Banded Cat Shark - Help

[JohnM]

I got two Banded Cat Shark eggs awhile back from my LFS. They both hatched in my bigger tank but the Nitrates were too high in there so I moved them to me reef tank temp. (54 corner 0-nitrates). They are about a month old and one is doing great, very active eat good and looks good. The other is not really eating never really swam around much and just lazy oh and he looks pretty skinny compared to the other guy. Just today he started swimming sideways and upside (almost like he wanted to scratch his back). So I tried force feeding him, which worked and he ate. But trying to figure out my problem. His underside looks a very little bit red like a little hint of it not much. I also have no idea if these guys are supposed to have a lot of flow in the tank or not. Any input would be nice, or if anyone very local has a tank able to hold him and care for him.

Thanks,
JohnM

 

[JohnM]

Underside

 

[fishman1069]

Hey might of scratch himself up on the rocks. There's a couple of members here hat have alot of experience with sharks. Jarrettshark, and c. grisum. Try getting hold of them and pick their brains. Banded sharks can grow to 4' long and require a massive amount of swimming room. I wouldn't put one in anything less than a 8' long 300 gal tank. Good luck

 

[TRIGGERMAN]

First thing you should do is go on google and READ. One shark let alone TWO should definitely not be in a 54 corner! He could have gotten scratch on the rocks or stung by a coral. What size is your bigger tank? As stated they can get 4 foot long and no sharks should be in captivity in a tank under 1000 gallons because it's just cruel. I don't care what any website or pet store that is trying to sell you fish tells you. Think about if you had to live the rest of your life in a closet. I don't think you would be very happy or live too long either. This is what happens to a lot of sharks in captivity. Please do your research before purchasing any other animals and stick to smaller fish.

 

[lfsmarineguy]

First: If you are actually serious about keeping sharks (although these sound like an impulse purchase) get this book http://www.amazon.com/dp/1890087572/?tag=reefs04-20
It should answer most of your questions about what's going on and it goes into considerable depth on many species.

Second: Some juvenile sharks in captivity require force feeding after the yoke is fully absorbed, which appears to be the case in yours. Force feeding isn't easy and I don't recommend it for novices. You can severely damage a small shark just by holding them incorrectly. They also need pristine water parameters, anything less and you get the hemorrhaging you see on their undersides. You can also use their respirations/minute to determine health or stress levels. Unless you have at least a 180gal tank just for them with required filtration I would find them a new home.

 

[JohnM]

I do have a 155 and about to upgrade to a 300 gal inwall shark tank. The poor guy has changed to a lighter color now (almost all white) and he looks like he's not going to make it. If anyone is able to take care of him local you are more then welcome. I give him 2-4 days but I would like to know why. Water levels are great nothing else wrong in the tank, just out of ideas.

 

[Sharkbait420]

Try diffrent types or food. Squid and salmon work well. If you have to force feed it they make specific food for that.

 

[Sharkbait420]

How is it doing? Just to clarify you don't just force feed it anything. There is a special formula or you can blend the food very fine. You want a lot of surface area.

 

[JohnM]

The one that wasn't eating sadly didn't make it. The other one on the other hand was doing fine and I ended up giving him to a friend due to the fact that he was just getting too big for my 155 gal tank.

 

[Sharkbait420]

Its very common for them not to eat, nobody nows why. The pups just starve. Some sharks just don't have what it takes to survive.

How much and often did you feed the second one? How large was it before you gave it away? That's impressive outgrowing 155 gallons in 6 months,