Young shark with small fish?

[Raven1645]

Hey all, I'm starting a big 225g tank, and I was just wondering the following:
I'm getting a Chiloscyllium Punctatum (banded bamboo shark), and I'd love to have some small fishes aswell.
Those two obviously don't go well together.
However, the shark will still be in its egg when I'm going to buy it. So I thought: when it grows up together with those small fishes (as these will be swimming in the tank before the shark has hatched), it won't see them as potential food when it reaches the size to be able to eat them.
Am I right or not?

 

[iceh]

Hey all, I'm starting a big 225g tank, and I was just wondering the following:
I'm getting a Chiloscyllium Punctatum (banded bamboo shark), and I'd love to have some small fishes aswell.
Those two obviously don't go well together.
However, the shark will still be in its egg when I'm going to buy it. So I thought: when it grows up together with those small fishes (as these will be swimming in the tank before the shark has hatched), it won't see them as potential food when it reaches the size to be able to eat them.
Am I right or not?

Isn't that kind of like saying if you and a grizzly bear grew up together he wouldn't take a taste if he got the opportunity?

 

[elegance coral]

No. You're not right. I've seen a young shark swimming around with a fish in its mouth that was to big for it to eat. Didn't have a problem killing it though.
I hope you've done your research on these sharks. The vast majority, that I know of, never eat after hatching from the egg, and eventually starve to death. My LFS has killed quite a few in this manner.

 

[jd474]

Bamboo sharks are the Oscar/Pacu of the saltwater world. A 225 is still too small for an adult, and they grow very fast. Whether they can eat a fish or not, they will still try, and one bite is all it takes.

 

[Matt_Wandell]

Listen to jd474, he is wise.

 

[Pallobi]

shark of any size, and any fish 1/4 or their size or smaller, give or take, is a goner eventually... i wouldnt do it... besides, a even a tank that size is far to small for any shark...

 

[jd474]

Listen to jd474, he is wise.

Coming from you, Matt, that made my day.

 

[Raven1645]

Isn't that kind of like saying if you and a grizzly bear grew up together he wouldn't take a taste if he got the opportunity?

I'm sorry to break your statement, but there was actually this guy who stayed with a club of grizzlies for 3 years in canada and they saw him as family.
When a new grizzly joined the club it killed the poor man...

 

[Raven1645]

That's off topic though. Thanks everyone for sharing your knowledge and it got me deciding that I am definitely not going to put any small fish in there.

About it becoming too big for the tank:
I asked a professional at my local public zoo's aquarium, and he said that the aquarium is actually big enough as long as there is enough space to swim around (and there is). I showed him pictures and he said there shouldn't be any problems concerning the size.

 

[Raven1645]

I used wrong calculations by the way.
It's a 1008 liter which is 266 US gal.

 

[Pallobi]

unless the width of your tank is as wide as the length the shark will get, the tank is too small... but of course, you will do as you want anyway... sharks are not for home aquaria... what are you gonna do when it reaches 30 to 40" in length? most of all public aquariums will not take your fish when he gets this size, regardless of what anyone tells you...

of course, this is jmo... take it or leave it... GL either way, hopefully you will do the animal some justice

and jus another side note, they produce A TON of waste, and even the smallest amount of nitrates, will be detrimental to its health...

 

[didz04]

Remember the banded bamboo can reach upto 40" adult size if you are going to upgrade in the future you need to consider a tank at least 350 gallons but really even thats insufficient.
If your serious about this then first look at the smaller species Atelomycterus marmoratus and Scyliorhinus retifer both growing to a max of 26" in an aquarium.
They would feel more comfortable in 266g than a banded bamboo.

 

[125G Reefer]

Remember the banded bamboo can reach upto 40" adult size if you are going to upgrade in the future you need to consider a tank at least 350 gallons but really even thats insufficient.
If your serious about this then first look at the smaller species Atelomycterus marmoratus and Scyliorhinus retifer both growing to a max of 26" in an aquarium.
They would feel more comfortable in 266g than a banded bamboo.

:thumbsup:

 

[125G Reefer]

Hey all, I'm starting a big 225g tank, and I was just wondering the following:
I'm getting a Chiloscyllium Punctatum (banded bamboo shark), and I'd love to have some small fishes aswell.
Those two obviously don't go well together.
However, the shark will still be in its egg when I'm going to buy it. So I thought: when it grows up together with those small fishes (as these will be swimming in the tank before the shark has hatched), it won't see them as potential food when it reaches the size to be able to eat them.
Am I right or not?

I've seen 3 Banded Sharks in with Damsels, and a few other assorted small fish.

 

[Raven1645]

Remember the banded bamboo can reach upto 40" adult size if you are going to upgrade in the future you need to consider a tank at least 350 gallons but really even thats insufficient.
If your serious about this then first look at the smaller species Atelomycterus marmoratus and Scyliorhinus retifer both growing to a max of 26" in an aquarium.
They would feel more comfortable in 266g than a banded bamboo.

As my plans on the construction of the tank were still open for possibilities I decided to add some footprint. The tank will now be almost 350 gal (344 to be exact)
This may seem like a very fast and unprofessional decision, but don't worry, I looked into the plans very carefully and everything up to the filtration and the size of the room is optimally able to support the new tank dimensions.

As for those other types of sharks, which I believe are the marble and coral cat shark (please correct me if I am mistaken, and I probably am):
I looked at all fish stores in the country, and none of them has a smaller shark available than the Chiloscyllium Punctatum. Some had sharks such as nurses, sands and black-tips, but those are OBVIOUSLY too large.
Besides, the banded is available in my LFS, which is a convenience for both the shark and myself.

 

[Raven1645]

I've seen 3 Banded Sharks in with Damsels, and a few other assorted small fish.

This is very interesting. I did some more research on the Chiloscyllium Punctatum, and found that fishes smaller than 1/4th of its size should be aware, because it doesn't always know what size of prey it's dealing with.
On a video I saw how a mature one swallowed a silverside in a single bite (it actually sucked it in in less than a second).

And now you come with this information, I really don't know what to think anymore!
I should try to find someone who owns this shark and has other fish aswell.

I also found a list with fish it can be kept with:
Best kept with Eels, Groupers, Snappers, Hawks, Hogs, Rabbits, Lions/Scorpions, Grunts/Sweetlips, Sharks and Rays, larger Angels, Parrots, Tangs/Surgeonfishes.

Some of these, such as hawks, aren't always very big so this list is interesting aswell.

On a side mention,
You say you've seen THREE of these in a single tank. I've read that all sharks are rather territorial and that you shouldn't keep more than one unless you take six or more, because otherwise one of them will dominate the rest.
Do you know if this was the case in that tank?

Thanks alot.