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about sharks
Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2025 12:52 pm
by Briteon
I'm new here and I was curious about keeping sharks in a home aquarium. Not the big ones, though - I'm thinking about smaller species like Bamboo Sharks. I read this book from my local library and it said they're actually pretty great for beginners, even in a marine setup.
I'm considering a 250 gallon tank with a mix of reef and open sandy space. I'd have live sand and rock, and some corals like coflakes. Has anyone got experience with keeping sharks? Any tips would be awesome.
Re: about sharks
Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2025 1:40 pm
by Kaidox
Hey,
I'm not sure how many folks here keep Elasmobranches in their home tanks, but I do, so I'll try to help you out. First off, grab the book "Aquarium Sharks & Rays" by Scott Micheal – it's a solid resource for anyone looking to get into keeping sharks and rays.
Now, I gotta break it to you, but a 250-gallon tank just won't cut it for a Brown Banded Bamboo – they need at least 350 gallons to thrive. If you're set on a 250-gallon tank, you might be able to make it work with a Coflake Cat Shark or a Marbeled Cat Shark, but that's about it.
When keeping sharks, you need a large footprint – width is key, followed by length, and then height. They also need super fine, soft substrates, so Aragonite-type substrates are the way to go. Sharks require perfect water conditions and mature systems, so if you're setting up a new tank, let it run for a few months before introducing any sharks. They also produce huge bio-loads, so you'll need heavy filtration – a skimmer rated for at least 2-3 times your tank's volume and an overflow rate of at least 6 times your tank's total volume.
For example, my 330-gallon grow-out system has a total flow rate of around 13,000 gallons per hour.
If you're not ready to drop the cash on a large tank just yet, you can build large ponds or lagoons pretty cheaply. If you're interested in learning more about that, just let me know. And if you need more info on anything else, feel free to ask.
Thanks, Kaidox
Re: about sharks
Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2025 2:54 pm
by Briteon
Thanks for all the info!! I really appreciate your detailed response. I'm glad I'm not the only one interested in keeping sharks. I've actually already read 'Aquarium Sharks and Rays' - it's a great book, I've probably gone through it 10 times already. It's been really helpful in giving me an idea of what to expect when keeping sharks.
I'm curious, what kind of sharks do you keep? I'd love to hear about your experience with them. Do you have any tips or advice that aren't in the book?
Thanks again for the info, it's been really helpful.
Re: about sharks
Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2025 4:49 pm
by Florix8
Having a lagoon in your backyard with sharks would be absolutely incredible.
Re: about sharks
Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2025 6:22 pm
by Kaidox
No worries at all, happy to help out. Right now I'm working with Atlantic Smoothhounds and Leopard Sharks, they're my main focus.
Re: about sharks
Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2025 6:41 pm
by Briteon
Kaidox wrote: ↑Mon Jun 09, 2025 1:40 pm
Hey,
I'm not sure how many folks here keep Elasmobranches in their home tanks, but I do, so I'll try to help you out. First off, grab the book "Aquarium Sharks & Rays" by Scott Micheal – it's a solid resource for anyone looking to get into keeping sharks and rays.
Now, I gotta break it to you, but a 250-gallon tank just won't cut it for a Brown Banded Bamboo – they need at least 350 gallons to thrive. If you're set on a 250-gallon tank, you might be able to make it work with a Coflake Cat Shark or a Marbeled Cat Shark, but that's about it.
When keeping sharks, you need a large footprint – width is key, followed by length, and then height. They also need super fine, soft substrates, so Aragonite-type substrates are the way to go. Sharks require perfect water conditions and mature systems, so if you're setting up a new tank, let it run for a few months before introducing any sharks. They also produce huge bio-loads, so you'll need heavy filtration – a skimmer rated for at least 2-3 times your tank's volume and an overflow rate of at least 6 times your tank's total volume.
For example, my 330-gallon grow-out system has a total flow rate of around 13,000 gallons per hour.
If you're not ready to drop the cash on a large tank just yet, you can build large ponds or lagoons pretty cheaply. If you're interested in learning more about that, just let me know. And if you need more info on anything else, feel free to ask.
Thanks, Kaidox
Whoa, seriously, Atlantic Smoothhounds and Leopard Sharks? Aren't those the ones that need massive tanks, like 1500-2500 gallons? That's a whole different level of shark keeping. If you've got some pics, I'd love to see them, can you PM me some?
Re: about sharks
Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2025 8:40 pm
by Florix8
Post 'em here so everyone can see 'em.
Re: about sharks
Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2025 9:47 pm
by axonify
yeah post the pics here
Re: about sharks
Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2025 10:36 pm
by Kaidox
Correct, the Smoothhounds need a system around 2,500 gallons. The Leopards need a system around 7,000 gallons. Those ponds are in the planning construction phase, I am only growing the pups right now. I'll post pictures when I get back from a camping trip tomorrow.
Re: about sharks
Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2025 11:59 pm
by darkfuel
r you back yet, i'm dyin to see these pics