Smallest shark for an aquarium

[Badiskm1]

Im considering getting a shark but I want to know which species is the smallest, as well as the minimum tank size please thanks,

 

[AdamNC]

Marbled Bamboo Cat Shark (Chiloscyllium plagiosum) 300 gallon min but preferably bigger and a long tank would be preferred over a tall one. It gets a little over 3 feet. Personally I'd say a min of 500 gallons with a very fine Oolite sand bottom.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+41+1523&pcatid=1523

 

[Fishfirst]

A. marmoratus - 2' in length, doesn't mind tight spaces in live rock... Bamboos get way bigger and are very active at night

 

[albano]

Im considering getting a shark but I want to know which species is the smallest, as well as the minimum tank size please thanks,

IMO, none... Standard aquariums with 90* inside corners are not shark friendly... Rounded corners/round pools are a better choice, if you must TRY to keep sharks.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

IMO, none... Standard aquariums with 90* inside corners are not shark friendly... Rounded corners/round pools are a better choice, if you must TRY to keep sharks.

+1. I recommend the biggest 400+ cylinder tank you can get for it.

 

[Fishfirst]

Lol, there are plenty of species that can handle 90 degree corners, just the overall size of the shark means a very large tank is in order.

 

[Badiskm1]

Thanks guys, and how about compatibility will they eat my ocellaris, (they always stay at the top of the tank thats why im asking)?

 

[Dmorty217]

There are chained cat sharks I think they are called that the Long Island aquarium breeds that stay under 2ft and are benthic sharks so the don't need to swim to breath and mostly walk and scoot along the bottom in search of food. These are cold water sharks, they do have some that are acclimated to 70 degree water but that's still considered cold water. Also the are PNG (Papau New Guinea) Eppaulette sharks that get between 16-24" but you will never be able to get your hands on one since they stopped exporting them

 

[Dmorty217]

Rounded corners are necessary for sharks that are requiem species meaning the have to force water thru their gills by swimming to breath and 90 degree corners in tanks is dead or wasted/ useless space for these sharks. You could very easily put a pair of Eppaulettes or carpet sharks in a 265g without any issues as far as tank size. Filtration capacity is a whole different animal when it comes to keeping sharks. Check out this book Elasmobranch husbandry. Has a TON of accurate infor in it unlike most other shark books

 

[Betta132]

Sharks eat smaller fish. Clownfish are smaller fish.
A shark isn't something to just casually add to a tank. You have to set up the tank specifically for the shark.

 

[Dmorty217]

Minimum tank size for a shark for it's lifespan is 265-300 gallons and that sharks that are considered small (under 2.5 ft)