Forums / TEAM Marine Depot / Marine Fish-Reproduction, Care and Husbandry - by Dr Frank Marini / Shark tank help, please / Latest Posts

RE: Shark tank help, please

ABlundell — Fri, 16 May 2008 07:27:05 GMT

I have a 300 gal tank (too small for sharks in my opinion).

I've seen a couple 750 gal, and 900 gal tanks locally in my area with sharks. The tanks still look small to me... however I will admit that the sharks looked quite healthy and happy. But again these weren't "swimming sharks" so maybe in a 750 they are okay.

To me, if it's worth doing it's worth doing right. I'm not sure how big of a tank I'd use, but I know that 100-200 gal tank isn't plenty of room by any means.

Adam

RE: Shark tank help, please

sonny — Thu, 15 May 2008 13:41:08 GMT

I wasnt looking at a specific tank yet so i dont have the dimensions right now. I was just wondering if i look into 400gallon tanks if that would be big enough, and yes i meant long term tank. If you think that is still rather small... What would be the minimum tank size you would reccomend for them? and do you know of any web sites that sell large tanks that i could check out?

Thanks!

RE: Shark tank help, please

Puffer Queen — Thu, 15 May 2008 09:47:36 GMT

What are the dimensions?

Will this be a temporary or long term tank ?

Remember that bamboo sharks can reach well over 3 feet.

RE: Shark tank help, please

sonny — Mon, 12 May 2008 10:18:33 GMT

What about a 400 gallon tank for bamboo shark?

RE: Shark tank help, please

Puffer Queen — Mon, 12 May 2008 09:00:14 GMT

I would make sure he has successfully kept sharks for extended periods of time. I am worried as the advice he gave you about the tank design is not accurate.

The statement about the heaters and pumps is also not accurate.....properly working equipment is okay....if either is defective/cracked, it can cause problems.

RE: Shark tank help, please

Runway_Boi — Sun, 11 May 2008 20:30:59 GMT

Honestly, I don't know. I didn't have time to ask. He just said that and then I had to run.

I can ask him anything you guys can think of if you want...

Ricki

RE: Shark tank help, please

Puffer Queen — Sun, 11 May 2008 06:05:00 GMT

Runway_Boi (5/10/2008)

Okay, sorry about the delay.

He basically said that sharks cannot be kept in rectangular tanks due to their swimming habits: one or two thrusts of the tail and glide for many feet). And that you must keep all pumps and heaters and other metal devices more than thirty feet away from the tank due to the sharks electromagnetic field. If you even have a heater it drives the shark crazy. He said you should only plan on keeping a shark in a 1000 gallon, preferably more, circular tank.

Ricki

How long has this person successfully kept sharks?

This is true for free swimming sharks.

Bamboo sharks, epaulettes, cat sharks are not free swimmers and spend most of their time on the bottom in caves or overhangings.

Rectangular tanks are fine for these sharks.

RE: Shark tank help, please

Runway_Boi — Sat, 10 May 2008 17:12:45 GMT

Okay, sorry about the delay.

Ricki

RE: Shark tank help, please

sonny — Sat, 10 May 2008 13:07:32 GMT

What did he tell you?

and I was thinking about going with about a 400 gallon tank for a bamboo shark. Any opinions on that size?? good/bad???

RE: Shark tank help, please

Runway_Boi — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:02:07 GMT

Wow, my fish tank main. service guy just told me something very interesting about sharks. As soon as I get some time, I will tell you. For now: off to homework!!

RE: Shark tank help, please

sonny — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:48:49 GMT

well let me re word...i garuntee people have kept an maintened them with around 200gallon tanks...

Its almost obvious...i mean just because the book says 200 minimum an everyone says "no no that is def. not enough room an it will die" does not mean that no one has ever maintained a healthy bamboo shark in that size tank...If no one has EVER done that, and its close to impossible like every makes it seem...i would doubt they would print it in books and every single website..

RE: Shark tank help, please

tvan — Tue, 06 May 2008 09:53:14 GMT

Just because they kept a shark in a 200 gallon doesn't mean it lived a long and happy life. Sharks produce alot of waste. Cat sharks are not very active during the day. Cat sharks will jump out of their tanks. Cat sharks like to swim at night and hunt and turn things over. Cat sharks like very expensive food. Cat sharks can live a very long time(under the right conditions).
Just remember one you have him, he is dependent entirely on you. And if he doesn't have enough room he WILL STRESS AND DIE. Regardless of what any book says. Yes I did have them..... No I won't ever again.
Just my 2 cents
Tvan

RE: Shark tank help, please

sonny — Tue, 06 May 2008 09:16:57 GMT

I bet you could keep one in 200 somethin gallon tank..garunteed people have done it..

RE: Shark tank help, please

Runway_Boi — Mon, 05 May 2008 15:09:22 GMT

I know it sounds wierd and it took me quite a while to come to this conclusion: the booksellers want to make a profit from their book, and they couldn't do that if all they said was that it's nearly impossible to keep sharks at home. Think about it: how many people do you know that can afford a 700-2000 gal tank?

Rick

RE: Shark tank help, please

sonny — Mon, 05 May 2008 12:26:08 GMT

I dont understand if every body reccomends to buy the Sharks & Rays book but then say that the information provided would not be enough room...

RE: Shark tank help, please

Runway_Boi — Sun, 04 May 2008 18:57:44 GMT

I would say that a 180 gal tank is way to small. I twice, unsuccessfully both times, tried to keep a 6-8 inch bamboo shark in my 5 foot long 100 gallon tank. My experience was basically that the shark needed a larger tank. It would swim around the tank and constantly bump into everything. I will admit that the tank had quite a bit of live rock, but it did have a rather large area of sand.

I will never again attempt to put any kind of shark, not even a shark egg in a tank less than 1000 gallons. And furthermore, I would not/could not endorse putting an animal like a shark in anything less than 500 gallons. I would seriously consider getting a larger tank. And I would consider getting a custom tank built. Something like this: 8 feet long by 6 feet wide by 2 feet tall. And even then, the tank is fairly small for a 40 inch shark. Just imagine if someone locked you in your walk in closet; you wouldn't like that, would you?

I may sound like I'm getting carried away with myself, but know what I'm saying is my honest opinion.

Rick

P.S. Just because the books say you "CAN" (read can, not should) put a shark in a 180 gal tank does not mean that you should. The books also say that you can put a Queen Angel (A fish that grows to a foot and a half when fully grown) in a 180 gallon tank. I've seen a fully grown French Angel in a 180 gal. tank and all that the fish could do is pace back and forth. It barely had enough room to turn around in the tank. There are many other instances where our trusty books are seriously mistaken. Such as when they say that you can put the 7.5 foot long Green Moray into a 180 gal tank or likewise with the Giant Moray (grows to nearly ten feet and 150 pounds) in a 260 gallon tank. It is nothing short of insanity, with all due respect.

If you do try the shark, best of luck to you, but be forewarned.

RE: Shark tank help, please

sonny — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:43:38 GMT

That type of shark stays smaller than most humans except little kids....

RE: Shark tank help, please

ABlundell — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 09:51:49 GMT

I've got my eye on a diamond 190 gallon too. That shape would give plenty of swimming room, more than, a normal rectangle.

Plenty? I think that is stretching it. A 500 gallon aquarium is only big to humans. To be honest if you really want to set up a shark tank I'm surprised you aren't looking into a 750 gal or even something larger. To say that a 190 gal has plenty of swimming room is a pretty bold statement.

Adam

RE: Shark tank help, please

sonny — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 08:35:03 GMT

No, I plan on buying it ASAP

RE: Shark tank help, please

FMarini — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:12:15 GMT

Sonny--
Do you have Scott michaels book "sharks & rays?
It a great resource for answering shark questions.

RE: Shark tank help, please

sonny — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:59:54 GMT

I have been planning on buying a bamboo shark for a couple of years and i think im going to do so in a couple of months...I have read that 200 gallons would be enough....You say that would not be and recomend a Coral Cat Shark....I tried looking up Coral Cat Sharks an could not find any information, actually articles with the bamboo shark even popped up....Could you provide any links to more information about the Coral Cat Sharks...

Thanks....

RE: Shark tank help, please

Puffer Queen — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 08:13:35 GMT

A 180 - 200 gallon tank is too small for bamboo sharks. The only sharks that will be able to be housed in this tank would be the smaller coral cat sharks.

RE: Shark tank help, please

AlexAndCoral — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 07:38:06 GMT

It isn't a rectangular tank, but a diamond. This should allow much more swimming space than a regular rectangular tank.

Filtration will be a wet/dry, 4-part Rainbow LifeGuard (mech, chem, heat, UV), and a skimmer.

RE: Shark tank help, please

FMarini — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 06:30:25 GMT

Hi--
thanks for the question.
When you say new tank diminseions--care to elaborate? A normal 180 or 240 are 6ft , or 7 ft long, this 180, 190, 200 your describing is not typical.
you are correct about sand bottoms and some rockwork/caves for the animals to hide/retire too.

Also may i ask what the plans are for filtration on this system

Shark tank help, please

AlexAndCoral — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 14:08:35 GMT

Guys, Gals,

I'm looking at getting another tank. The wife has even OK'd it. Actually she suggested it, so no way I go wrong here.

I'm looking at setting up FOWL shark tank. I've done a little reading, at it seems that most of the smaller cat and bamboo sharks all like a mostly fine sand tank, with some live rock to go and hide under, so FOWL seems to be the way to go. Asking the LFS they recommended pairing the shark with a ray, as most things will pick on the shark. Not a problem with me at all, although I had also wanted a burr fish, and possibly a large angle. Anyone have any experience with that fish combination?

At the moment I'm looking at tanks between 180 and 200 gallons. I've got my eye on a diamond 190 gallon too. That shape would give plenty of swimming room, more than, a normal rectangle. Then I can put some rocks at the back and make a cave, and leave the front open and sandy. Underneath I'll run a skimmer, wet/dry, and Rainbow 4 filter combo (the chem, mech, UV, heater set), which should keep it clean. I know the sharks are messy, so I'll over size it.

I already have a 175 Gallon reef, with RO/DI and auto top-off etc, so I have just about every bit of ancillary equipment already lying around, and can spare all of that.

So, guys... who can point out the flaws? I'd much rather here them today, than after I have this tank set up.

Now, I'm off to buy a couple more fish books to read up,

Alex