FishProfiles.com Message Forums

Just wanted to share some pics of my lovely baby shark.
It's a banded bamboo shark, now nearly one month old, hatched in my tank! (took 5-6 weeks to hatch from when I got it from the store)
After a few days I managed to confirm that the umbilical cord had gone and tried to feed him (they can die if they're fed and still have a bit of the cord on them). But no luck for 2 days until I got some frozen octopus that I put in tongs and he went nuts for it. He now eats octopus every day, and readily feeds during the day time.
Within 10-12 seconds of frozen brineshrimp hitting the water he wakes up off the bottom of the sand in his hiding place and flies around the tank looking for food (which is normally eaten up before it reaches him!). He seems to be healthy, but has been "flashing" (like fish flicking) every now and then (but not often enough to really worry).
So far.... he's not eaten any other animals in the tank, no fish, snails, crabs or shrimp.
The cleaner shrimp have made his hiding place their cleaning station, which is pretty brave of them, and I know someone who had a banded bamboo until he was about 20" and never touched his inverts, so maybe I'll be lucky.
He has nuzzeled one of the hermits before, but quickly gave up.
He's around 12" long, and called Snoopy (you'll understand when you see the pics!)
Anyone else kept sharks before? What has your experiences been like? He's currently in a 130 gal system (60"x20"x20" with 36"x12"15" sump + mega skimmer + wet/dry + ozone and UV + nitrate reductor). I have heard that they can grow 1ft in 6-12 months depending on feeding etc. So I'm looking to get a massive tank in about a year (something like 10ft long, 2ft high, 3ft wide - I know a tank building company who are really cheap) as a permanent home for him.
If I can't rehouse him, I've found a sealife center that is willing to take him, but I'd really rather not, he's soooo sweet
in the egg (several weeks before hatching... he got bigger!):

Starting to hatch:

Still hatching!:

Yup, another hatching one:

And he's out! (note this is my old tank, he hatched the day I moved to the 5fter, hence the coarse sand).

In the new tank, lazing around on the rocks:


FOOOOODD, he goes nuts for this frozen octopus:

Just a in-tank shot of my new tank:

And lastly a not quite finished tank shot:

[/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][/font]


[span class="edited"][Edited by worley 2004-07-05 04:21][/span]

[span class="edited"][Edited by worley 2004-07-05 09:54][/span]
worley attached this image:
[img]http://www.fishprofiles.net/attachments/389505.jpg"]

I cant see the picture
Sounds cool though and wish I had the space for one

There, I fixed the photos (well apart from the uploaded one)

Very cool. Reminds me of the shark at my LFS. It is something Shark. It the same shape as yours but more pale and baige colouration

Be careful medicating the tank with your shark, I know your blue tang has ick. Sharks are very senesitive to meds.

Really the shark should probably be in a tank by itself anyways.

Perky, as Bamboo Sharks mature they lose their striking coloration and become more like what you describe.

It's cute right now, though. Like mikey said, watch out with the meds. Best case scenario would be for you to get a UV sterilizer.

--------------------------------------------
The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

he does have a UV sterilizer

Yeah, I know about meds and sharks, did lots and lots of reading first =).
I know they are sensitive to most, and any copper can kill them.
If I use any meds now it's in dips, and I avoid using copper on anything.
I have UV and ozone (which is on extremely low) in the sump which helps things a little.
And yup, they look cute now, but they turn into big grey sharks later =)
Anyone know of what is a reasonable size tank for an adult bamboo shark?
I was looking at 10-12ft long, 2ft high 3ft wide, and would probably have to have a concrete "table" made for it to sit on, and of course it would have to be "built on site"...

Hehe, I was too lazy to read that whole post...

Anyway, yeah, the tank you're planning sounds great.

--------------------------------------------
The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

I am sure the name they call it begins with an E, something like Equallete Shark. Definatley an E for the first name

Epaulette shark
http://www.amonline.net.au/fishes/fishfacts/fish/hocell.htm
Seem quite similar to the banded bamboo sharks other than colouration.
Web Wet Media have a very good section on sharks + faqs
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sharks.htm

That is the one. It is very cool I think

Oh! He's sooo cute!

My LFS has a shark excactly like yours now in there tank with around 5 eels and a few normal swimming fish (if ya get what I mean).