the shark/ray, usually their eyes. No Angels, Butterflies, Puffers, Acanthurus genus Tangs, Triggers (except Xanthichthys genus), and most large Wrasses.
Naso genus tangs, Snappers, Grunts, Porkfish, Eels, Groupers, etc, generally make for good tankmates. The main problem, is going to be the same issue with the shark and ray, tank size. Most of the fish I just mentioned, need larger tanks, and a 180gal will only hold juvenile sharks and rays for a short period. If you honestly don't see yourself upgrading in the future, I would strongly encourage you to take a different stocking approach.
wayner
Member
Well im thinking of something diffrent now. How easy or difficult is it selling these sharks once they out grown there tanks? How long would a black banded be okay for in a 55 gal. long? Im now thinking of buying an egg and keeping it in a 55 untill it outgrows it then sell it and keep doing that. You tell me, is this option a possibility? Grow, sell, grow, sell?
sepulatian
Moderator
It is not as easy as you would think to sell off a shark. They grow large and any responsible aquarist would not buy a fish that they cannot keep. That is why shark eggs are so popular. They come out small... Once they are larger most people cannot keep them.
S
saxman
Guest
First of all, think about SHIPPING a largish shark...do you have the experience in that? Secondly, peeps with 300 gal or larger tanx don't grow on trees, so even if it DID get to the "online LFS", they'd have to house it as well.
Most public aquariums won't take them either, as they get asked to do this a LOT, and they'd have no room if they accepted every fish as well.
If you're serious about keeping sharks and rays, I'd research the heck out of them, and maybe even join the shark and ray site (IIRC it's "Shark and Ray Central"). I'd also plan on getting at LEAST a 300 gal, large footprint setup (500 gals would be even better).
It's not about folks being "naysayers", but everyone, including you, wants your experience to be a good one.
Most public aquariums won't take them either, as they get asked to do this a LOT, and they'd have no room if they accepted every fish as well.
If you're serious about keeping sharks and rays, I'd research the heck out of them, and maybe even join the shark and ray site (IIRC it's "Shark and Ray Central"). I'd also plan on getting at LEAST a 300 gal, large footprint setup (500 gals would be even better).
It's not about folks being "naysayers", but everyone, including you, wants your experience to be a good one.
aquaknight
Active Member
For you to overnight an appropriate shipping container with a shark in it, you're looking easily into the three figure range. Online fish stores get shipping discounts because of their quantity. I'm guessing you don't have an active FedEx account? I have never heard of an online store taking fish, if they did, you would basically have to give it away, no money for the fish, and likely pay your own $125 shipping costs.
Unless you live in South Florida, Southern California, or New York, your chances of finding someone to take the fish go from very unlikely, to nearly impossible. The thing is, if someone wants a shark, why wouldn't they just hatch and raise one themselves?
Lastly to put it quite bluntly, have you observed catsharks at all? I know the idea of keeping a shark is cool, but catsharks aren't really a typical shark, they lay around, lumber around to find food. They are a lot like another cat, catfish.
To expel on the 'naysayer' bit, it's not really that we want to put people down. But more like reasons why we don't keep sharks. I think sharks and rays are cool, but at the present time, thousand gallon tanks just aren't a possibility. I'm sure for 99.5% of aquarist, it isn't as well.
Unless you live in South Florida, Southern California, or New York, your chances of finding someone to take the fish go from very unlikely, to nearly impossible. The thing is, if someone wants a shark, why wouldn't they just hatch and raise one themselves?
Lastly to put it quite bluntly, have you observed catsharks at all? I know the idea of keeping a shark is cool, but catsharks aren't really a typical shark, they lay around, lumber around to find food. They are a lot like another cat, catfish.
To expel on the 'naysayer' bit, it's not really that we want to put people down. But more like reasons why we don't keep sharks. I think sharks and rays are cool, but at the present time, thousand gallon tanks just aren't a possibility. I'm sure for 99.5% of aquarist, it isn't as well.
meowzer
Moderator
IMO it doesn't help you out....all they are trying to say was you MIGHT have a better chance of finding someon with a LARGE tank to give the shark to in those areas
I really just think you should just give up the idea of having them.....transferring these "critters" after they grow is sooooo stressful to them....and probably don't have a good chance of adjusting
if you really want one....wait until you can build a lagoon type of tank....look up dean1956 and see the pool he built for his rays
I really just think you should just give up the idea of having them.....transferring these "critters" after they grow is sooooo stressful to them....and probably don't have a good chance of adjusting
if you really want one....wait until you can build a lagoon type of tank....look up dean1956 and see the pool he built for his rays
flower
Well-Known Member
Hi,
Welcome to the site. The support comes from the edges of the tank, so the entire bottom must rest on the stand. It can't hang over or it will burst. It isn't the stand that will break, it's the tank.
I think, and understand please I am not being mean. PLEASE for right now buy yourself a good saltwater aquarium book and read it. Until you fully understand what you are getting into with a SW tank, just keep a beta or a goldfish in a bowl for now.
Welcome to the site. The support comes from the edges of the tank, so the entire bottom must rest on the stand. It can't hang over or it will burst. It isn't the stand that will break, it's the tank.
I think, and understand please I am not being mean. PLEASE for right now buy yourself a good saltwater aquarium book and read it. Until you fully understand what you are getting into with a SW tank, just keep a beta or a goldfish in a bowl for now.
reefaholic33
Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by wayner http:///forum/thread/379757/what-fish-can-i-mix-with-sharks#post_3302206
okay i have another question that i dont want to make another thread for. Can a 55 gallon tank fit on a 29 gallon tank saftly? the 55 gallon is the same width, it will hang off 9 inches on each side of the stand
Please dont do that, you can make a wooden stand extremely cheap, if you can't do that 55's are one of the most common tanks search around CL and find a cheap used one.
Originally Posted by wayner http:///forum/thread/379757/what-fish-can-i-mix-with-sharks#post_3302206
okay i have another question that i dont want to make another thread for. Can a 55 gallon tank fit on a 29 gallon tank saftly? the 55 gallon is the same width, it will hang off 9 inches on each side of the stand
Please dont do that, you can make a wooden stand extremely cheap, if you can't do that 55's are one of the most common tanks search around CL and find a cheap used one.
wayner
Member
ive already had a 10 gallon freshwater with many fish that are still living now, im more than ready for SW. Im going to ignore the advice on the stand and put the 55 gallon on it anyways, ill let you know the outcome. At least wish me luck lol, be back with the results in about 2 hours.