Iridescent Shark

[kntrygrl4lyfe]

I went to the fish store a few months ago and I saw one of these fish and it was about a foot look, and it got my interest really fast. Well I knew I didnt have the room for a big one, so I waited till they got the baby ones and tried to do reserch on them... Does anyone have personal experience with these? Ive read where they get up to 3-4 feet, and that in captivity in a tank they can get up to just 8" and Ive read so much different things on these little guys and I just wanted to know if anyone has had personal experience with them. Im hoping i dont get alot of you need a 2000 gallon tank and all this stuff if you havnt had one personaly. b/c if your just going to tell me somethign you read, then I dont really want to re-read it. Not trying to be rude or anything. Thanks

 

[webcricket]

I was just at the Bronx Zoo over the weekend. They had about 10 of these sharks in what was easily a 50,000 gallon indoor pond and all were easily 3 to 4 feet long and really gorgeous. They were in with several 2 foot long Giant Gourami and also a large school of 12 inch plus sized Tinfoil Barbs. So yes, they do get that big in a captive aquarium. I saw it with my own eyes! Now I'm not saying you need a 50,000 gallon tank to house one, but the babies will need a proper sized tank to grow into an adult. I'm sure someone else here will be able to suggest a tank size. Either that, or go and ask on monsterfishkeepers.com as those are the folks who house these giants.

 

[icecubez189]

i wonder how big of a gulp of air those Giant Gouramis take....

 

[watermelon]

I have one in my 55 gallon tank..I bought it at 2.5 inches and now 6 months later, it is only 3 inches..At this growth rate, I dont think it will grow to many feet..This is my personal experience.

 

[wackydan]

I've kept them.... as a teen.

You would be surprised just how big they grow in a small tank. I wouldn't consider keeping them at all without a tank of at least 300 gal+....

I had mine in a 30 long...... And the longest was 14" and the other 12"... at about 7 years old. Not ideal I know... that was before I knew better, and I inherited them rather by surprise when a friend's tank started leaking.

If you have a LFS that is good about trades, and have a sizeable tank, then raise them for a while... You will find they are good comunity fish, love shrimp pellets..... but spook very easily and will run flat out into the tank walls.....

 

[CaptnDan]

Well, let's see... The one you saw was a foot long. That might tell you something.

Does anyone have personal experience with these?

Yes.

b/c if your just going to tell me somethign you read, then I dont really want to re-read it. Not trying to be rude or anything. Thanks

Unfortunately, my personal experience with them coincides perfectly with what I read about them, and I wouldn't want for you to have to re-read it. Not trying to be rude or anything. You're welcome.


http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/catfish/pangasius.php
http://aqualandpetsplus.com/Catfish, Pangassius.htm
http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_pang.php
http://fish.mongabay.com/species/Pangasius_hypopthalmus.html

Actually, this is easier...

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=iridescent+shark&spell=1

 

[kntrygrl4lyfe]

See thats what I was wondering. The biggest I saw was about a foot long. I was hoping to get a few till I saw they could get 4 foot. but then there was all this other stuff I read on them and its just like, maybe someone with one can tell me a few things. Thanks for the replys guys. Also, watermelon, what do you prefer to feed them, and the tank set up? and If I decide to get one, what tank size should I have for him right now? and should i get 2 if thats all im going to have in that tank? the ones at our store are like 2 inches right now. thanks

 

[webcricket]

i wonder how big of a gulp of air those Giant Gouramis take....

They're ugly! At least that's my opinion, LOL.

Sharks were too far back and swimming too fast to get a good picture.

 

[kntrygrl4lyfe]

Well, let's see... The one you saw was a foot long. That might tell you something.



Yes.



Unfortunately, my personal experience with them coincides perfectly with what I read about them, and I wouldn't want for you to have to re-read it. Not trying to be rude or anything. You're welcome.


http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/catfish/pangasius.php
http://aqualandpetsplus.com/Catfish, Pangassius.htm
http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_pang.php
http://fish.mongabay.com/species/Pangasius_hypopthalmus.html

Actually, this is easier...

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=iridescent+shark&spell=1

see in one of those they said about 8" to a foot in a tank. and then you read where they can get 4 foot. would they do good in an outdoor pond or no

 

[watermelon]

See thats what I was wondering. The biggest I saw was about a foot long. I was hoping to get a few till I saw they could get 4 foot. but then there was all this other stuff I read on them and its just like, maybe someone with one can tell me a few things. Thanks for the replys guys. Also, watermelon, what do you prefer to feed them, and the tank set up? and If I decide to get one, what tank size should I have for him right now? and should i get 2 if thats all im going to have in that tank? the ones at our store are like 2 inches right now. thanks

A lot of people told me that they get too big in the aquarium also..In the wild they do get big..There was an internet article I read and the person owned them and said that they might not get past 8 inches in the aquarium..And at the rate that mine is growing, I believe that the article is correct..But other people who owned them claimed that they grow much larger..

The shark I have eats anything, flakes, tubifex...It is a hog...