Cat Shark in Reef Tank

[cadugauch]

I bought a Cat Shark about 6 months ago and put him in my 155 gallon reef tank. The shark is about 16 inches long now and is getting bigger by the day! I have him with a Purple tang, Vlaming Tang, Blue Tang, Rabbit Fish, Sailfin Tang, 2 true perculas, 2 firefish, 1 blue jaw trigger, 1 pink square anthias and 4 sixline wrasses.

I know it is not recommended to have a shark in a reef system but for the past 6 months...he has only been fed frozen silversides...and has NOT eaten any fish or shrimp (cleaner and red) from my tank!

I see that some of the fish stay a lot behind the rocks...like my trigger, firefish and the pink square anthias.

My question is...are fish squared of sharks? I am considering taking him out since he is getting very big...but i wanted to know if the fish are actually squared of him...or they just like to hide a lot.

Thanks!

 

[Toddrtrex]

They could be hiding because of the shark, because the tank is overstocked, or for numerous other reasons.

I personally wouldn't wait much longer to find out; would remove the shark, Vlamingi tang, the sailfin tank, and 3 of the 6 line wrasses.

 

[Recty]

He sounds like a cube.

Get it? The fish are SQUARED of him? Cube?

Wow, that was a stretch.

Anyway, I doubt they are scared of the shark, at least not the bigger fish. The smaller fish certainly might be. It's most likely that they are stressed and uncomfortable being in a poorly stocked tank and are just hanging out in the rocks because that's their only way to get away from the stress.

 

[cadugauch]

He sounds like a cube.

Get it? The fish are SQUARED of him? Cube?

Wow, that was a stretch.

Anyway, I doubt they are scared of the shark, at least not the bigger fish. The smaller fish certainly might be. It's most likely that they are stressed and uncomfortable being in a poorly stocked tank and are just hanging out in the rocks because that's their only way to get away from the stress.

What do you mean by poorly stocked tank??

 

[natebedwell06]

He means, that vlamingi tang that needs a tank 3 times the size of yours, the sailfin that gets too big for your tank, and 4 sixlines are asking for trouble

 

[clowntriggerfis]

What do you mean by poorly stocked tank??

Most of your fish get to big and your tank is way overstocked.

 

[albano]

Most of your fish get to big and your tank is way overstocked.

+1...5 tangs in a 155g! + a 16" shark, and IMO 4 six lines is 4 too many!
How much rock work? sharks like an open, sand bed.

 

[cadugauch]

+1...5 tangs in a 155g! + a 16" shark, and IMO 4 six lines is 4 too many!
How much rock work? sharks like an open, sand bed.

I got a lot of rock...so i guess i am taking him off!

 

[cadugauch]

+1...5 tangs in a 155g! + a 16" shark, and IMO 4 six lines is 4 too many!
How much rock work? sharks like an open, sand bed.

Thanks for all the feedback...now i have a very difficult task of removing the six line wrasses from my tank!

Anyone has any idea on how to remove them?

Thanks!

 

[nonstopfishies]

Thanks for all the feedback...now i have a very difficult task of removing the six line wrasses from my tank!

Anyone has any idea on how to remove them?

Thanks!

Won't be easy or even possible without pulling a lot of the rock.

While you are taking out the shark and sixlines, take out the Vlamingi too. Your tank will still be overstocked even after you take out all of those.

What are your water parameters like? What type of reef? I can't imagine they are very good with that many fish.

Also, the trigger will probably eat your shrimp in time.

 

[Lorenz725]

Good for you for seeing that you might not have the best fish for your tank and taking action to fix it. A lot of people will get mad when all the people on hear are just trying to help. I think you should try fish traps to start out then you might have to start taking rock out to catch them. Good luck!

 

[cadugauch]

Good for you for seeing that you might not have the best fish for your tank and taking action to fix it. A lot of people will get mad when all the people on hear are just trying to help. I think you should try fish traps to start out then you might have to start taking rock out to catch them. Good luck!

Thanks...i will start taking some fish out...to make it right.

 

[clowntriggerfis]

I would try catching them when they are eating.

 

[Monkeyfish]

I would try catching them when they are eating.

Or immediately after turning on the tank lights.