Your thoughts on aquarium sharks?

[Obsessed with fish]

I have seen many fish labeled 'shark'. I understand things like bamboo sharks, or fish with no scales, but a bala shark, bala sharks have scales? i have many questions.

Are bamboo sharks real sharks.

Are rainbow sharks real sharks.

Why do they call bala sharks 'sharks'

What do you think about them, are they really sharks?

I am thinking of getting one, are there any that would work in a 20-30 gallon pond on a covered balcony.

What do you think abt the things.

 

[Obsessed with fish]

I think the bamboo shark looks the most like a shark

 

[piranhaman00]

I can’t.

 

[F i s h y]

Bamboo sharks are sharks.
The rest are just freshwater fish with a name.
If you intend to keep the freshwater "sharks" your covered 20 to 30 gallon pond will be fine.
If you intend to keep saltwater sharks (real sharks) you will need a very large system. With enhanced filtration and stable water parameters.
Read large system as hundreds or thousands of gallons.

 

[LiveFreeAndReef]

rainbow and bala "sharks" aren't true sharks. Balas are closely related to barbs. They call them sharks because it helps them sell, every little kid wants a shark in their aquarium

 

[F i s h y]

Use the search function on here to see what you are up against.

 

[SlugSnorter]

I have seen many fish labeled 'shark'. I understand things like bamboo sharks, or fish with no scales, but a bala shark, bala sharks have scales? i have many questions.

Are bamboo sharks real sharks.

Are rainbow sharks real sharks.

Why do they call bala sharks 'sharks'

What do you think about them, are they really sharks?

I am thinking of getting one, are there any that would work in a 20-30 gallon pond on a covered balcony.

What do you think abt the things.

They are "real" sharks (besides the bala and rainbow sharks, its just a nickname)

1 Rainbow could fit if it was 30 gallon

They are fairly agressive

EDIT: rainbows will not fit, check my most recent post for suggestions

 

[SlugSnorter]

I think the bamboo shark looks the most like a shark

cause it is a shark, sharks come in all shapes and sizes! Take a look at the good ol' frilled shark (emphasis on old)

 

[SlugSnorter]

Bamboo sharks are sharks.
The rest are just freshwater fish with a name.
If you intend to keep the freshwater "sharks" your covered 20 to 30 gallon pond will be fine.
If you intend to keep saltwater sharks (real sharks) you will need a very large system. With enhanced filtration and stable water parameters.
Read large system as hundreds or thousands of gallons.

There are freshwater sharks, no they need 180 gallons are so, OP cannot keep a bambo shark in 30 gallons

Just cause their freshwater doesn't mean they aren't real sharks (besides the rainbow and bala)

 

[SlugSnorter]

Bamboo sharks are sharks.
The rest are just freshwater fish with a name.
If you intend to keep the freshwater "sharks" your covered 20 to 30 gallon pond will be fine.
If you intend to keep saltwater sharks (real sharks) you will need a very large system. With enhanced filtration and stable water parameters.
Read large system as hundreds or thousands of gallons.

OP can keep rainbow, the others need a larger tank, please dont tell people they can fit fish way to big for their tank

 

[F i s h y]

OP can keep rainbow, the others need a larger tank, please dont tell people they can fit fish way to big for their tank

Yup... ok...

 

[F i s h y]

There are freshwater sharks, no they need 180 gallons are so, OP cannot keep a bambo shark in 30 gallons

Just cause their freshwater doesn't mean they aren't real sharks (besides the rainbow and bala)

There are NO true freshwater sharks. There are saltwater sharks tat can survive in freshwater. 180 gallons is to small for any adult saltwater shark.

Do a quick Google search before you try to correct someone.

 

[James_O]

Are bamboo sharks real sharks.

Are rainbow sharks real sharks.

Why do they call bala sharks 'sharks'

No, no, and no. The three species mentioned above were named “sharks”, because they closely resemble themselves. However, their genetic makeup is extremely different from real sharks. Just to be clear, all sharks are fish, but not all fish are sharks.

For one thing, those three fish are all bony, while real sharks are filled with cartilage. For another, sharks are covered in tooth-like scales called denticles, while fish are covered in smooth scales.

 

[austibella]

Incase you want to keep other fish in there.Rainbow sharks are omnivorous and will eat anything its recommended to have a 50 gallon tank or Larger or it can get aggressive they need a lot of room to swim a shark is a shark no matter what the name they need to swim and need room

 

[SlugSnorter]

There are NO true freshwater sharks. There are saltwater sharks tat can survive in freshwater. 180 gallons is to small for any adult saltwater shark.

Do a quick Google search before you try to correct someone.

Im talking about freshwater sharks, bamboos are sharks the others aren't. Bamboos need 180 gallons

edit seems I was wrong, but there are freshwater sharks

 

[SlugSnorter]

Incase you want to keep other fish in there.Rainbow sharks are omnivorous and will eat anything its recommended to have a 50 gallon tank or Larger or it can get aggressive they need a lot of room to swim a shark is a shark no matter what the name they need to swim and need room

rainbows if housed properly in a 30 gallon are okay

less agressive and more agile fish in the middle and top layers tend to do better with them

 

[F i s h y]

Im talking about freshwater sharks, bamboos are sharks the others aren't. Bamboos need 180 gallons

Yup still aren't any true freshwater sharks...

Just fish with a name... you are conveying an incorrect message to the OP

 

[James_O]

They are "real" sharks (besides the bala and rainbow sharks, its just a nickname)

1 Rainbow could fit if it was 30 gallon

They are fairly agressive

No, you couldn’t put a rainbow shark in a 30 gallon tank. They need at least a 55 gallon tank for one fish, and that would be the only fish that would be able to go in the tank. Rainbow sharks are extremely aggressive, and will pretty much attack any fish you add in with it. An even larger tank is required for multiple rainbow sharks.

 

[Uzidaisies]

Ganges shark is a true freshwater shark.

 

[SlugSnorter]

a

No, no, and no. The three species mentioned above were named “sharks”, because they closely resemble themselves. However, their genetic makeup is extremely different from real sharks. Just to be clear, all sharks are fish, but not all fish are sharks.

For one thing, those three fish are all bony, while real sharks are filled with cartilage. For another, sharks are covered in tooth-like scales called denticles, while fish are covered in smooth scales.

ah, it appears you are right about the bamboo