Shark egg care....please help.

[ReefLogic]

So....as I am sure this is said over and over....especially by me....I think I made a bad decision. I ordered an egg....was supposed to be a marble cat but when it arrived I quickly noticed it is a banded bamboo.....anyway.....this wasn't supposed to arrive for a month...but it shipped the next week....very bad for timing.

Please advise if you see anything I post to be inaccurate.

I currently only have a 60g cube.....WAY to small. But I am working, and have been, on moving into a 180 to 240...the later being the better choice. I was only looking at these 2 tanks because the marble only gets 24 inches by my research where the bamboo gets like 30 and requires a 300g. Please let me know if this isn't accurate.

When I ordered the egg I also put in a line for a queen trigger and titan trigger.....can you tell I am shooting for aggression? Anyway after some research I quickly cancelled the 2 triggers....as they will pick on the shark....from what I read anyway.

I placed the egg in my sandbed as that is where I was told to put it....but again after reading I am finding that suspending it is a better idea.....how do I do this? I read that low to medium flow is ideal....but does lighting have any affect? I don't want to fry the guy....I have a 250w DE HQI which only sits around 4 inches off the surface.....how far down do I suspend it?

What signs am I looking for, for an unhappy or unhealthy shark?

The shark only appears to be about 2 to 3 inches max with a decent sized yoke....maybe the size of a ping pong ball....how long do I have before this badboy hatches? after cancelling the triggers I added another egg...in hopes of getting the opposite sex...the dude told me he could tell sex and he SAYS he sent me a male.....unfortunately I cannot cancel the eggs once ordered and paid for....which these are....is there any issues with having both a bamboo and a marble?

I am hoping that this thread gets updated frequently as I will be posting as many updates and questions as I can. Pic's will be coming tonight along with a video. The shark is active in the egg.

Current tank mates are:
Lawnmower blenny
Melanarus Wrasse
Hippo Tang
Snowflake eel
Serpant Starfish
Skunk cleaner shrimp
hermits
snails
Niger Trigger....little worried about this one...but also my favorite fish in the tank....pre-shark that is.

do you forsee any issues with the above listed?


I have read to avoid Lionfish but I dont understand why....the puffers and aggressive triggers I read will pick at the eyes of the shark so those are understood....but is the niger in the same boat?

lastly, I recently stubbled upon wetwebmedia and having just started doing alot of reading....please understand....this wasn't supposed to arrive for a month so I assumed I had time to do plenty of reading BEFORE this arrived. I would prefer NOT to be picked apart here as I am already aware that I am up poopy creek right now being in such a small tank and all....but take comfort in knowing that I am doing as much research as I can and fully intend on accomidating these.

 

[ReefLogic]

just checked the email and the second one coming is a Coral Cat Shark....max length 24 inches....much better.

pic and video of the egg....sorry with my phone....will be getting better vid and pic's tomorrow.

and video....sorry for audioswap....in law kept talking

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJgJb2P7kpA

 

[badger126]

Congrats on the shark! Don't know anything about them or I'd help ya, but I wish you the best!

 

[ReefLogic]

Thanks....I am sure I will need it. Dang thing showed up WAY too early....I am now rushing to get the larger tank set up before he hatches.

 

[lvsuckerfish]

when he hatches how big will it be I am guessing not 24ins right off the get go

 

[ReefLogic]

nah....like 4 to 6 inches....on hatch day.

 

[Myteemouse]

I know their are a few psas members who went to the last meeting about banded bamboo sharks. maybe just maybe they learned something and they can post up on here

 

[TheKraken]

I know their are a few psas members who went to the last meeting about banded bamboo sharks. maybe just maybe they learned something and they can post up on here

Yeah, that was a good talk at the Rainforest Cafe with Steve. In the back he has 2 fresh hatch and 20+ eggs. The tank is separate from the system and the eggs are held with a suction cup clip. The growth rate is 1"/month or so.

 

[user 2204]

Depending on the type of Bamboo shark it is it can grow up to 37-40" in length. Bamboo sharks will grow to approximately 20" in the first year and within 3 years will be approximately 30-32" in length.

There are several different types of bamboo sharks available in the aquarium trade and they are,

Marbled Bamboo Sharks
Banded Bamboo Sharks
Grey Bamboo Sharks

Common name: Brown-banded Bamboo
Scientific Name: Chiloscyllium punctatum

There are other Bamboo sharks as well.

* White-spotted Bamboo (Chiloscyllium plagiosum) grows to 37" long. Often sold as the Marbled Bamboo Cat Shark, or sometimes even just called the Marbled Cat Shark.

* The Australian Marbled Catshark (Atelomycterus macleayi) grows to 24" long. Like wise they are also called the Marbled Cat Shark.

 

[user 2204]

Here is some basic information I have on types of sharks for the home aquarist. Remember that sharks should only be cared for by someone with years of experience and all sharks will bite you if given the opportunity.

What shark is best for me?

This question is asked all the time by aquarists who want sharks. But the answer is not quite as simple as people think. There are many different types of sharks (around 357 to be exact). There are a few different families of sharks that will suit the beginning shark keeper. I will describe the two best shark families; these are what many experts consider the heartiest sharks. Yes, there are many other fine types of sharks, but these are the easiest to keep and are readily available to the common saltwater enthusiast.

Family Hemiscylliidae– Bamboo & Epaulette

These sharks fair well in a tank between 220-350 gallons. This family has 3 species that show up in U.S. aquarium shops on a regular basis. These sharks stay small - their average maximum length is about 41.7 inches. One advantage of Family Hemiscylliidae is that they spent most of their time in tide pools, where space is limited and water is warm. For this family, water temperature should be between 72-82 degrees F.

“Best” sharks in Family Hemiscylliidae:
1. White-Spotted Bamboo Shark- max. length is 37 inches. Minimum tank size is 220 gallons.
2. Brownbanded Bamboo Shark– max. length is 40.6 inches. Minimum tank size is 220 gallons.
3. Epaulette Shark– max. length is 41.7 inches. Minimum tank size is 260 gallons.

Family Heterodontidae-Bullhead Sharks

This family of shark gets its name from the “hump” or ridges on the top of its head. All members of this family have spines on their dorsal fin. Many aquarists find these sharks faces “cute”. This fondness for the shark creates a bond between owner and fish. I have seen expert aquarists feed these animals by hand and even stroke their sides. I do not recommend this practice for any new shark keepers. This species of shark may be “cute” looking but never the less it IS a natural predator. This isn’t a dog or cat, it’s a fish with jaws that can crush sea urchins. A finger would be like a toothpick. Of all the members of this family, the Horn Shark (Heterodontus francisci) is the most commonly encountered in U.S. fish shops. The average length of sharks in this family is rather large. Yes, the Horn Shark does stay at a nice 40 inches or so, but the Crested Port Jackson Shark can reach 3.5 feet while the Port Jackson Shark has been reported at lengths of 5.5 feet!!

Sharks in the family Heterodontidae need a tank that stays cool, between 57– 70 degrees F.

“Best” shark in Family Heterodontidae
1. Horn Shark– Maximum length is 46.2 inches. Minimum tank size is 280 gallons.

So there you have it. Hope this helps a little. And I know is more information than anyone really is asking for. Sorry for the lengthy post, I just started typing away and then realized Ihow much I typed.

 

[krisfal]

I attended the talk up at Rainforest cafe on the sharks. Very interesting! They had a marbled cat shark, very beautiful.

Anyway like you said it is going to hatch out in the 4-6 inch range and expected growth is 1" or so a month, so while you need a bigger tank I don't feel that is your biggest concern immediately (you should be okay for a few months) The biggest concern is going to be feeding the baby, and getting it the proper vitamins. The biologist at the rainforest cafe was feeding squid, which he was buying from a local grocery store but was putting some type of vitamin/mineral paste on it for the babies, and for the adults he was also putting a capsule into the squid. He was hand feeding to make sure they each got this vitamin/mineral. He stressed the importance of this as this vitamin/mineral contained something that was depleted from the sharks as they digested the fish flesh.

Wish I had some specific names for what he was adding, but since I wasn't planning on raising sharks (though seeing the marbled shark got me thinking . . .) I did not take notes. Maybe send Workaholic a PM (president of PSAS) and see if he could give you contact information for the biologist from the rainforest cafe, I think you could get a lot of good info from him, he was very passionate about his sharks and the breeding program.

 

[returnofsid]

Wetwebmedia is a great resource, for people considering keeping sharks. Here's a great article, to start with. You'll notice a lot of it was copy/pasted, here, by spllbnd2.

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sharkslvgrm.htm


You mention that you're hoping to upgrade to a tank, in the range of 180--240. I hate to say it, but I don't think even a 240 is going to be large enough for either of your sharks, alone, much less for 2 sharks. I'd highly recommend you consider upgrading to something in the 800+ gallon range, or consider rehoming your shark eggs.

 

[jrgilles]

Thought I posted, but don't see my reply here now.

Here is what I remember:

Hang the eggs. They should have flow, but nothing turbulant that disrupts them.

Well airated water, but make sure the bubbles aren't close to the egg, because they will stick to the egg and cause it to float.

Check every day to make sure the egg is hanging properly, and use a flashlight to look inside the egg and make sure it is all good inside.

Be very careful not to break the yolk, as it it very fragile.

Thats about all I remember

 

[krisfal]

Thought I posted, but don't see my reply here now.

Here is what I remember:

Hang the eggs. They should have flow, but nothing turbulant that disrupts them.

Well airated water, but make sure the bubbles aren't close to the egg, because they will stick to the egg and cause it to float.

Check every day to make sure the egg is hanging properly, and use a flashlight to look inside the egg and make sure it is all good inside.

Be very careful not to break the yolk, as it it very fragile.

Thats about all I remember

I remember he said to hang them as you would have less chance of fungus getting started on the egg, he lost one of his original set of eggs due to fungus

 

[Shadow Lu]

I hatched an egg about a year or so ago. I had my egg attached to an algae clip about halfway up the front of my tank. I had low flow and would make sure that there would be no air bubbles inside the egg itself. I would check on the egg daily slowly watching the shark grow. At night with a flashlight was when I was able to see movement inside the egg sac and eventually a tear in the sac will start forming. The tear gets larger and the shark will come out when ready. When he hatched he was about 7" long and was a bright black and white. I read that a new shark can be extremely hard to get eating, but I really didn't have any problems with it. After a couple of days he starting to eat chopped up squid from a feeding tong that I use. They do become quite hefty eaters though.

Right now I have a Coral Cat Shark that is around 24" long and he can eat probably 1/4 of the larger bags of Silversides in one feeding. They also get pretty strong and will move rocks around. I gave up on organizing my rocks and just leave them where my shark puts them.

Forget to mention that I used to own a Niger Trigger and they did not get along together. He never went for the eyes but would go after the fins of the shark. I currently have the Coral Cat Shark, 2 Puffers, Snowflake Eel and a Tesselata Eel and they all play nice together.

I have a FOWLR 212g peninsula tank with a 88g sump with around 65lbs of rock and no sand.

 

[user 2204]

Wetwebmedia is a great resource, for people considering keeping sharks. Here's a great article, to start with. You'll notice a lot of it was copy/pasted, here, by spllbnd2.

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sharkslvgrm.htm


You mention that you're hoping to upgrade to a tank, in the range of 180--240. I hate to say it, but I don't think even a 240 is going to be large enough for either of your sharks, alone, much less for 2 sharks. I'd highly recommend you consider upgrading to something in the 800+ gallon range, or consider rehoming your shark eggs.

Tushay. Didn't receive the information from WW. But it is a good source from information. I mostly find out dated info there most of the time. Just my opinion, no worries.

Anyways, I too agree that for 2 sharks a 240 will not be large enough to accommodate the both. The larger the tank the more comfortable the sharks will feel and the more comfortable any other tank mates will feel.

Cheers,
Alex

 

[user 2204]

Current tank mates are:
Lawnmower blenny
Melanarus Wrasse
Hippo Tang
Snowflake eel
Serpant Starfish
Skunk cleaner shrimp
hermits
snails
Niger Trigger....little worried about this one...but also my favorite fish in the tank....pre-shark that is.

do you forsee any issues with the above listed?


I have read to avoid Lionfish but I dont understand why....the puffers and aggressive triggers I read will pick at the eyes of the shark so those are understood....but is the niger in the same boat?

You may have a problems with any inverts in the same aquarium as the sharks, as the sharks may feed on them. Also any smaller fish may become prey to the sharks if they're hungery enough. Sharks are not know for being a reef safe fish.

Problem with lionfish in the same tank as the sharks is that the lionfish can sting and injure the sharks.

 

[user 2204]

Here is another good source of some information,

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/bbambooshark/bbambooshark.html

 

[ReefLogic]

no no....you guys are taking it wrong....I am upgrading to a 240 for temp housing until my custom built is complete....I am thinking 6x6x20 with rounded corners.

Would that be good?

 

[ReefLogic]

ok.....read through the posts and here is my update.

I really wanted a coral cat but can't find one. I do have the banded bamboo shark egg and a marble cat shark. I ordered the Mazuri shark tablets for suppliment and am having the new tank built....wont be ready for a few months though....I have decided that I am only going to start with a 150.....sorry but it is only running me $200 and allows me to get the custom built done quicker with less upfront expense.

Custom tank is going to be 6 feet x 4 or 6 feet (haven't decided) x 2 feet tall. I am going with a dual filtration tank below....one will have macro, skimmer, UV sterilizer....the other will have Live rock, another skimmer, carbon, and a few others....there will be ball valves all over the place so I can isolate any given tank should I have an issue with one of em.