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ok i'm still looking at stocking options for my 150g tank. and one of the ones i was looking at today are the Iridescent Sharks. Whats the largest anybodys seen? the profile here says 51 inches. 2 LFS i talked with today said largest they seen was between 18-24 inches. how about yous?


Fish tanks are an expensive addiction

Irr. Sharks are actually a species of catfish. 51 inches sounds about right. They are tank busters in every sense of the word. Not only will they grow length wise, but also will become HUGE in their girth - they're not very suitable for the home aquarium. A 150 gallon tank is still pretty large. If you're looking for a large schooling fish you may be able to work a few tinfoil barbs or even bala sharks.

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Back in the saddle!

Hey there Monkeyboy
I asked a similar question about this time last year, and the concensus was 50-60 inches. At the time someone even found a wonderful photo to post with it, showing the true size that they can get ie. don't go there, they look so sweet and cute, but uh they will grow

[link=Ah Ha, I knew if I looked I could find the post]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/General%20Freshwater/54135.html" style="COLOR: #FF1493[/link]

Also here is the picture that was sent to me about the cute, little guy



houston attached this image:


"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

my guy is over 23 inches, and about 6 years old.

many many years. good makes up my mind

Fish tanks are an expensive addiction

Yep, they get very long and wide. These sharks definitely should not be kept in aquariums at all, especially considering that they're schooling and (as another poster said in an iridescent shark thread past) are migratory as well. I hate that these fish are commonly sold, considering that it would take a lot of time and money to construct an enclosure suitable for them. No one who buys iridescent sharks will be able to give them good care for their entire lives. I don't even know if a public aquarium would be able to provide decent long-term housing for a school.

"good makes up my mind"

So you decided not to buy any?

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

actually, i'm not sure lol. i want something of the shark type. but cant find anything that wont get over 40 inches, that will max out at around 24

Fish tanks are an expensive addiction

Another bad thing about these fish, is that they are very active swimmers and constantly run into the walls of the tank. Many will develope sores on their noses, that can become infected and kill the fish. Not something I would want to show as my center piece fish in a tank.

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There is always a bigger fish...

Seen a few dozen at 20"-30"....takes about a year to 14 months to hit 10"-14", under good conditions.

why not go for a school of Bala sharks? They are more ative and interesting than Iridescent sharks, and they won't outgrow your tank. Keeping the irridescent shark in an aquarium is juts plain cruel and will stunt their growth.

I'd go with the Balas too, my SIL had a school of them and they were really cool to watch.

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I used to be Snow White, but I drifted.
~ Mae West

I would go with the Balas as well. They also have a more "sharklike" appearance than the Iridescent Sharks, and max out at about 12-14" long. A school of them is an impressive sight.

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I'm not your neighbor, you Bakersfield trash.

a copper nosed minnows is good, shark like, but without the size.