Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was wondering if I can house a newborn brownbanded bamboo shark in a 50 gallon temporarily? I will be getting back my 180 when a friend brings it late this summer. He would be housed alone in a tank with great filtration/skimmer on the correct sand, very few rocks etc. Thanks for any advice!

I would first like to tell you I don't know much about the brown banded shark specifically, but I did a lot of research on them for you. I do know about sharks in general though. They are swimmers for sure. They do not need to swim to breathe, but that doesn't mean they don't need the space. According to one of the sites I visited (all were reliable) hatchlings are approx. 5-7", and they grow approx. an inch per month. I don't think you should keep the baby in the 50 gallon for a few reasons. The first is because the minimum tank size is 180. The websites I visited say that the brown banded bamboo sharks are finicky eaters as babies so that's something to watch out for (nothing to do with tank size obviously). Second, transporting such a fish would be highly stressful on the fish, and could even result in death depending on the health of your shark when you move it. Another reason is with such big tanks, the cycling process can take longer, and if you are moving your shark from a 50 to a 180, there are several factors that could be off that would affect your shark... especially because I read that the water quality has to be fairly perfect or the health of your shark will deteriorate. Also, you say you are going to put a few rocks in the tank with it... these sharks are from very rocky places, and hide within the rocks. It is best to try to recreate the natural habitat. Do you have any saltwater aquarium experience? I'm just wondering because the shark in question is recommended for expert hobbyists only.
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Phishie
Site Coordinator

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

Thanks phishie. Yes, I have some experience. I've always had freshwater (mostly discus) and had a successful saltwater setup for 3 years until an early ice storm knocked out power for two weeks. Now I have a back up generator and this well cycled 50 gal. tank. I do have two large rocks (60 lbs. total) with abundant hide spots in them and three sides of the tank painted black. I was only mentioning "few rocks" to indicate that maximum swimming area was available. My 180 is in a friend's storage facility in another state, but he will bring it up in Sept., and I can set it up and cycle it before moving the shark. That way, the move will be only a few feet into as exact water etc. as possible. In the Scott Michael book on Aquarium Sharks and Rays, he makes mention of temporarily housing pups in as small as a 20 gal. long tank which made it easier for them to find food and get established so I thought I might try this 50 for 9-12 months. I am fastidious about water changes and try to be very careful not to overfeed. My main concern is that the shark would grow too large for the 50 before I can safely move him. I also have found some info that mentions 6-12 inches of growth per year and thought I might be cutting it close, but could be OK. Does this sound feasible?

I suppose Scott Michael's reasoning sounds plausible, but you would probably be cutting it close if you did use the 50 gallon. Would your friend be able to bring you the tank any sooner or could you have it shipped if you needed it sooner?
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Phishie
Site Coordinator

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

I had to twist his arm to get it in September! It is put away in storage so I doubt I could get it any sooner. I think I may pass on the shark since I don't want to harm him in any way. I'm having enough difficulty with the ethics of the whole thing and certainly don't want to add undue risk to the equation. I just thought I'd see what people in the know thought, and if I got a good response, I'd go for it. I know I can afford his care both financially and with my time and attention, but since I own all I need to ultimately house him, it's hard to re-purchase everything now. Anyway, thanks for the advice etc. I appreciate forums like this very much.

If you want one, you could certainly get one, but I would wait until September when you get your 180 gallon tank. They are beautiful sharks.
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Phishie
Site Coordinator

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

This shark was available because a friend purchased an egg online and was sent an extra by mistake. When it hatched, he had no room for it and rather than bring it to a local shop, he offered it to me. I am not terribly comfortable with sharks in pet shops, especially since the holding/sale tanks are @ 15 gallons. This is why I thought I'd try my 50 custom, which is @ 20(w) x 38(L) x 15(h). Who knows how long it might sit in a shop etc. Anyway, thanks for all of the advice etc. It is clear that your first priority is the well being of animals, as is mine, I just thought I could provide the best option for this particular pup. I will likely pass and get a few smaller more size appropriate fish.

Sounds like a good plan.
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Phishie
Site Coordinator

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."