Kapachuka3
Valuable Member
I have maybe thought about getting a port Jackson shark at some point and I was wondering what They need and how big a tank, what type of food, are they hardy, tankmates?
Port Jackson shark?
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blaxsun
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Seems to indicate you can start out with a tank as small as 100 gallons for a juvenile but will need a 12x6x3 foot 1200-1300 gallon tank as it matures. So unless you're planning for that size of tank, I'd probably pass.
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Kapachuka3
Valuable Member
Yeah did not realize they needed that huge a tank, will now pass on the shark.
They are boring, IMO. Nocturnal by nature and not all that active. STL aquarium had one that was over 5 feet... at least I think that it was there...
Temperate water species too, so that's another consideration. In the wild they eat large inverts. The horn shark relatives in the same group are a little smaller.
This just hit me, but I think that Port Jackson's migrate, so you do have to change water temps and stuff throughout the year? I could be totally off on this.
In any case, not a great specimen for most individuals to keep unless they are really talented in both keeping marine life and also making huge chests of money to afford the setup.
In any case, not a great specimen for most individuals to keep unless they are really talented in both keeping marine life and also making huge chests of money to afford the setup.
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Kapachuka3
Valuable Member
Gotcha, are there any other types of sharks that could live in a tank about 100 gallons?
Bucs20fan
Valuable Member
The smallest are the bamboo and cat sharks and they both need around 180 minimum, better off 240 or 300. They dont turn well and square tanks just arent the best for sharks in the first place, Especially small ones. I would highly advise against a shark in a 100 gallon tank.
Even the bamboos get pretty big, like 40".
The smallest to look into would be Atelomycterus genus, I think. Coral and marbled catsharks are in the 24-30" range, I think. I wouldn't go less than something like 8x3', but I'm not really a shark expert.
The smallest to look into would be Atelomycterus genus, I think. Coral and marbled catsharks are in the 24-30" range, I think. I wouldn't go less than something like 8x3', but I'm not really a shark expert.
Epualettes stay smaller, but still need larger than than 100 gallons. They still get 3 feet, or so.
They are quite boring. They are usually not all that active. You are extremely limited to tank mates. They also need more care than most fish - they can be sensitive to elevated levels of many things from organics to metals. They take a lot of work and are limiting.
Sharks can be fun for somebody who loves them, but they are not for everybody. Most of the ones that I see in captivity that do well are in pro aquariums or in pools that are 10-20 feet across.
They are quite boring. They are usually not all that active. You are extremely limited to tank mates. They also need more care than most fish - they can be sensitive to elevated levels of many things from organics to metals. They take a lot of work and are limiting.
Sharks can be fun for somebody who loves them, but they are not for everybody. Most of the ones that I see in captivity that do well are in pro aquariums or in pools that are 10-20 feet across.
