Sharks are interesting creatures with diverse personalities. People usually get scared due to sharks and consider them dangerous. However, that is not the case in reality. Sharks are less dangerous as compared to other fish in the sea. So, can you put a shark in a fish tank? What are some tiny sharks for fish tanks?
More importantly, are aquarium sharks aggressive?
Let’s also find out about ‘cleaner animals’ for fish tanks!
Sharks are an exciting group of fish. As a group of animals, they belong to the biological taxonomic class called Chondrichthyes or cartilaginous fish. According to researchers, more than 400 species of sharks exist. All of these sharks exist in different shapes and sizes.
Multiple assumptions about sharks are factually incorrect. People think sharks are incompatible with living around humans or that humans can’t tame them. These assumptions are also incorrect.
Can you put a shark in a fish tank?
However, marine hobbyists have tried to find different ways of ensuring that they capture sharks inside their aquariums.
Sharks require a great amount of attention. Not just attention; you need to be meticulous about everything you do with them. You need to treat sharks more delicately than most of your family members. Yes, we are not even joking.
You need to be critical about taking good care of your sharks.
Criteria for opting for a Shark as a Pet
There are three basic criteria for selecting the best shark for your aquarium. These criteria make it easier for you to make a coherent decision. The criteria for selecting the best possible shark are the following:
Shark Species Hardiness
You need to figure out what species of shark will adapt to a captive environment more easily. Furthermore, you need to know the amount of maintenance needed for the sharks. These measures are significant for you to know before you make any decision.
Don’t opt for a shark if it needs too much maintenance because you might be unable to provide too much effort with minimal resources — act according to your budget.
Shark Availability
This criterion describes the difficulty level of obtaining that shark. Remember that it is determined by the shark’s ability to breed in captivity. Some sharks do not tend to breed in captivity, whereas some of them do it.
For example
Sharks like Swellshark are found on the west coast of the US. Therefore, you will see them displayed in the aquariums around those areas.
On the contrary, you will not see Swellshark in aquariums in other parts of the US.
Shark Compatibility
This criterion indicates whether a shark is aggressive towards other animals or not.
Compatible sharks are relatively safer for other aquatic life. Unfortunately, some sharks are deemed incompatible with other animals. Therefore, such sharks should either be put alone in aquariums, or they should be captured.
Tiny Sharks For Fish Tanks
Sharks come in different sizes ranging from 2 feet to 40 feet. Here are some of the sharks that are compatible with fish tanks.
Marble Catshark
Marble Catshark is the tiniest shark available at the size of 2 feet. It is probably one of the most popular sharks in home aquariums.
Although these species are usually endemic, you can still find them almost worldwide. Endemic means that they are only found in a certain area.
The life of these sharks is dependent on their living conditions. They have cylindrical-shaped bodies with a short narrow heads with cat-like eyes.
Their sizes, as mentioned already, is around 2 foot. However, their size could be smaller or larger due to other aquatic or physiological circumstances.
Rainbow Shark
They are sometimes also referred to as Ruby Sharks. They have fiery red tail which stands out amongst all sharks. However, they also have another distinct difference. These fish possess bright red fins.
When you first glance at these sharks, you might confuse them with another species. You might be surprised to hear that they are sharks. Their fins are semi-transparent; thus, you can see rays as well. The sharks have black bodies giving them an elegant look.
Rainbow Sharks are not recommended for beginners. They can be aggressive at times; therefore, beginners might not be able to handle the tantrums of these sharks. They can be likely to attack other animals, so ensure that you put them in a fish tank in a safer way.
Iridescent Shark
These sharks are native to Southeast Asia. They can live for more than 20 years if given a good environment.
It is recommended that only veterans should adopt these sharks in their aquariums.
Don’t get confused because of their name. Adult Iridescent sharks are typically solid dark gray. On the contrary, the young Iridescent shark has shiny dark skin which might shine during light.
They have a small size as compared to most sharks. They might range from a size of 3-4 feet. You must ensure that the fish tank is at least 250-300 gallons big if you want to adopt these sharks.
Silver Apollo Shark
Most freshwater sharks are bottom dwellers. However, these sharks are different. Silver Apollo Sharks love to spend their time on the surface. They are highly active fish that keeps swimming on the top of the waterline. They typically come down in the water only when searching for prey.
They love living in groups. Therefore, you should put them in fish tanks in large groups. The fish will stay together in the fish tank and protect each other against the other species in the fish tank.
Unlike other sharks, you can put these sharks in a 120-gallon fish tank. Thus, we can say that the difficulty level of managing these sharks is intermediate. We might not suggest this shark for beginners, but with little experience, you can handle them.
Are aquarium sharks aggressive?
The answer to this question varies from species to species. Shark species have different temperaments from one another. We will classify aquarium sharks into two types.
Non-Aggressive Sharks
These are relatively non-aggressive aquarium sharks; hence you can easily put them in fish tanks. The following are the most prominent non-aggressive sharks.
Bamboo shark
Bamboo sharks, also known as gray bamboo sharks or spotted bamboo sharks, are generally considered docile and non-aggressive. They are a small species of shark that can reach a maximum length of around 4 feet. They are typically found in shallow coastal waters and feed on small fish and invertebrates.
They are considered a hardy species that is relatively easy to keep in captivity, making them a popular choice for home aquariums. However, they are relatively slow-moving and may not be as active as other shark species.
Nurse shark
Nurse sharks are also considered to be docile and non-aggressive. They are a bottom-dwelling species that can reach a maximum length of around 14 feet. They are typically found in shallow coastal waters and feed on various small fish, crustaceans, and mollusks.
They have a slow metabolism and are relatively inactive, which makes them a suitable species for home aquariums. However, they can be large and require a significant amount of space.
Aggressive Sharks
These are sharks that are relatively aggressive as compared to other aquarium sharks. You need to be vigilant before adopting anyone as your pet.
Bull Shark
Bull sharks are known to be more aggressive than Bamboo and Nurse sharks. They are a large species that can reach a maximum length of around 11 feet. They are typically found in coastal waters, and they are known to be a highly adaptable species that can tolerate a wide range of salinities and temperatures.
They are also known to be opportunistic predators that will eat almost anything they can catch, including fish, crustaceans, and other sharks. Due to their aggressive nature and size, they are not recommended for home aquariums.
Tiger shark
Tiger sharks are also considered to be more aggressive than Bamboo and Nurse sharks. They are a large species that can reach a maximum length of around 18 feet. They are typically found in warm coastal waters and are highly adaptable species that can tolerate various salinities and temperatures.
They are also known to be opportunistic predators that will eat almost anything they can catch, including fish, crustaceans, and other sharks. Due to their aggressive nature and size, they are not recommended for home aquariums.
Cleaner Animals for Fish Tanks
Several animals are considered suitable for keeping in a fish tank, depending on the size and type of tank, the specific species of fish, and other inhabitants. We’ve gathered some fish that are relatively clean for our tanks. These fish require a minimum amount of maintenance. Some popular options include:
Snails
They are relatively low-maintenance and can help keep the tank clean by consuming algae and other debris.
Shrimp
They are also low-maintenance and can help keep the tank clean by consuming algae. Some species of shrimp can also be kept in community tanks with other types of fish. They are not dangerous for other fish in the tank, hence a suitable choice for you.
Crabs
Freshwater crabs like the red claw crab and fiddler crab are also popular options in freshwater fish tanks. They are known to be good scavengers and can help keep the tank clean.
It is important to note that while these animals may be suitable for a fish tank, it is important to research the specific species you are interested in to ensure that they are compatible with your tank and the other inhabitants. However, these fish are appropriate for fish tanks but do not put them amongst large and dangerous fish. Doing so will only put the lives of these fish in danger.
Conclusion
Sharks have varying characteristics. Hence, you must be careful while selecting the perfect shark for your fish tank. Additionally, you need to be mindful of the features of your shark before putting it with other fish. You neither want your shark to terrorize other fish nor want the shark to get scared by other fish.
Keeping everything in mind, we must select a shark according to our ease and comfort. Fish tanks can also come in different shapes and sizes, and it’s best to buy a small one if you are inexperienced. You must only pet small and non-aggressive sharks if you are just starting.
Go for the other sharks only if you think you are a veteran.
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