Banded cat shark... cont.   9//15/07
Hello crew,
It's me again. My banded cat shark hatched today. He is 7 inches long. I am currently housing him in a 300 gallon tank. Live sand substrate, canister filter, queen turbo skimmer, BakPak 2 skimmer, Skilter 250, 4 powerheads, and a 10 pound chunk of live rock. Is this too much filtration, or not enough.
<Not enough reading. RMF>

Banded Cat Shark Egg... floating...    8/24/07
Hello. I just got my banded cat shark egg. I did the acclimation process correctly. When I got the egg in my tank, it was floating. After reading stuff on your site I realized floating wasn't a good thing. I can see the shark moving and breathing in the egg. Later that night I realized the egg sank to the bottom and again I realized that it sitting on the bottom wasn't good because it shouldn't be sitting on the sandy ground. I was wondering if I should make some thing to keep it suspended in the water or if floating or sinking to the bottom was ok. What would you do?
<I would tether it down... with a bit of sewing thread or low-weight fishing line... looped over it, rock. Bob Fenner>

Banded Cat Shark, young, fdg.  – 08/17/07
I have a banded cat shark still in its egg. I want to know what to feed it when its born? Any stuff that I can buy at a local grocery store or does it have to be live white shrimp or brine shrimp or certain live shrimp that has to be kept alive. Can I just get it small bites of normal shrimp, clams, squid, and mussels? Please give me any other information that you would find helpful for a first time banded cat shark owner.
<Please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sharkeggfaqs.htm
and the linked files above. BobF>

Shark egg – 08/17/07
Hello I have 300 gal tank with a 5" niger trigger a 7" panther grouper and a banded cat shark egg. My question is will either fish bother my hatchling
<The Trigger, too likely>
or should I move him to my 20g long hospital tank until he/she hatches and gains strength. Please help I couldn't find my answer on your website.
<I would move this small shark when it hatches out... and screen it in the meanwhile. Bob Fenner>

Banded cat shark question, juv. fdg.   7/13/07
Guys, I KNOW I have seen this on one FAQ, but I have read bunches of them and cannot find it again. Bob answered some questions before for me, about the baby shark, initially in the 80 gallon with the Passer, dogface & yellow tang. We got our 200 gal in, got it set up. I used all new substrate, replacing gravel with mostly fine substrate, and moved my filter (& active media) and all the live rock at once. (Of course there is a skimmer, too) It's been two weeks and all has been well. Three nights ago, the shark ate an entire cube of 'Shark Formula' which I cut into small pieces. I watched him eat one at a time, consuming them all. The next night he did not feed, then last night he showed interest, nosed some pieces, and ate maybe two small ones. The other pieces he hovered around, and tried to mouth them, but without the typical aggression or desire. I saw on FAQ somewhere about another shark doing this. Since he is now approx 6 weeks old, and now 8 inches (I'd say he's added an inch to two inches in length), I'm wondering what his feeding routine should be. My opinion is that he isn't too hungry after eating so much.
<Yes>
His normal meal had been almost half a cube prior to that hungry night. Is this what you would think? Also, is this guy ready to scale back to feeding every other day. I've read all the feeding FAQ, and it says newborns should be fed every day, whereas older ones every couple of days, but not really sure when this might take place. Oh, and water quality is fine, 0 ppm of ammonia & nitrites, Nitrates less than 5 ppm, salinity is 1.021, PH is 8.2, and temp can run from 79 at night to 82 during the day. Once again, thank you.
Thomas Roach
<I would offer some food every other day. And add vitamins to such... as proscribed on WWM. BobF>

Cat Shark juv. fdg. questions – 06/08/07
Hey, guys, I browsed through the FAQ on feeding sharks, saw a lot about sharks not eating & such, but nothing really about this one... My hatchling is 2 weeks old, has started feeding readily on cocktail shrimp soaked in Zoe. Question is, how much should I feed him? Currently, he eats one per day. So is that enough or too much? I've heard conflicting reports, feed them daily, every three days, etc. Oh, btw, he's a banded cat shark! :)
Thanks again!!!
Thomas
<Need more than this nutritionally... and the bio-assay of a non-concave "tummy" is useful here. BobF>

Re: Juv. shark fdg.   6/9/07
Hey, Bob F! (what's the F for?)
<My family name; Fenner>
Thanks for the reply on the feeding of the baby banded cat. I'm gonna be out of town Mon afternoon thru Saturday morning (Cozumel, snorkeling, etc.), and the Mom-in-law will be fish & daughter sitting. That was the reason for asking feeding frequency. She's gonna do it, I'm thinking if I feed him Monday, she could do it Wednesday & poss. Friday, but if she needs it every day I'll walk her through it. I want her in the tank as little as possible, and thought about not feeding the 4 days, but since it's still a 'hatchling' I want to make sure he gets what he needs.
<Mmm... I would likely just risk once...>
Also, the shrimp with Zoe was a stark, the little guy is now also eating the "Shark Formula", not a whole cube, I cut it into 8 pieces and feed him 4, after a cocktail shrimp he'll usually eat two pieces, then the puffer cleans up the rest. Now as far as the 'full belly' observation, my tetra's in the old lady's tank will eat and eat and eat, but we only feed once a day, not ten times. Don't want to overfeed, ya know :-)
Thanks, Mr. F!!!
Thomas
<Do read re Mazuri.com's vitamins for sharks. RMF>

Shark Egg Questions  - 05/02/07
Hey there!
<What's up?>
Its me again!
<Should I be concerned?>
Wondering if my shark egg should look fatter as the baby inside grows?
<Well considering the animal inside will go from barely visible (a few millimeters) to almost 7 to 8 inches in length...yes the egg will slightly expand and the animal will become more pressed for space; constricted as time elapses.>
I think it looks thicker. I currently have my horn shark egg in my chilled 55 gal
<Very happy to hear that "chilled" word....very good.>
until it gets to a good size so he or she can go into my 400.
<Wow...I'm liking you even more...you actually did your homework.>
The egg is gently placed in a safe spot and has current flowing towards it to provide aeration. It is expected to hatch around sep. Any other tips?
<Sounds like you're on the right track.>
I can't candle it! Its too hard to see!
<Flashlight at night!... Adam J.>

Port Jackson Shark (tropical in this case... Australia) Reproduction – 4/29/07
Hello,
<Hi there!>
I have 3 Port Jackson sharks in a tank together.
<Neat, I’m guessing/hoping that it’s a very large tank!>
I would like to know if they can be sexed..
<If they’re mature, no problem. If they’re young, it might be more difficult. Mature males have obvious “claspers” located at their pelvic region. See photo at this link:
http://www.marinethemes.com/aasearchfiles/Horn%20Sharks/pages/S04A02%2054639.html >
...and if they will breed in a tank.
<I have heard of these breeding in captivity, but I’m guessing it involved very, very, large systems. I’d think that it would be unlikely in a home aquarium situation. These fish take a long time to reach sexual maturity, around 8 to 10 yrs for males and 11 to 14 for females. Many, simply don’t live that long. Given the right conditions and care, though, it's always a possibility!>  
Regards,
Francis
<Take care and good luck! -Lynn>

Bristleworm and Cat Shark Issues – 4/17/07
Hello.
<Hi there!>
We recently hatched a small banded cat-shark in our 90gallon tank. (Don't worry, when he grows he will be destined for a much larger 240gallon)
<Mmmm, hopefully that will be soon as these sharks grow very quickly in their first year. I wouldn’t have recommended anything smaller than a 125g to start - for the shark alone!>
Last night I had the flashlight out watching him feed on ghost shrimp, as his appetite has been hit or miss in the first few weeks.
<Not unusual in a very young shark. Am concerned though, about its well being in a crowded community tank. Sharks, especially just out of the case, are vulnerable and in need of some quiet and care. A situation such as this could be very stressful/detrimental. Please watch for aggression (picking/nipping) from other fish, along with any signs of decline.>  
While doing this, I noticed a few large orange puffs appear in the tank. I watched, and found some large (~3inch) bristle worms would stick one end in the air and "discharge" a milky orange looking cloud. I managed to film one of them doing this.
<Neat! By the way, thank you for sharing this experience with us. It helps us all!>
Then I noticed several of the smaller ones doing it on a much smaller scale. The entire tank became as cloudy for a bit.  Now, my questions are
1) What were they doing?
<Likely releasing gametes/spawning.>
2) Was it harmful to the tank?
<No, just added to the nutrient load.>
3) Our population seems to have really exploded since our arrow head crab died.
<Yes, rapid population increase likely due to a nutrient problem, combined with the loss of a predator. Decrease/export nutrients and the bristleworm population will fall on its own, to more normal levels. Please see this link regarding nutrient control: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/nutrientcontrol.htm.>
I am hesitant to get another, as we have a fire shrimp and a red striped shrimp that I am worried would be no match for an arrow head.
<Given the chance, the shark will eat these first, then go after any slow fish you have (mandarin).>  
What would you recommend as a population controller in our tank?
<(See above) Unfortunately, your tank is more than overcrowded, which is putting a strain on your system’s ability to process the bio load (and it's only going to get worse as the shark grows). It’s also not an ideal situation for the inhabitants. Please read these links for more information on shark keeping and compatibility:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sharkcompfaqs.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sharkslvgrm.htm>
FYI, in addition to the shrimp and cat-shark we have the following: 2 blue damsels, 2 silver damsels a coral beauty, and angel, a yellow tang, a large clown fish, and a mandarin goby.
Todd Aston
<Take care and good luck! -Lynn>

Sexing Bamboo Cat Shark   3/31/07
Hi, read through the site to try and figure out how to sex the shark and got some useful info.
<...?>
Nevertheless im
<im?>
about to buy a second juvenile in an effort to breed them one day down the road and was really hoping that maybe there's a picture of these claspers which would be very helpful in determining what it is.
<All over the net... see fishbase.org...>
  Also my current one is about 10" long and im not sure if that's big enough to see claspers.
<Is...>
Also as a side note this shark lives with two eels and really likes to swim into their caves and usually gets stuck lucky for him or her i check each morning.
<Need to widen these....>
Built him his own swim through cave and he still burrowed under the heaviest rock in the tank.  My main question is if its capable of getting into a hole is it as a rule always able to get out and is just chilling when i wake up or should i continue to dig him out and rearrange until one day he gives up or just cant get in.  Thanks for the past replies and hopefully this one.
<Can't tell from here... but if it were me/mine... See above. Sharks, cartilaginous fishes have/"do" internal fertilization... Males' claspers are obvious, extensions on their pelvic fins... Bob Fenner>

Please help, baby shark sick  3/28/07
Please please help me, my baby black banded shark is sick.  Water quality is normal for his system (a shared system of approx. 280 gallons)
<Shared with?>
which is ammonia
0, nitrites 0, nitrates 12, and ph 8.1.  He is only in a thirty gallon tank right now,
<.... way too small...>
perhaps it is time to move him up to a 55
<Also way too small>
since he is maybe three months old (hatched in wholesaler's tanks, a miracle because the conditions were AWFUL!  It was one of those "poor baby, I will save you" deals, I know, I know, this is totally the wrong thing to do) I plan to graduate him to a 240 gallon, then probably close to a thousand gallons, maybe low and long. Anyway, this will not happen at all if I cannot diagnose his problem!  He would not eat today, although he has been eating very well.
<?>
  However, the only food I could get him to accept was silversides,
<...>
he will only nip at krill but will not eat.  I ordered some shark formula, but when I went to try to feed him some soaked in a little silverside juice, he was uninterested.  He wouldn't even eat the silversides, usually he gobbles the little shedded pieces up so fast his belly gets a little big.  (His belly appears wrinkled right now, I'm assuming this is why)  Then I noticed he appeared red and blotchy, and hurried to your forum right away to read up.  I saw you told someone to not feed silversides,
<Not exclusively>
but couldn't find where it said why or what you should feed, whole food wise.
<Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/marine/fishes/index.htm
The tray on Sharks...>
Upon closer inspection, he has a small deep red area under his chin, a few millimeters, very small.  His head appears pinkish, and he is swimming irregularly.
<Very bad signs>
His substrate is CaribSea Special Grade, and he has been on it for a few months with no problem.
Please help me, why is my baby sick?
<In an inappropriate environment, malnourished... Period>
  How can I help him?  I am a LFS owner, yet I love my animals very much,
<Mmm, no... or not at least by my definition... IF you did care, you would take the time, invest the resources to know what the animals in your care required, and provide them... As a painful example... Our U.S. president claims he is a Christian... but in actual fact he is a liar, thief and murderer... Any of which exclude his Christianity>
they are not just money to me.....I am in tears about this, and I really, really, need your help.  I have cared for these sharks before, at other stores, and have never seen this reddening of the skin get this bad.
<Move this animal to a better world... NOW>
The water was changed a few days ago, the normal amount, maybe 15%.  Everything in his system has been kept quite consistent, although I did add a 80watt UV Sterilizer about a week ago.
<This won't save this animal>
He already has a skimmer, media, liverock in other tanks in his system, I just don't know what else to do for him.  Ground probe?
<No>
Dip of some kind?  I am not going to just throw him in something without knowing it is what he needs, so please please help me diagnose this problem!
Grace
<Move it, and READ... Bob Fenner>

Shark Eggs 3/28/07
Hey guys! I just received my first horn shark egg and was wondering how I can candle it? Its hard to see inside because of all the curves. Also Where should the baby be located inside the egg? Middle, bottom, top? My system is chilled and the egg is about 2 months old. Im expecting it to hatch in late or early September. Is this right?
<Do read FAQ's here and linked files above.  Should find what you are looking for here.  http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sharkeggfaqs.htm> <<Mmm, no, not likely... the young should be visible... toward the middle of the egg... a flashlight held behind should do. RMF>>
Thanks so much.
<You're welcome.  James (Salty Dog)>

Horn Shark Egg  3/19/07
Hey crew! I was wondering what i need to do in order to tell if a horn shark egg had a baby inside
<"Candle it"... strong source light behind... looking>
as well as what to do to hatch it?
<Suitable habitat... chilled, rock et all to hang in, circulation/aeration>
I plan on placing it in my 55 gallon
<Too small for long>
until it gets a little bigger and can safely go into a larger tank. It will eventually go into my chilled 400 gallon system.
<Much better>
I know these sharks
<Is this Heterodontus francisci? There are a number of sharks with this common name, some semi-tropical... but not the one from the Californias>
prefer cooler water so no worries (all my tanks have chillers).
I have been looking for a horn shark but this is my first encounter with anyone who has an egg and I've hatched a few bamboo eggs but would like to
ask the experts and see what they have to say. I'm getting it from a local guy and he doesn't know too much! Thanks for all the help!
<You've seen my survey article here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/fishes/index.htm
Bob Fenner>

Re: Horn Shark Egg  - 03/20/07  
Yes it is Heterodontus francisci. It is from California. Now is there supposed to be movement in the egg at all times?
<No, only intermittently>
As I am told it is in the first trimester, there is not movement yet and it barley developed eyes. Is this correct?
<Yes... barely>
I do not want to purchase anything dead! Also how long until I can place him with other sharks biggest being 18" and the other being 12"?
<Depends on the other species... The principal predators of cartilaginous fishes... are sharks>
Both are docile but the 12" one is a little mean. The tank it will be in when it gets big enough is 8ft long, 3 and a half feet wide, and 2 feet tall.
<Mmm, wish this were wider...>
  As of right now I will hatch it in my 55 gallon. Should I purchase?
<What?>
Also it is said the egg is about 2 months old and still sort of soft. Is it supposed to be this way?
<Mmm, no... all of the "Mermaid's Purses" of this species I have encountered have been chitonous tough...>
Also would it survive shipping?
<They are shipped... yes>
What should it be shipped like so it can make it? what temp should the egg be keep around? Thanks
<Best to read on WWM re shipping marine livestock... Insulated, light-tight boxes, double bagged, oxygenated... Much to state. Bob Fenner>

Shark egg yolk shape  3/16/2007
Hi, i have just purchased a shark egg from my LFS and i candled it and seems to look like a blob of dark stuff inside, no way resembling a round yolk, is this normal for the stage of development??? I have read all the faq's available!! The LFS had this egg for about a day.  Is it normal to look like a nonsymmetrical blob???
  Thanks
<Not atypical... this food mass is quite malleable... Bob Fenner>

Re: Shark egg – 03/17/07
Hi again,
  I did take the egg back to my LFS where purchased and they examined it and it was indeed deceased.  I had them cut it open and it was a rancid smelling yellowish green goo.  I am glad i took it back and didn't waste my time.  thanks for the quick response!
<Interesting. Thank you for this input; will post/share. Bob Fenner>

Newborn Banded Catshark   3/14/07
Hi, my banded catshark hatched last night. I have him in a nylon mesh basket (for baby fish) sunk in the bottom of the tank. I have him in the basket because I have a 6 inch Niger Triggerfish, and a Porcupine Fish. The Porcupine is a big baby, but the Triggerfish will bother new things in the tank for a week or so.
<Mmm... the shark may damage itself on this basket... and moving about is important for its respiration and digestion... It needs to be elsewhere or the other fishes...>
The baby is about 7 inches long and the basket is only 6 x 8. The guy I bought the egg from told me to leave him in a container for a couple of weeks after he hatched,
<Poor advice>
and  that I could even put him in a hamster ball in the bottom of my tank.
<...>
Should I leave him in a container of some sort to protect him from the Triggerfish,  or should I just release him?
<... no>
I have caves built and he started chewing on  a piece of Krill today. I just want what's best for him, and I couldn't find this question in the archives.
Thanks for your time, Chuck........
Chuck McFarland
<Please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sharkeggfaqs.htm
and the linked files above... And consider running down a copy of Scott Michael's (either edition) work on captive Chondrichthyous fishes. Bob Fenner>

Re: Newborn Banded Catshark ) 3/14/07
Hi Bob,
<Chuck>
Thanks for the email. I didn't get a response right away,
<Real computer/Net troubles today...>
so I went ahead and released him. He lays around in the caves a lot and ate some krill.
I've been keeping the lights off quite a bit, my triggerfish likes to hide when it's dark. The triggerfish is always territorial for a few days, then he mellows out.
<Do NOT take your eyes off of these fishes...>
I already have Scott Michael's Sharks and Rays and his book on marine fish. The Sharks and Rays book doesn't really get into detail about raising the Catshark. I've been having more luck just researching on the internet.
<Thank you for this input>
I'll check on Amazon for his other book on captive fish.
<Mmm, really Scotter has nothing besides the one work pertinent to sharks>
Thanks for your help, I've been reading your forums a lot, I enjoy it.
Talk to you later, Chuck....
<Any way to put a divider twixt the triggers and this shark? Really. BobF>

Re: Newborn Banded Catshark ) 3/14/07
Thanks Bob,
<Welcome Chuck>
So far so good. I kind of figured the nylon cage was a bad idea. If a shark needs a large aquarium, a baby needs adequate space. That's why I went ahead and released him. I'll probably go ahead and make a partition until I get the other tank I have cycled.
<Ah, good>
I really appreciate the email, and reading your advice in the forum has helped me a lot more than the Sharks and Rays book. It's a great book for general knowledge, but this forum is way more help on certain types of sharks. Keep up the good work.
Thanks, Chuck...
<Will endeavor to do so. Thank you for your kind, encouraging words. Bob Fenner>

Baby shark food question   3/4/07
Hello,
I'm the engineer on a split hull hopper dredge doing beach replenishment off of Morehead City, NC. Yesterday we sucked up a sand shark? dogfish? about 30" long.
<Neat!>
After passing threw our dredge pumps, she was very dead. To find what she had been eating, we cut her open and while inside, noticed that there was an embryo inside with the nutrient sack attached below its mouth.
The embryo was noticeably trying to swim so we put it into a bucket of salt water and put the bucket in the engine room with the hopes that the warmer ambient temperature would keep the little fella warm enough. Today, 24 hours later, after changing his water out every few hours, he's still swimming around and appears to be trying to lose the sack. Does it detach naturally?
<Yes... this group/family of sharks has the young feed w/o a "placental" like attachment... on the "egg yolk" as you describe, develop internally and pass out of their mothers when developed sufficiently to feed externally>
If this occurs, what should we try to feed it?
<Not likely for a few days... a good idea to offer meaty food items though... No shells at this point, but fish flesh, molluscs, shrimps...>
We have various types of fish and shrimp in the galley, but we are also going to the dock tomorrow. Thanks for your help!
Sincerely,
Brian LeBlanc
<Mmm, had a good friend in college named Tom LeBlanc... Oh, please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sharkeggfaqs.htm
and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>

Live sand and bamboo shark, juv., sys.  1/29/07
Hello all,
Ya'll have the best site possible, many thanks.
I have a question concerning my  wanting to purchasing of a bamboo shark egg and place it in my 320 gal that I am currently setting up (custom job turned bad, but worked out for the better I guess).  I have read that elasmobranchs can play host to larva isopods within their gill slits as well copepod infestation.
<Mmm... not starting as eggs as far as I'm aware>
I have searched your website and really haven't found any true data.  But my question is if they are so prone to this infection, should I use live sand, because more than likely it will have such pod life within it?
<All substrates become "live" to a degree... in the presence of live rock... but not with these parasites>
I have not purchased the egg yet ( I haven't placed the substrate in the aquarium for that matter either and there is no livestock in it also) I would like to hear what you have to say first.
Thanks,
Michael
<I would not be concerned with the potential for isopod infestation here, nor with the LS. Bob Fenner>

Bamboo Shark Egg 1/22/07
Hi
<Hello Michelle>
I've had my egg for about 3 weeks now when I handle it I can only see a yolk. No movement. Is it dead?
<Don't know, can't see it.  Read the FAQ's on this subject.  You more than likely will find your answer here.  http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sharkeggfaqs.htm>
Thanks
<You're welcome.  James (Salty Dog)>
Michelle

Shark egg... health   12/14/06
Good afternoon, crew.
I have just the one relatively simple question. Recently i got a Brownbanded bamboo shark egg from my dealer and when I put it in my shark tank, I observed it's breathing was quite noticeable, the gills pulsing regularly.
Yet now, when i "candle" the egg case, I am unable to see much gill movement, just a little twitch, at regular intervals, but very slight.
<This rate is variable... sometimes related to water temperature, light/ing... other times seemingly unrelated to anything external>
The day I got the egg, I'd added an extra powerful air pump on the far corner of the tank (with this plus my skimmer, I feel good about oxygen levels), and have the egg in a area of high water flow. Water conditions are near perfect.
Is there anything to be worried about?
<Mmm, not much that one can actually do anything about... other than provide propitious circumstances... good water quality, a dearth of metabolite concentration... Which it appears you are doing and are well-aware of>
I appreciate your time, and your website is truly a gem. thanks.
15 year old Dinesh, from Singapore.
<Life to you my friend. Bob Fenner>

Summat about a shark egg    11/24/06
Hey there.... Back  again with another couple of Q's. umm 1st shark egg with like a slit in the  bottom.. good or bad? and schooling Raccoon Butterfly fish, any info I just got  one with a 4in clown tang and yellow wrasse. any help is great.
Thanks Morgan
<... the slit may be of natural progression... You have read the FAQs files on juvenile sharks on WWM? RMF>