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My husband and I have fallen in love with a creature we have never seen before, an Epaulette Shark.
We were in a lfs buying a new 3ft tank and on display was this shark. I think he was performing for us as he stood up on his anal fins and walked and used his fins near his gills to wave. I am not exaggerating, this shark can walk along the aquarium floor like a dog and stand up and beg.

On doing a google search, doctors are investigating how this shark can live without breathing.
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/innews/sharktrick2003.htm

If you google up Epaulette shark there are some nice images including one showing the shark "standing" up.

No we didn't buy the shark as I think he is much better hands of the aquarium keeper, but we'll visit him often.

Epaulette Images

Here is the Google Images link to plenty of images of that interesting shark.
BG Trust you to find something diferent, are you planning something special for the shark?

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

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Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

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Epaulettes are one of the better sharks for captivity due to not only their small size but the fact that they are one of the benthic sharks, along with other types such as bamboos and cat sharks. These types of sharks are relatively inactive and can breathe without constantly swimming like the pelagic types, meaning they need less space.

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

Oh, I almost forgot. Have you seen the Evan Almighty movie where everytime Evan walked past the fishtank the fish followed him?
The lfs had a huge tank full of cichlid type salt water fish and every time the owner walked past the fish would swarm enmass after him.
It didn't work when I walked past.

LoL, they know the hand that feeds them. Most of my fish freak out since they're shy catfish types, but my 'skipper goes nuts when I come up to the tank. I have to be careful or she'll jump clear out of the tank some day, lol.

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

they look amazingly cool.. they are SW right? i am really curiuos to get one.. how large do they get and how large of a tank do they need?


\\\\\\\"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure\\\\\\\"

Yup, as a true shark it's a SW beast. Epaulette's get about 3.5' max, but usually top out a little over 3'. I've seen a rather reliable website (Advanced Aquarist Online Mag) give 180 gallons as an appropriate tank size, which IMO is surprisingly low. Think about a redtail catfish, they get about the same length. You need a rather large set-up. Luckily, as I mentioned, they are inactive, so they don't need too much tank space. I am of the belief, however, that a fish should at least be able to turn around easily enough, which a 180 gallon wouldn't be able to provide for the shark's entire life.

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

yes i understand... well i was thinking they stayed a bit smaller and i was actually rather excited and interested, but they are too big for me! they sound like amazing specimens though! would be cool to have one with say some triggers...

\\\\\\\"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure\\\\\\\"

Just guessing but I think the tank was 6ft x 3ft x 4ft.
It had coral caves at the back which were kind of wall like and were around 2 1/2 ft high.
In the caves were various eel like things.
The shark seemed to more walk and wriggle rather than swim and it seemed to be a careful calculated movement.
Whether this was due to lack of tank space or it's just a careful fish, I don't really know.

There was a shipment of large black ghost knife fish in.
Each has its own 2ft tank and most just hovered around in overhanging caves, but one was playing by swimming around and around the sponge filter. He seemed to line himself up and try to do the lap faster each time. Intriguing creatures.

I understand what you mean, We have a black ghost knife fish and he is absoultely beautiful, although you dont see much of him because he likes to hide, he is very graceful when he does come out. You should go back and buy your shark.