What's the deal with Chinese Highfin Sharks?

[kureyton]

Chinese high fin sharks look really good and unique with the small body and high fin as juveniles. What I am sure about is that collectors like othe buy them or their looks when they are still juvenile. People keep them in aquariums, but what happens when they grow to adults? All these fish will not stay juveniles forever, and will eventually grow up to 3 feet. The adults don't look good at all, unlike when they are juveniles. I find them repulsive, just my opinion.

So do these fish only have value as juveniles? Do they lose ornamental value as they age? And do collectors plan on transferring them to ponds when they grow up? Or how do they discard adult high fin sharks

 

[fishhead0103666]

People buy them because they're pretty when they're young. Once they grow up and either outgrow their tank or don't look good anymore 99% of people will kill it, release it, donate it, or put it in a pond. Personally I like how they look when both young and old.

 

[kureyton]

People buy them because they're pretty when they're young. Once they grow up and either outgrow their tank or don't look good anymore 99% of people will kill it, release it, donate it, or put it in a pond. Personally I like how they look when both young and old.

And how long do they stay as juveniles?

 

[fishhead0103666]

I've never kept the fish so I don't know.

 

[MrsE88]

I think they are cool all the way into adulthood. I wanted some, but I don’t want to commit to bringing them in over the winter.
I was also told they have a low survival rate due to starvation.

 

[krichardson]

People buy them because they're pretty when they're young. Once they grow up and either outgrow their tank or don't look good anymore 99% of people will kill it, release it, donate it, or put it in a pond. Personally I like how they look when both young and old.

Agreed but I suspect that a lot of them don't live long enough to reach their "ugly" adult form due mostly to them not being kept properly.They definitely cannot compete with other fish for food while they are young and small.
They are also not a tropical species

 

[fishhead0103666]

Ahh yes, thank you for mentioning that as I forgot to mention that most of them won't live to see that point.

 

[krichardson]

No problemo friendo.I have always liked them but they seem to be more suited for ponds but then it would probably be difficult to observe and enjoy them in a normal in ground pond due to their dull coloring coupled with the near darkness of most ponds.

 

[fishhead0103666]

Don't get all technical with me but I think that Chinese hifin sharks would go well with sturgeons if they had the same requirements. Anyone else think so?

 

[kureyton]

If they are just gonna discard them as adults they might as well genetically engineer those fish to remain small for the rest of their lives