They are! The common eppie (H. occellatum) is more active in my experience, but requires a slightly bigger tank. Hopefully other cool species will be entering the hobby soon as well that will reduce minimum tank size.
What is the smallest shark?
- Thread starter alexanian
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They are! The common eppie (H. occellatum) is more active in my experience, but requires a slightly bigger tank. Hopefully other cool species will be entering the hobby soon as well that will reduce minimum tank size.
I think you are going to struggle to even support a jeuvie on that system for more than 6 months. The fish have huge requirements as far as swimming space goes. My baby arowana is in a 55 quarantine and as the same sorta requirements. The fish is only 5 inches long but the 55gallon(48 inches long) is way to small for a healthy swimming pattern, look at the ratio 5-48 way better than you'd have with a 2 ft to 8 ft and sharks swim faster. Yeah a 1-2 ft fish could probably make it in your tank for a month but the moment it grows past 2 ft your tank would be a major inhibitor. Sharks, more specifically the ones you are looking at can't stop swimming and that tank will basically have it turning in tight circles all day. If you've ever kept a fish like a zebra danio or rainbow in a hexagon tank you can see a small amount of what will happen to your fish the constant tight turning would really inhibit its development. Before the fish looks like its outgrown the tank its back will arch to the one side it turns most often. Yes you can sight the fact that many on these forums have fish in tanks to small for them and people celebrate them, arowana are definitely among those fish more often kept in the wrong conditions than the right but I would plead reconsider and go with a cat shark it will fair better in your tank and you will be happier for it.
I definitelly don't want to hurt the fish or have it in an unhealthy swimming patern. I will also not sight the fact that some people keep their fish in tanks too small for them, as that is no excuse to keeping a fish in a tank too small for them which is something I would never do. I would keep a fish in a tank which is smaller then their potential adult size, but I would take it back to the lfs or sell it, or trade to someone that can take care of them before it reaches a size too big for my tank.
I know that sharks that have to swim constantly to breathe i.e ORV sharks r definitely out of the question for this system.
I could keep active benthics like the chain catshark of up to 2 feet, or non ORV swimming sharks like smooth hounds of up to 1.3 feet. Ideal would be if I could find a species that would fit those sizes and thats what I am here to do.
However if keeping a certain species that will outgrow my system in 6 months or less, it would be not worth the trouble. Like for example Stary smooth hound ( native species ) is born at 1 foot lenght so it won't take long before it reaches 1.3 feet which my system can support for swimming non ORV.
I'm giving alot of thought to keeping a chain catshark since it's more active then other benthics and I can keep it for life, but it's still a bottom feeder so it's not the acivity pattern I was looking for. Although I could keep it with some other tank mates I guess, but don't know what r the possible tank mates I could add in my tank size with it yet.
Okay - first off you can keep a real Shark in a tank/pond of less than 1,000 gallons - it all depends on the species you choose.
There are even some species which can be kept in a 480 gallon tank (8ft long x 4ft wide x 2 ft tall) for life.
Species like
Papuan or PNG Epaulette (H. hallstromi)
Indonesian Speckled Epaulette (H. freycineti)
Speckled Epaulette (H. trispeculare)
Arabian Bamboo (C. arabicum)
Gray Bamboo (C. griseum)
Northern or Ward's Wobbegong (O. wardi)
Bali Catshark (A. baliensis)
Coral Catshark (A. marmoratus)
Australian Marbled Catshark (A. macleayi)
Chain Catshark (S. retifer)
Cloudy Catshark (S. torazame)
Just to name some of the species available.
There are even some species which can be kept in a 480 gallon tank (8ft long x 4ft wide x 2 ft tall) for life.
Species like
Papuan or PNG Epaulette (H. hallstromi)
Indonesian Speckled Epaulette (H. freycineti)
Speckled Epaulette (H. trispeculare)
Arabian Bamboo (C. arabicum)
Gray Bamboo (C. griseum)
Northern or Ward's Wobbegong (O. wardi)
Bali Catshark (A. baliensis)
Coral Catshark (A. marmoratus)
Australian Marbled Catshark (A. macleayi)
Chain Catshark (S. retifer)
Cloudy Catshark (S. torazame)
Just to name some of the species available.
Thanks for the suggestions, I definitely like the chain catshark and I'm going to look up more info on the others you suggested. It would be much better and easier to be able to keep one for life. Can I also get some feedback about the activity level on those sharks? Those any of these have a constant open water swim pattern in mid tank level?
Alright... thread cleaned up.
If it gets off track again, I'm closing it and handing out infractions for anyone who gets off topic or insulting to other members.
Come on guys, the saltwater section has needed little moderation for a LONG time. Let's not get to the point where every little thing needs to be proof read before it gets posted.
If it gets off track again, I'm closing it and handing out infractions for anyone who gets off topic or insulting to other members.
Come on guys, the saltwater section has needed little moderation for a LONG time. Let's not get to the point where every little thing needs to be proof read before it gets posted.
Well - let's start with a basic run down of the size and activity level of the species -I've listed.
Papuan or PNG Epaulette (H. hallstromi) - maxs at about 30 inches (76 cm) in length. Basically a tropical (above 74F) walking benthic species. Not too difficult to find - some captivity bred specimens are available. Basically priced about the same as the large Common or Ocellated Epaulette (H. ocellatum)
Indonesian Speckled Epaulette (H. freycineti) - maxs at about 24 inches (60 cm) in length. Also a tropical walking benthic species. very Rare and hard to find in private captivity.
Speckled Epaulette (H. trispeculare) - maxs at about 31 inches (79 cm) in length. Another tropical walking benthic species. Rarer than the Papuan or Ocellated Eppies. And likely higher in price as well.
Arabian Bamboo (C. arabicum) - max about 30 inches (76 cm) in length. A tropical (above 74F) walking benthic species. Rarer than the Brown-banded or White-spotted Bamboos - but still can be found fairly often for sale.
Gray Bamboo (C. griseum) - max at about 30 inches (76 cm) in length. A tropical (above 74F) water walking benthic species. Similar to the Arabian Bamboo - but found a bit more often.
Northern or Ward's Wobbegong (O. wardi) - maxs at about 30-32 inches (76-81 cm) in length. A tropical (above 74F) water inactive benthic species. A difficult to find species - but can be found for sale - if you know where to look.
Bali Catshark (A. baliensis) - maxs at about 19 inches (48 cm) in length. A tropical water (above 74F) active benthic species. They are still quite rare - as it's a recently discovered species with a fairly limited range (near Bali, Indonesia). But it still can be found - if you know where to look and are willing to wait.
Coral Catshark (A. marmoratus) - maxs at about 28 inches (71 cm) in length. A tropicial (above 74F) water active benthic species. Fairly commonly found species of shark for home aquaria. Pricing is usually slightly higher than the Brown-banded or White-spotted Bamboos.
Australian Marbled Catshark (A. macleayi) - maxs at about 24 inches (60 cm) in length. Another tropical (above 74F) water active benthic species. Slightly rarer than the Coral Catshark - but still fairly common .
Chain Catshark (S. retifer) - maxs at about 19-24 inches (48-60 cm) in length (depending on the sub-species). A cool temperate (below 65F) water active species. Difficult to find - although there are some captive bred specimens - usually at prices which are higher than the more common Eppies.
Cloudy Catshark (S. torazame) - maxs at about 20 inches (51 cm) in length. A cool temperate (below 65F) water active benthic species. Very difficult to find - captive bred specimens are higher than Chain catsharks.
Papuan or PNG Epaulette (H. hallstromi) - maxs at about 30 inches (76 cm) in length. Basically a tropical (above 74F) walking benthic species. Not too difficult to find - some captivity bred specimens are available. Basically priced about the same as the large Common or Ocellated Epaulette (H. ocellatum)
Indonesian Speckled Epaulette (H. freycineti) - maxs at about 24 inches (60 cm) in length. Also a tropical walking benthic species. very Rare and hard to find in private captivity.
Speckled Epaulette (H. trispeculare) - maxs at about 31 inches (79 cm) in length. Another tropical walking benthic species. Rarer than the Papuan or Ocellated Eppies. And likely higher in price as well.
Arabian Bamboo (C. arabicum) - max about 30 inches (76 cm) in length. A tropical (above 74F) walking benthic species. Rarer than the Brown-banded or White-spotted Bamboos - but still can be found fairly often for sale.
Gray Bamboo (C. griseum) - max at about 30 inches (76 cm) in length. A tropical (above 74F) water walking benthic species. Similar to the Arabian Bamboo - but found a bit more often.
Northern or Ward's Wobbegong (O. wardi) - maxs at about 30-32 inches (76-81 cm) in length. A tropical (above 74F) water inactive benthic species. A difficult to find species - but can be found for sale - if you know where to look.
Bali Catshark (A. baliensis) - maxs at about 19 inches (48 cm) in length. A tropical water (above 74F) active benthic species. They are still quite rare - as it's a recently discovered species with a fairly limited range (near Bali, Indonesia). But it still can be found - if you know where to look and are willing to wait.
Coral Catshark (A. marmoratus) - maxs at about 28 inches (71 cm) in length. A tropicial (above 74F) water active benthic species. Fairly commonly found species of shark for home aquaria. Pricing is usually slightly higher than the Brown-banded or White-spotted Bamboos.
Australian Marbled Catshark (A. macleayi) - maxs at about 24 inches (60 cm) in length. Another tropical (above 74F) water active benthic species. Slightly rarer than the Coral Catshark - but still fairly common .
Chain Catshark (S. retifer) - maxs at about 19-24 inches (48-60 cm) in length (depending on the sub-species). A cool temperate (below 65F) water active species. Difficult to find - although there are some captive bred specimens - usually at prices which are higher than the more common Eppies.
Cloudy Catshark (S. torazame) - maxs at about 20 inches (51 cm) in length. A cool temperate (below 65F) water active benthic species. Very difficult to find - captive bred specimens are higher than Chain catsharks.
Being someone who doesn't necessarily agree with all the recommended tank sizes on MFK and someone who owns a 180 gallon like the OP I know I couldn't house a shark. Nevermind a REAL shark. Even the most dedicated aquarists have troubles w/ black and white tips. Don't release it either please it will die. if I were you Id get a jardini arowana or a Dovii or something. A shark most likely just won't work in your tank bro... Good luck!
I tried making this point earlier but to no avail. To the OP, why not look into other predators that you CAN keep with no issues. Triggers, Lions, Puffers, I'm not an expert but I think there are rays you can keep in a 180 gallon tank. Look for creative solutions, you can't always have your cake and eat it to, but there are other predatory and aggressive species you should consider.
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