Silver tip / Black Tip sharks

A

Aric

AC Members
Aug 1, 2004
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Clearwater, Florida
I've heard their names both ways. Silver tipped or black tipped sharks. And of course their catfish.

Anyways, I had a couple of these while I was cycling my tank about a month ago and they both died. Now my cycling is all done and the tank seems to be doing great. I got two new ones five days ago and they seem to be doing very well. Very active, love to eat, etc. etc.

These new ones are pretty much constantly at the top of my tank swimming around. My previous ones were almost always at the bottom which I thought was more normal since they're supposed to be bottom feeders. My only guess is that they just like playing in the current up there. What are your guys' thoughts?

Tank is:
55 gallon
emperor 400
emperor 280
two pumps running airstones (thought maybe the catfish wanted more oxygen)

0 nitrites
0 ammonia
0-5 nitrates
 
Black tipped shark is a common name for bala sharks and shark cats (Columbian catfish). Similar coloration, but very different care needs. See pics below and let us know which you have. I'm guessing the shark cats, in which case they will need brackish conditions as adults, and are very sensitive to poor water quality.

Bala Shark:
bala.jpeg


Shark cat:
01%20shark_colombian.jpg
 
Yep, they will need to go into brackish water as they mature. They get up to about 12-15 inches, and are very active fish--primarily nocturnal, but very active. They will eat anything they can fit in their mouth--which is surprisingly large. They will acclimate to being diurnal. Eat a variety of foods, prefer more meatier fare like bloodworms, shrimp, etc. Gorgeous fish, but all too often they die because they are kept in straight FW.
 
the only fish that has ever done that was my colombian shark back when i had my 30gal, he swam non stop at the top of the tank for about 4 days... on the 5th day he was stiff at the bottom. thats the only fish that has EVER died on me.. i then noticed he had ich on him .. i guess he came with it from the LFS.
 
Hmm.. A good mix...It's my first tank and some died when cycling...you guys will probably flame me for such a mix but here goes:

1 rainbow shark
2 columbian catfish (silver tip sharks)
2 swordtials
1 platie
2 guppies
1 opaline gourami
1 paradish fish (gourami?)
1 kribesis cichlid
1 danio
1 rosie bard
 
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He could be swimming at the top because he just ate one of your fish. My Channel cat used to do that after he ate a feeder.


How often do you change your water and do you test your water?

It could probably be directly related to the water NOT being brackish. Not only do columbian sharks need BW, they need high end BW and even SW as adults. It won't last long in FW. People have had success keeping them in rift lake tanks, but only due to the fact the water parameters are the same as marine, minus the marine salt.
 
These guys are too small to eat anyone right now. About 2 inches. All my fish are pretty small and none are missing.

I do add aquarium salt when I do water changes, for the layer of protective slime it's supposed to give fish and for the cats who like more brackish water.

I was doing water changes every couple days cycling. I did a 20% about 5 days ago. (the one before that was like 2 weeks ago but 50%)

I test my water all the time. I guess i'm in the habit of it since I was cycling. I tested it last night. Those water parameters I posted at the top are them. No nitrites, no ammonia, 0-5ish nitrates.
 
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