I just got back from one of the LFS and they had a 180 gallon tank with a few baby leopard sharks. They were smaller than I've ever seen, about 8 inches long and really slender. They are my favorite fish and always dreamed of having one. Do you think I could keep one of these 8 inchers in a 230 gallon (72x24x30) tank with a few other medium-sized aggressive fish? And if you think I can, how long do you think I could keep him and until he reaches what size?
Leopard Shark.
- Thread starter IcantTHINKofONE
- Start date
remember reading somewhere that these sharks come from and need cooler water temps then what our reefs run at. do a search on it. that is objective me talking. opinionated me wants to slap you for even thinking about it. no no no no no no no!!!!! if you can't keep an animal for the rest of it's life do not buy it and just assume you will figure out what to do later.
That's the reason I ask as there have been a couple of people who have been having trouble giving sharks away to public aquariums. I don't know what the growth rate of a properly fed leopard is but you could clearly keep an eight incher in a 230 for some time. I would get a written commitment from the NY Aquarium though before I purchased the shark.
reefsRcool":339s8xmr said:
Not trying to call you out here or anything I just wanted to offer my experience in finding these sharks in warmer waters in the wild.
We used to fish for halibut and accidently catch these all the time in a slackwater bay in California that would have really high temps. We always thought they liked the warmer water and came in during high tide to enjoy the trapped fish. I am no marine biologist but I know where I can get leopard sharks by the dozens and they are easily in water that is over 80º. Perhaps this bay is a fluke of the universe.
Let me offer my opinion, and feel free to ignore it if you want.
First, Leopards are generally colder water sharks (55-70 degrees). They are found in wamer water, and can even tolerate reef temperatures, but for short periods of time.
Second, Leopards grow to 6-8 feet in length. If the ones you saw were 8", they were truly babies. At that age they are not very aggressive and may have trouble feeding if thrown in with more mature, aggreesive fish.
Third, Leopards grow fast. In a year it will outgrow your tank. Maybe even less.
Fourth, aquariums usually do not accept 'stray' sharks and your LFS certainly will not take it back.
As a felkow shark enthusiast I would urge you not to get it. If you truly want a shark, consider a Bamboo, Cat, Coral or Epaulette; these species do not exceed 36-42" in length (usually) and are much less active then Leopards. Another common shark is the Marble, but these do not ship well at all. If you are going to consider it, make sure it is breathing regularly, moving occasionally, and eating well.
Good luck,
Eddi
First, Leopards are generally colder water sharks (55-70 degrees). They are found in wamer water, and can even tolerate reef temperatures, but for short periods of time.
Second, Leopards grow to 6-8 feet in length. If the ones you saw were 8", they were truly babies. At that age they are not very aggressive and may have trouble feeding if thrown in with more mature, aggreesive fish.
Third, Leopards grow fast. In a year it will outgrow your tank. Maybe even less.
Fourth, aquariums usually do not accept 'stray' sharks and your LFS certainly will not take it back.
As a felkow shark enthusiast I would urge you not to get it. If you truly want a shark, consider a Bamboo, Cat, Coral or Epaulette; these species do not exceed 36-42" in length (usually) and are much less active then Leopards. Another common shark is the Marble, but these do not ship well at all. If you are going to consider it, make sure it is breathing regularly, moving occasionally, and eating well.
Good luck,
Eddi
way to state some factswhat is the determining factor as to when the shark will out grow the tank? I agree that in time the shark will out grow the 230 gallon tank but to say in a year or less I don't agree. i don't say this to start a rif but i kept 2 leopards for 3 years in 230 gallon they were fed every 2 or 3 days a mixture of squid ang smelt primarily. I got rid of them when they reached about the 2 and a half feet mark. I actually had to get rid of them since I was moving. I understand your point but I also understand the desire to keep leopard sharks. I personally wouldn't bother with keeping a bamboo or Eppaulette shark since they are rather boring. I think that part of the attraction of the Leopard shark is that they are active like other larger species not capable of being kept in captivity. As for keeping them with other fish I would be very carefull as to what they may be. If I could set up my 230 gallon again I would not hesitate in getting a Leopard shark again. Good luck in whatever you decide.
If you kept two Leopards in a 230 and they seemed happy, more power to you. I would not do it. I bought a 360 gallon tank to house sharks and rays and in my research I found that a shark tank needs to be 1.5 times as deep as the total length of the animal. His tank dimensions were 72x24x30. I assume 30 was the depth of the tank which means that if you follow that rule his tank would be able to house a 12" shark. A Leopard will grow 4" in well less than year.
Do you have to follow that rule? Of course not. I can't say I always have myself. But in the case of sharks, and especially active ones like Leopards, I would. Besides, who wants to keep one of those beautiful animals for only 1 or 2 years?
My opinion only.
Eddi
Do you have to follow that rule? Of course not. I can't say I always have myself. But in the case of sharks, and especially active ones like Leopards, I would. Besides, who wants to keep one of those beautiful animals for only 1 or 2 years?
My opinion only.
Eddi
Ok let's not jump to conclusions and yell at me before you reach the end of this post lol. Would leapard sharks live in the waters of New York? I have a friend in the Bronx whose leapard shark outgrew his 150 gallon tank which is why i posted this thread in the first place. He wanted me to take it. But now that I know I can't, do you think the shark will live if thrown into the wild?
Please, please, please tell your friend not to do that under any circumstance. Leopards are not native to NY and could throw the indigenous population completely upside down. Setting a Leopard shark lose just because it has outgrown a tank is completely irresponsible.
As cruel as it may sound, it is better to euthanasie (sp?) the animal rather than setting it free where it does not belong. And, hopefully, learn from such a tough lesson and not repeat the same mistake with other animals.
Eddi
As cruel as it may sound, it is better to euthanasie (sp?) the animal rather than setting it free where it does not belong. And, hopefully, learn from such a tough lesson and not repeat the same mistake with other animals.
Eddi
I hate to say it. But...if you can not find a new home for it, it is your ethical responsibility to destroy it.
That is the reality. That is why these animals should not be kept in captivity. If they eat and grow they are doomed to die.
Besides, as a biologist, I would say that any species with the following description: "slow-growing, late-maturing shark with low productivity" should not come under pressure from the aquarium hobby, especially considering they are doomed to die.
http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/Species ... mifasciata
We should never introduce foreign fish into different habitats. The leopard shark is a eastern Pacific species. Tossing animals into any old ocean has already earned the aquarium hobby a bad reputation because it leads to the destruction of natural marine ecosystems (and the same is true of the freshwater hobby). It is, IMO, why some of these species should be banned from the hobby. I certainly would not count on a public aquarium coming to the rescue in these cases....typically they are overburdened enough.
I agree that the more sedentary smaller sharks are the only appropriate species. It seems cruel to me to want to keep a larger species because it is more active. That is exactly why they can't be kept in 99% of captive situations. I cringe every time I go into a local LFS that often carries black tips because you see them circle around and around. Nice that it entertains you, but we would probably hope to die in the same conditions.
Just me .02
That is the reality. That is why these animals should not be kept in captivity. If they eat and grow they are doomed to die.
Besides, as a biologist, I would say that any species with the following description: "slow-growing, late-maturing shark with low productivity" should not come under pressure from the aquarium hobby, especially considering they are doomed to die.
http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/Species ... mifasciata
We should never introduce foreign fish into different habitats. The leopard shark is a eastern Pacific species. Tossing animals into any old ocean has already earned the aquarium hobby a bad reputation because it leads to the destruction of natural marine ecosystems (and the same is true of the freshwater hobby). It is, IMO, why some of these species should be banned from the hobby. I certainly would not count on a public aquarium coming to the rescue in these cases....typically they are overburdened enough.
I agree that the more sedentary smaller sharks are the only appropriate species. It seems cruel to me to want to keep a larger species because it is more active. That is exactly why they can't be kept in 99% of captive situations. I cringe every time I go into a local LFS that often carries black tips because you see them circle around and around. Nice that it entertains you, but we would probably hope to die in the same conditions.
Just me .02
Please, please, please tell your friend not to do that under any circumstance. Leopards are not native to NY and could throw the indigenous population completely upside down. Setting a Leopard shark lose just because it has outgrown a tank is completely irresponsible.
As cruel as it may sound, it is better to euthanasie (sp?) the animal rather than setting it free where it does not belong. And, hopefully, learn from such a tough lesson and not repeat the same mistake with other animals.
Eddi
As cruel as it may sound, it is better to euthanasie (sp?) the animal rather than setting it free where it does not belong. And, hopefully, learn from such a tough lesson and not repeat the same mistake with other animals.
Eddi
what happened to the 8 inch long leopards you found at your LFS? Is it just me or is this getting a little ridiculous? On one of these boards someone was inquiring about keeping a hammerhead shark and the kid is 16 years old and could not be serious about keeping such a animal. Now were talking about releasing a captive lived shark into the wild. In waters which it is not native to begin with. I now understand why some messages don't get replies. I just needed to vent. I think some of these posts are a waste of space. As far as this post is concerned your probably going to end up killing the shark one way or the other which is a shame.
Wow you people judge too quickly. Why not ease up on the insults, beerbaron & goofyreefer. Im not an experienced aquarist. I just got into the hobby. Better to ask before I act no? Geez I can't even ask a question that may make a huge difference? If that's the case, forget this board!
give them a break, you asked a question you got your answer. nobody was rude to you you just don't like what was said. i may be off base but that bit about just dumping it into the harbor makes me think you are incredibly under-read and irrisponsible. i really really hope you don't abandon this board, consider us your conscience as it seems you are a bit lacking on your own
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