Columbian Sharks in freshwater?

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Cyclop3000

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
May 22, 2005
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Quebec, Canada
I once bought two columbians from a store which had them in brackish water. I was told, and read about, the possibility that the fish would live well in freshwater. Two weeks after putting them in a well established 130g freshwater, they both died.

Will columbian sharks live in freshwater or not? Will they enjoy a life in freshwater, or is it better for the fish to use brackish? I talked to someone via p-messaging and he told me he kept a couple in freshwater without any problem.

Could it be because they were once in brackish and then moved back to freshwater that they died? If they spend all their lives in freshwater, would it help? I know they spawn in freshwater then move to brackish later...

Any help?
 
I believe that the fish you are talking about is H. seemani?

These cats, I believe, live in freshwater as young, and slowly migrate out to sea and full marine waters.

We have 6 two inch long seemanis in a 125 marine tank at work. They were acclimated very carefully over half an hour, and are growing pretty quickly.
 
TaratronVaeVictus said:
I believe that the fish you are talking about is H. seemani?

These cats, I believe, live in freshwater as young, and slowly migrate out to sea and full marine waters.

We have 6 two inch long seemanis in a 125 marine tank at work. They were acclimated very carefully over half an hour, and are growing pretty quickly.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the feedback!

Yes, that is the cat I am talking about. I know they migrate, and know they live well in salt water, I once saw one full grown in a saltwater tank...but I was wondering about their comfort in freshwater, compared to saltwater.
 
I did a research paper on them once. They're mostly comfortable in brackish waters. And as they grow, they remain in saltwater and only go back to brackish waters to spawn. I actually saw a large Columbian Shark Cat and some Pacus in a freshwater tank at a pet store. The shark just laid in the corner. If you acclimate them properly, they should be okay for a little while. But they're better off in brackish waters when small and as they grow larger, they'll turn salt.
 
I bought three columbian/silver tip sharks at petco three months ago, they were in a freshwater tank at petco.I put them into a 55 gallon freshwater tank and one died in a week. I plan on getting a tank for them so i can slowly raise the salinty to brackish. i just wish i knew how slowly my sharks would swim to the ocean if they were wild, would they still be in the river/lake right now or would they have reached the ocean yet? Im sure its different for each fish and thats why they are still alive. Just because they get stuck in freshwater doesnt mean they should only live two weeks.About how big were they when you got them? Mine were three inches in november and three months later there 4 and 4.5 inches.Maybee they really liked brackish and were not happy with freshwater ;]
 
maybe the fish not used to the freshwater so sudden.
maybe the fish got a shock when u suddenly change to freshwater.
 
I have 2 White tips(columbian) in my tank and I bought them in freshwater. My tank is only at 1 tablespoon of salt per 5 gallons. They are very active all the time. If you look at the dorsal fin and it is straight up it means that they are healthy. Something to remember when buying. good luck.
 
Does anyone have there sharks in saltwater if so for how long? I was hoping they could grow with my green skats , moray eels and needle nose gar? does any one know if these fish are similar in water parameter requirements? Or are they safer in a freshwater oscar tank( nice oscars :) ). My morays might bite them on accident , considering they swim so low to the ground.

My columbian sharks are about 3 to 4 inches? I think, so can I try them in 0.018 salinity now, if I do it slowly. I do not want to do this unless someone else did and they lived.
 
TaratronVaeVictus said:
I believe that the fish you are talking about is H. seemani?

These cats, I believe, live in freshwater as young, and slowly migrate out to sea and full marine waters.

We have 6 two inch long seemanis in a 125 marine tank at work. They were acclimated very carefully over half an hour, and are growing pretty quickly.
Click to expand...


how long have you had them?,

I swear the smaller one I have is not growing . The bigger one is chubby and healthy looking the other is skinny looking . :)there from 3 - 5 inches somewhere,


I just cant measure them they wont hold still :screwy: :swear: :headbang2
 
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