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i have this irrdence(cant spell it) shark that is about 1.5 feet. now it shares a tank with a 1.4 fopot clown knife and a 1 foot black ghost. the shark has been causeing me problems for years but we did nothing. it frecks out alot but this time he killed my black ghost. i am guessing that when he frecked yesterday when we haerd two loud crashes in the tank that he frecked out and must of hit the black ghost and that must have killed him. i don't know what to do now. we have had the black ghost for about 7 years now and the shark for 9 years together and they haven't had a problem b4 but i think i should do something so that the shark doesn't kill anything else by accident.

How big is your tank?

As you found out, iridescent sharks are easily spooked. When they get scared, they tend to tear around in a panic. A large specimen can really do some damage, and even break the tank glass! This only happens with very large fish, though.

No matter how large your tank is, I suggest getting rid of the clown knife and iridescent shark. Both of these fish can grow to over three feet long, and aren't really suited for life in a fish tank. If you wanted to keep them, you would need an enclosure the size of a small swimming pool!

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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."

IME, irridescent sharks don't stop growing. Ever. Like...ever!

And they are one of the most skittish fish I've had experience with.

One time while I was at work, I was scraping the irridescent sharks tank, and one got so freaked it jumped right and hit me in the face, and landed in the rock shelf. Both of us made a fine recovery, but that's just to prove how jumpy they are.

So sorry for your loss...I hope you either bring him somewhere that he can have enough space to live, or upgrade your tank.

Be careful with him, the chance of breaking heaters, etc. is high with a shark like that.

Good Luck

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

irridescent sharks, pacus, clown knife fish etc. should not be as readily available as they are. these are best suited in public aquaria unless you have a several hundred to thousand gallon tank/heated pond to put them in.

bettachris, I agree with sirbooks. it would really be best for you to take back the irridescent shark and clown knife.

just to add, the reason your irridescent shark is so easily spooked is because they're a shoaling fish. they do best in groups of 6 or more. if kept in smaller groups or alone they are a very skittish fish.

Last edited by jason_r_s at 22-Jan-2005 14:03