Banded Cat Shark

[Tazz11]

Ok so Wife hated tank n left 2 years ago, met girl 8 months ago and she loves my tank more than I do..... Anyway, I just bought her, her own tank and she is interested in just aggressive species. I know we have a ways to go as her tank goes through it's cycle but just so I have a better understanding as I am not well schooled on aggressive fish.
She has found a banded cat shark and would like to own one but I am fnding conflicting information about them on line. One atricle I read stated that they grow to a maximum length of 15 inches another stated they would grow up to 48 inches, Big Difference.

Anyone who may know what the real deal is with these shrks if you could bring me up to speed I would appreciate it. Not interested in bringing something home she cant care for or that will end up not surviving as it grows older.

Thank you in advance

 

[TampaReefer79]

They need a tank at least 8' long and 30" wide. Height makes no difference...you just have to make sure they can turn around. And the shark will alter what else you can keep GREATLY. You can't keep any fish that will nip it's fins, ie: triggers. Also they make a mess and require very good water quality.

 

[Sharkkeeper]

Theres a lot of different opinions on shark keeping but ill give you mine. The shark your talking about can get to 40 plus inches. To properly house this shark for life your gonna need a pond of good size unless you can find a tank that 4 ft wide. Some smaller sharks that would be more ideal would be the coral cat shark and the marbled cat shark each reaching lengths around 2ft or so. Theres also the arabian and grey bamboo sharks and they can reach about 30 inches or so. It all depends on how large of a tank your getting. Your gonna need a good skimmer and filtration system as these animals prodice a lot of waste. I currently have a whitespotted bamboo shark in my 240 gallon and hes gonna outgrow that tank eventually hes only about 17 inches right now so hes ok for now.

 

[AMD30]

also, you cant keep triggers, puffers and angelfish...these will all nip the shark and eat its eyes which will lead to infection and death.... and small fish will be meals when they are asleep at night because the sharks are nocturnal.

 

[alprazo]

Taz11,

Everyone is correct about the sharks,. They are best in a pond and care has to be taken when adding tankmates.

Groups and Jacks are probably the best tankmates but they can easily out compete the shark for food. You have to plan on dedicating at least 300 - 350 gallons to this shark with minimal tankmates. Also realize that they create a lot of waste, sleep all day and only move around when food is introduced into the tank. They lie on the bottom and do not really swim much.

Pros on the bamboo sharks - It is a shark, Ich and other common boney fish diseases are not an issue, flukes/worms are common but rarely a problem. They are long lived and hand feed. They are easily sexed and breed in the home aquaria.

 

[Tazz11]

Thank you to everyone for the help here... not thinking the Shark is going to make its way into this tank. She has a smaller place and not a ton of room for a 300 plus gallon tank. We'll just get her hoked on other species and when I'm ready for the new tank we'll look at moving up to the 300 then... the perfect excuse for a new tank at my house!

Thanks Again

 

[sean8622]

shark egg

shark egg

how big of a tank for a shark egg and what do i need to keep in mind when dealing with a shark egg

 

[Sharkkeeper]

Sometimes its tricky to get your newborn shark to eat once it hatches. IMO its better to just get one thats already eating than having to worry about it hatching and trying to get it to eat

 

[om619]

can sharks be housed with eels and ray?

 

[alprazo]

Yes, Eels and Rays usually make fine tankmates with bamboo sharks. Eels in general do not do well in the pond type system that is virtually required for a ray.

 

[alprazo]

Taz,

Just noticed where you live. On the north side of the ferry wall I've caught Lookdowns, filefish, cornetfish, rays, smoothhound sharks, butterfly fish and many more, all in a seine. You should try it out.