Sharks, black tip and others

[solojrbb]

I live on the ocean and am thinking of getting some sharks for my tank. Has anyone ever had prediator type sharks in a tank? I know black tips, dog fish, and others all do well in captivity. Please let me know what you think? I would like to have one. Also what else could be in the tank with him? The tank is 200 gallon lava rock wall bottom filtration. So the sky is the limit, but with the tank being so big this fellow will grow right. I have always heard the fish will grow to the size of the tank, is this true for all fish? or just some. Please let me know. I catch the little guys alll the time and even puffers I have a portable livewell with air bubbles and it is insulated and the drive is no more than 5 minutes with little traffic. Ideas? Thanks

 

[Navarre]

"Fish grow to the size of the tank"
Whilst this might have an eliment of truth for freshwater, it would seem that marine fish havent read the rulebook on this. If you put a grouper in a 20 gallon nano then expect it to outgrow it very quickly indeed.

As for keepijng Sharks in captivity... I dont advise it, these fish (especially the blacktip) will easily outgrow the 200 gallon tank. The filtration needed for such a large fish will be under incredible stress no even mentioning the stress the shark will feel from being kept in such a tiny bit of water.
A 200 gallon tank is a very nice sized tank but you must consider the needs of the fish that will go in the tank. A shark can swim 8x2x2 (200 gallons uk) in just 2 flicks of its tail. When we consider that a shark will swim for miles and miles each day and probably never return to the same place twice then is simply too small for the shark to feel comfortable.

If you ever visit public aquariums with sharks on show, they have massive tanks with 10s of 1000s of gallons to accomodate them.
The Ntional Marine Aquarium in Plymouth UK has 2 such tanks and each one is over 250,000 gallons

 

[solojrbb]

Good point. Thanks I guess its back to the community tank. I got an email from a guy about the tank I am getting it is bottom filtration and is chemicaly filtered aqua something ap93 and ap 94 is the set up. Will I be able to change this into a wet dry system. I have pictures if you email me I will send them to you and keep this private. You have my word. Thanks

 

[hopeless]

I have a black banded shark and want to know what you feed yours. I cant seem to get mine to eat and if it is eating I dont see it happen. I wish I did do a little more reading up on sharks before I got one or I would have not gotten him. I have a 55 gallon tank and its just a little baby at the time. Upgrading tank soon and he will go there but for the mean time jsut trying to keep him alive and feed.

Thanks

 

[fufanu360]

in your sig ''hopeless'' it says u have a 10 G fresh and u have a tiger oscar in it??? how big is he? sorry to hijack the topic......

 

[hopeless]

Ok well I understand that I should not have a shark in such a small tank. He is a little guy at the time and I know he will grow quick. This being my first tank and defintley not my last. I will be gettinga bigger tank but for the mean time I'm having issues getting him to eat. I've read all over the place that there hard to feed so I'm looking on some background on what other people have done to resolve this issue.

For the first post that was a responce about my tiger oscar in my 10 gallon tank. He is a baby. 3 inch's long and very healthy. Plays with marbles and like to be scratched on the head when you put your hand in the tank. I dont think I have ever put my head up to the glass and the oscar not be there looking me in the eye.

 

[hopeless]

Well the shark died. What a bummer. Figured it was going to happen but I guess we learn by R mistakes. So no more sharks for me and plus hopefully other people will decide not to get sharks.