Need advice (shark)

[korrii]

Dear,

Im looking to have a coral cat shark. This because he should be the smallest one of the cat sharks.

I'm having a 600 liter (158gallon) tank. I know its a bit small for an adult shark so im plannin to give it to a zoo when he/she's an adult. So i also want to know how fast it grows.. will it take one year .. 2 year or less.

Can anyone help me making my decision what i need to look for and where i can find some more information.

Chaetodon semilarvatus
Forcipiger flavissimus​
Acanthurus japonicus
Acanthurus bariene
Zanclus cornutus
Dendrochirus brachypterus
Rhinecanthus aculeatus
Holacanthus ciliaris (small)
Pomacanthus navarchus (small)
Pomacanthus imperator

These are the fish in the tank right now.

Gr from belgium.

 

[alprazo]

Most, if not all experienced shark keepers will tell you that a benthic (bottom dwelling) shark is not a good choice with your stock list. Angels love to pick on these small creatures. Possibly even the butterflys. You are asking for trouble.

Planning on a zoo is usually not an end point for these creatures either. They often turn down even the rare ones. I would suggest making some calls. The coral cat is much easier than the nurse shark though.

A good source of basic info is Scott Michael's book on sharks and rays.

After some experience, (keeping elasmobranches since 1995) I no longer recommend mixing them with fish. Especially for beginners.

 

[korrii]

Will it takes years or months that the shark wil grow out of my aquarium..

I've read a lot of diffrent stories a lot of people are having a shark with other fish (angels, tangs) without any problems..

I want to know how long it wil take that the shark will be to big.

A Chiloscyllium punctatum is more common in belgium. So im thinking of getting an egg of that specie, bad idea.. does they grow faster then other sharks?

gr

 

[LisaD]

I would say your tank is much more than fully stocked now, with fish that will have compatibility issues in the future. I would not add the shark.

I agree with the previous poster about certain of the species you keep likely to pick on sharks. As he mentioned, in the US, most zoos will not accept hobbyists fish. Have you already got a zoo to agree to take a shark or other large fish from you? Some of your current fish will also outgrow the tank.

If you want to have a shark, I'd set up a dedicated tank just for the shark.

On the internet, you can find just about any story to support what you want to do, often from people with little or no long-term experience. In my opinion, it is wisest to listen to the people who have long-term, real world experience with sharks (alprazo).

 

[vamaro]

I have rays and an epaulette shark with fish. Most fish will leave them alone, but when you see a fish starting to pick on them, you will need to get them out right away.

Currently, I have triggers, puffers and an emp angel without any issues. However, I had to hand pick the fish that I have and had to sell or return a few fish that just were not a good fit for the tank. I put my rays and shark in the tank first. As I added my fish, I would watch them very closely to see if they picked on the rays or shark.

My worst problem was a morish idol. You would think that the triggers would be an issue, but they have no interest in the rays or shark. However, I do keep them well fed.

 

[jjk_reef00]

Holacanthus ciliaris and Pomacanthus imperator almost certainly will pick at your shark. I agree with Lisa in the fact that you are past fully stocked right now and within 2 years you will likely see compatibility issues.

 

[korrii]

I have rays and an epaulette shark with fish. Most fish will leave them alone, but when you see a fish starting to pick on them, you will need to get them out right away.

Currently, I have triggers, puffers and an emp angel without any issues. However, I had to hand pick the fish that I have and had to sell or return a few fish that just were not a good fit for the tank. I put my rays and shark in the tank first. As I added my fish, I would watch them very closely to see if they picked on the rays or shark.

My worst problem was a morish idol. You would think that the triggers would be an issue, but they have no interest in the rays or shark. However, I do keep them well fed.

How fast do they grow..

Your epaulette how fast did he grow..

I'm planning on to get a coral cat shark but i'm scared he wil be to big in a few months..

or wil it take longer to be grown up?

gr

 

[CuttleKid]

I think your missing the big picture. You already have a fully stocked tank with species of fish that are incompatible with any elasmobranch and your only concern is how fast will they grow. I think you need to do some real soul searching and find out what is truly important to you. Either getting a much larger tank and dedicating it to sharks and rays, or stuffing a coral catshark into a more than full tank with the hope that the compatability rules wont apply to you.

 

[korrii]

I think your missing the big picture. You already have a fully stocked tank with species of fish that are incompatible with any elasmobranch and your only concern is how fast will they grow. I think you need to do some real soul searching and find out what is truly important to you. Either getting a much larger tank and dedicating it to sharks and rays, or stuffing a coral catshark into a more than full tank with the hope that the compatability rules wont apply to you.

No i want to know how fast he grows, i want to know a lot of this shark before i remove all the rest..

 

[vamaro]

How fast do they grow..

Your epaulette how fast did he grow..

I'm planning on to get a coral cat shark but i'm scared he wil be to big in a few months..

or wil it take longer to be grown up?

gr

The epaulette is a great shark for a home aquarium. Mine is growing about 4 inches per year. I feed it a minimum of 3 times a week. Sometimes it will come out for food more frequently but usually every other day or so he comes out. Hand feeds too. They like a large cave or overhang to sleep. The epaulette costs more but I think they are worth it.

If you add a shark, keep an eye on your existing fish. If they pick on the shark, you will need to make some tough decisions as something will need to go. However, most fish leave them alone.

 

[CuttleKid]

No i want to know how fast he grows, i want to know a lot of this shark before i remove all the rest..

Oh ok. With your size tank you could do a pair of coral catsharks and possibly a smaller stingray such as a cortez stingray and /or yellow stingray. Let me find my Shark And Ray Book and check how fast it matures/grows and get back to you ASAP

 

[korrii]

Oh ok. With your size tank you could do a pair of coral catsharks and possibly a smaller stingray such as a cortez stingray and /or yellow stingray. Let me find my Shark And Ray Book and check how fast it matures/grows and get back to you ASAP

Ok thanks so you telling me if i reconstruct and remove all fish i can keep a pair of coral sharks and a smaller stingray?

gr

 

[alprazo]

To directly answer your questions

Dear,

Im looking to have a coral cat shark. This because he should be the smallest one of the cat sharks.

True for the tropical catsharks. The balinese is a little smaller, but I only know of two living in North America. They do not ship well and I know of several that wouldn't eat. Even though hemiscyllium are larger, they are better able to maneuver in a tank full of live rock.

I'm having a 600 liter (158gallon) tank. I know its a bit small for an adult shark so im planning to give it to a zoo when he/she's an adult. So i also want to know how fast it grows.. will it take one year .. 2 year or less.

Growth rate is highly dependant on temperature and feeding. With once weekly feeding and temps in the lower to mid 70s, you could probably house it for 3-4 years. I would guess 2 inches per year. Theses are quite inactive during the day, hiding within the rock. With a tank full of live rock, you will likely only see it during feeding, once a week.

Can anyone help me making my decision what i need to look for and where i can find some more information.

You want a healthy appearing animal, eating in the store. You want compatible tankmates and a filtration system that can handle the mess of a shark. You want a tank of adequate size. In addition to Scott Michaels book, the elasmobranch husbandry manual is a must read for shark owners.

Chaetodon semilarvatus
Forcipiger flavissimus​
Acanthurus japonicus
Acanthurus bariene
Zanclus cornutus
Dendrochirus brachypterus
Rhinecanthus aculeatus
Holacanthus ciliaris (small)
Pomacanthus navarchus (small)
Pomacanthus imperator

These are the fish in the tank right now.

Why bother listing you tankmates?

Gr from belgium.

 

[jjk_reef00]

Ok thanks so you telling me if i reconstruct and remove all fish i can keep a pair of coral sharks and a smaller stingray?

gr

Not in a 150. I don't know anything about sharks but I wouldn't put a ray in a 150 by himself let alone with other fish. They are very active, and need a lot of room.

 

[Kin pla]

A 150 is far too small for a ray and 2 sharks... You won't have to worry about how long it will take them to out grow the tank as they will be dead long before that ever happens, do some serious research... Your not going to get the answer your hoping for, could you keep them for some time in this set up w no other fish yes most likely, should it be considered cruel and unusual yes.. Because you saw someone doing the same thing somewhere on the Internet does not mean it's ok to do,

 

[Gill_bucket]

Oh ok. With your size tank you could do a pair of coral catsharks and possibly a smaller stingray such as a cortez stingray and /or yellow stingray. Let me find my Shark And Ray Book and check how fast it matures/grows and get back to you ASAP

Really??? That seems like a lot of bottom dwellers dosn't it??? I would think one shark and a couple fish would make more sense since they would utilize different parts of the aquarium.

 

[korrii]

If you talk about shark.. You mean the coral cat shark or would a banded bamboo go too?

Cause a banded bamboo is much easier to get in belgium as en egg. You wont find an egg from a coral cat for example and most of the time the coral cats are already more then 8-12 inches or more.. would that be a problem if i buy the coral cat at a size of 12 inch for example.

 

[StephLionfish]

Yes, that would be a problem. You've been told several times now that your tank is too small to keep one of these animals long-term. You need to stop and think about the animal. I do not think you would like to be locked in your bathtub for the rest of your life.
A lot of people will get a fish too big for their tank with the idea of upgrading in the future. The problem is is that many don't ever upgrade. What happens? The fish dies. Even if you are true to your word about upgrading, you never know what situation you will be in, and if you will be able to upgrade. I'm tearing down my 210g tank due to expenses that is only a year old. Thankfully, I won't have to sell fish.

Sorry if I'm coming off a jerk, but this hobby is about the fish, not us. I get so angry when fish suffer from people that think they don't have to go by the rules.

 

[RouDaiLLe]

Hi,

Guyz, you are overlooking the triggerfish which is much more agressive than angelfish or butterfly fishes. I saw some triggers nipping the eyes of those kind of shark...

Rudy

 

[korrii]

They will get out .
I'm still looking for some information.
What if i get the coral shark at a 12 inch will he be able to live for a year or longer? Is it possible to get an coral cat shark egg because in belgium you can only find a banded bamboo shark egg.

I know some of you say it's impossible to hold an shark in my tank but a lot of people says it can.. Those who are having sharks says it would go.