Brown Smooth Hound Shark (Mustelus Henlei)?

[Aspect]

Hello, has anyone kept this species before that can shed a light of information on me? I am thinking it's possible that most fish stores that claim they can obtain these species are mixing them up with Grey Smooth Hounds. I have been told 3 times now this species reaches lengths of 5' while every article I've read has stated they on average reach a size of 2' and the largest specimens can possibly reach 1 meter, but nothing I've seen has stated anywhere near 5'. This article from the Florida Museum is one source https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/species-profiles/mustelus-henlei/. If anyone that has actually kept this species can confirm this please let me know.

 

[vetteguy53081]

@Jay Hemdal

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Hello, has anyone kept this species before that can shed a light of information on me? I am thinking it's possible that most fish stores that claim they can obtain these species are mixing them up with Grey Smooth Hounds. I have been told 3 times now this species reaches lengths of 5' while every article I've read has stated they on average reach a size of 2' and the largest specimens can possibly reach 1 meter, but nothing I've seen has stated anywhere near 5'. This article from the Florida Museum is one source https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/species-profiles/mustelus-henlei/. If anyone that has actually kept this species can confirm this please let me know.

Maybe @dantimdad can provide some insight, as he has kept numerous kinds of sharks over the years.

 

[Aspect]

@Jay Hemdal

I already talked to Jay, he never kept a Brown.

 

[Aspect]

I sent this article to the 3 vendors who told me that they could collect this species and also asked for pictures of any they have/had. No responses yet.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I already talked to Jay, he never kept a Brown.

I just checked Scott Michael's shark book (forgot I had a copy!). Turns out he has a lot of good natural history on these (though I'm not sure he has ever actually kept one himself). They can reach a bit more than 3' in length in the wild, so typically, I find that means about 28" in captivity. He indicates they are extreme jumpers (as I discovered with grays). He also gives a maximum water temperature for both species as 70 F. (I kept grays at 68 degrees or below). He says their gut contents is mostly krill, with other crustaceans. He lists a minimum tank size of 1200 gallons for this species, which aligns with my discovery that 950 gallons was too small for gray smoothhounds....

Jay

 

[Aspect]

I just checked Scott Michael's shark book (forgot I had a copy!). Turns out he has a lot of good natural history on these (though I'm not sure he has ever actually kept one himself). They can reach a bit more than 3' in length in the wild, so typically, I find that means about 28" in captivity. He indicates they are extreme jumpers (as I discovered with grays). He also gives a maximum water temperature for both species as 70 F. (I kept grays at 68 degrees or below). He says their gut contents is mostly krill, with other crustaceans. He lists a minimum tank size of 1200 gallons for this species, which aligns with my discovery that 950 gallons was too small for gray smoothhounds....

Jay

So likely the vendors I'm speaking with are confusing this species with Gray smooth hounds then would you agree?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

So likely the vendors I'm speaking with are confusing this species with Gray smooth hounds then would you agree?

I bet they are. The grays are the ones I see in the trade most often. I just checked Matsu Collections (a public aquarium supplier) he only lists grays.

Jay

 

[dantimdad]

If I were to do sharks again, they would be browns. Sweet fish and more active than cat sharks. They just eat a ton and you need way more filter than you think you need.

 

[Aspect]

If I were to do sharks again, they would be browns. Sweet fish and more active than cat sharks. They just eat a ton and you need way more filter than you think you need.

Would a Bubble Magus B12 and B9 be enough?

 

[dantimdad]

What size tank/pool?

 

[dantimdad]

We ran a 1500 gallon rated skimmer on an 8 foot pool run at about 625 gallons and a refugium and about 300 pounds of live rock in a stock tank sump and did 50 gallon water changes twice a week. It stay crystal clear and never smelled bad.

 

[NigeltheBold]

Curious to hear if you ever found a supplier for Brown Smooth Hounds? I may be interested as well.

 

[Aspect]

Curious to hear if you ever found a supplier for Brown Smooth Hounds? I may be interested as well.

Nothing unfortunately

 

[WheatToast]

Update?

 

[Aspect]

Update?

Nothing, gave up on this unfortunately. Had 2 collectors looking and neither could find one.

 

[Sharkandreef]

We have all hounds from all the parts of the world. My wife is Japanese and we will be importing Japanese Leopards @ 900$ per shark next year

Browns are deep water. Your best bet is Grey, Starry, or Japan

 

[Aspect]

Browns are deep water. Your best bet is Grey, Starry, or Japan

No that's not my best bet because those all get 4' or larger. Those are your best bet to collect but not the best bet for my tank and qol of the shark.

 

[Aspect]

sharkandreef.com

What am I looking for here? I searched for Brown Smooth Hound but no results found.