Starting a shark tank...

Hey guys...

I'm wanting to get going on a shark tank, just wondering on a type of substrate they prefer? big rocks, little rocks, gravel, sand?

Also plants... live or fake?
Rocks, caves, anything they need?

I want a little variety of sharks, but If I'm limited to 2 different types that's fine. but want to start with sharks. eventually going to upgrade to a 55 or larger soon when they get bigger.

also going to put in some barbs and maybe some cats.
I had a ciclid tank before, but I want more activity in the tank this time.

Thanks

 

hmmm well how soon is the upgrade..the thing is balas get pretty large...rainbows and red tails are known to be agreesive..and a bala would work in a 55 but most would agree that you would want bigger...rainbows balas red tails and columbian sharks are the most common I see..but columbians get huge ..balas get pretty big there self..and red tails and rainbows get about 6 inches also...idk if there are other veritys avalible to you..but A shark tank sounds cool I agree but might not be the easiest thing to do.. but wait for more reponses and don't jump into anything

 

Cody is quite correct about the sharks being aggressive. It is not easy to keep anything but balas together, (these are about the only ones that will happily co-exist, to my knowledge and experience), since rainbows and redtails will get extremely aggressive towards any other sharks, and other fish in the same tank even while they are quite small.

In my 100 gallon I have two balas and one rainbow, along with other fish, and the latter is always chasing the balas, even though they are twice it's size! I have already had to remove one of the rainbows to calm the tank down, and I don't think I am going to be able to leave the other there much longer.

In response to the capacity of the tank needed, you will be very cramped with three or four balas in a 55g, and any other species will just make it a disaster, IMO. Balas will reach around 12" as adults, and can be aggressive, rainbows and redtails slightly smaller but very aggressive, columbians reach anything up to 18", (though different descriptions give differing info), but are reputed to be peaceful. (No personal knowledge of them).

Alternatives are Black Sharks, which get to around 24" and very aggressive, Chinese HI Fin Banded Shark, 18" and peaceful, Silver Apollo Shark, Around 8" and peaceful, or Siamese Algae Eater, supposedly only growing to 3 1/2" and peaceful, but they haven't met mine! (One is now 4 1/2" and quite aggressive towards the others, the second is only 4" and quite meek in comparison!)

The best combination I can see for this tank would be 2 balas, (24") a couple of siamese algae eaters, (8"), and maybe 2 silver apollos, (16"), but research would be the key here. I have no personal experience with the SA, and I would advise caution with the SAE's too. It would certainly be a very lively tank, but very short on colour, since they are all silver/black!

 

Hmm I tried a shark tank once. Huge mistake. I had 3 Iridescent sharks, 3 Columbians,and an Albino Redtail. That redtail was a big jerk. I still have the Iridescents but I don't recommend them. They get REALLY HUGE. DON"T BUY THEM. As for the Columbians I would also say DO NOT. For one they are the type of fish that begins life in fresh water and moves to brackish and even fully marine as they develop. They also get very big, not as big as an Ir Shark but huge none the less. Lastly, they have a poisonous spine on their dorsal fin that can be painfull if stuck. I have never kept Balas so I can't give any advice on them. Personally I'd advize against a "Shark" tank unless you intend on much larger than 55 Gallons. I have my Ir Sharks in a 150 with some others and it is barely enough room for them. It's not so much the amount of water either. The thing is they spook really easily and bash themselves in to the sides of the tank. I have heard of Adult Irs breaking tank walls. (They can reach up to 4 feet long in the wild. I have seen them) Anyway, if you still want sharks go with Balas and plan for a much larger tank.

 

WOW, didnt know all that, but thank you. I was seeing this as I looked further into it. I'm probably most going to just put in a single or 2 of the same shark, maybe a rainbow or whatever you guys recomend, some barbs and a few tetras... Like I said I just want movement, I had cichlids and they just kinda hung out.

Thanks, let me know what you think of this newer plan.

 

You can put ONE red-tailed shark in. Set up a cave and plants for him at one end of the tank, and make sure you have lots of plants and rocks to break up his view to the other end of the tank so he won't claim the whole tank.

They are territorial and can be very pugnacious defending that territory, but if kept with fast, tough tank mates like tiger barbs or large tetras may be okay. They do get more aggressive as they age and any shy, slow tank mates will be harassed relentlessly often to the point of death.

Mine used to sit in his cave and come flying out when other fish passed by, like some old grump chasing kids off his property.

 

Mine used to sit in his cave and come flying out when other fish passed by, like some old grump chasing kids off his property.

Best description for that behavior I've ever heard. That's great.

 

a bala would be the most peacefull....most people I have talked to have nothing good to say about redtails and rainbows