banded shark egg????

the minimum tank size listed most places for a cat shark is a 180. however, i wouldn't keep any shark in anything less then an 8' tank, 260 gal +. do some research and you can find out a lot about them as they are common sharks. they do easily reach 3" in length. you could put in anyfish too large to be eaten by the shark, but will not bother the shark. some grouper species, medium-small morays, things like that.
 
thanks but.....

I know that the banded shark needs a larger tank than that and am willing to get it one ..but the question is ..will ither fish bother the egg if i keep the egg in the 55gal...i would only keep the shark in the 55 gal for a few weeks
 
I wouldn't keep it with anything. Large or predatory fish will eat it, small fish will be eaten as soon as the shark hatches. Mobile inverts like hermits might help--they would likely just keep the outside clean without damaging the egg, but they too may become a snack for the baby.

Size aside, sharks really don't do very well in captivity. An LFS used to have a large nurse shark in a huge tank, and the poor thing just circled the tank constantly. It's nose was a mass of scars from banging into the walls all the time. I felt bad for it. They finally had to put it down, when the tank broke.

Just a pathetic existance for such a cool creature, IMO.
 
i agree with orion girl
there is a night club i go to that has a 1000 gallon tank with a nurse shark in it and he looks pretty unhappy.doesnt move around that much. i dont think anyone should get a shark unless you had a lake size aquarium.
 
What size do these things hatch out as? My roommate was stupid enough to buy one for his 72 gallon bowfront. I told him he needs a way larger tank. When it hatches is it big enough to eat Blue Devil Damsels?
 
I'm pretty sure they hatch around 5-6". Problem is, 1) Its very common for them not to hatch at all from all the stress of moving, and salinity changes. 2) getting them to eat after hatching can often prove very difficult. I've seen many people keep banded cats in a 125g or higher, but I've not personally met any one who succeded at rearing one from an egg. HTH.

"J"

P.S. If it does hatch, have some squid, formula I, and prawn ready to try to start feeding ASAP.
 
Last edited:
About 2 1/2 years ago I bought a banded shark egg and placed it in the bottom of my 150gal tank with live rock and live sand. One day I noticed the baby shark not inside anymore and when I picked up the egg sack it was empty. I couldnt find the shark anywhere. It appeared a few days later at night after the lights went out. They dont come out much during the day light hours, they mainly feed at night after the lights go out. I started mine on frozen pieces of squid. He ate every other night from a skewer and ate 3-4 pieces each night. He came out 5-6 " after 2 1/2 years he was 18" long. He didnt bother any of the other fish in the tank at that time. After I got a serious case of Reef Syndrome I couldnt cure I tore down the tank and switched it to a cichlid tank. I took him back to the LFS, while there waiting for a new home he ended up dining on a bi colored angel, a true perc, and a few damsels.....Unless you have already a larger tank in mind and ready to go anything less than 150-200 is pushing it. The banded shark is one of the smaller "reef sharks" but still at around 18-24" they need lots of room.
 
AquariaCentral.com