cat shark question!

[VECTREX]

hi there everyone, i just joined the site tonight and hoping to find some good advices on how to go about my tank! i went today to the store where i usually buy my fish and i could not resist on buying a small brown spotted catshark about 5'' to 8'', first time i have seen a shark at the place! now, im still a beginner and i had the tank for about 3 months, it's a 55gal and i have a niger, a clownfish, a volitan lionfish, a snowflake eel, a blennie, a starfish and a couple of emerald crabs and sand bottom with about 20-25lbs of liverock! everything is a learning experience so im realistic that something might go wrong, someone might die lol! what should i expect? stupid idea to get it?

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Very bad idea, a shark of any kind is going to require a very large tank without sharp corners and a sandy bottom with very little live rock so it doesn't cut it's underbelly and get an infection and die. The Triger and the lionfish may also pick on the shark and kill it. I would bring it back if you can before it dies.

 

[chazertis]

impulse buys are almost never a good idea. i think u should take it back

 

[jhale]

hey welcome to MR!

sorry your tank is not large enough for that fish. the store never should have sold it to you. bad LFS :irked:

 

[Breezp]

ok.... im not here to bash you, only to offer advice.

Any shark will get big and deserves a big tank as Brandon stated. The niger will eventually go after the sharks eyes once it gets hungry enough, and its hard enough to feed the shark as it is.

20-25lb's of live rock is not alot for a fish only tank IMO. And be careful with the clown and the lionfish. I kept my ocellaris with a dwarf lion and even that made me kinda worried.

Also be careful with the niger and the emerald crabs.... nigers will eat them if they get hungry enough.

Thanx for joining our community, Saltwater is a trial and error learning experience. If you have common sense and ask questions and listen to our advice you will find that saltwater is not as bad as it seems.

I hope that my post did not discourage you because we have all had our own impulse buying mistakes. GOOD LUCK!!!

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

hi there everyone, i just joined the site tonight and hoping to find some good advices on how to go about my tank! i went today to the store where i usually buy my fish and i could not resist on buying a small brown spotted catshark about 5'' to 8'', first time i have seen a shark at the place! now, im still a beginner and i had the tank for about 3 months, it's a 55gal and i have a niger, a clownfish, a volitan lionfish, a snowflake eel, a blennie, a starfish and a couple of emerald crabs and sand bottom with about 20-25lbs of liverock! everything is a learning experience so im realistic that something might go wrong, someone might die lol! what should i expect? stupid idea to get it?

First, hi there.

Everyone has already mentioned that your shark will get too big for your tank. Let me tell you your original combination is also a problem in the long run. The niger will bite the fin of a lion, will make your clown fish become a scareface and when your lion is big enough and hungry enough, he will make the clown a meal too. Sometimes when they grow from babies together they can hang out together but who knows...

In choosing a tank for your shark the most important thing is the depth for it to turn around. You need a minimum of 30" for it to easily turn around.

 

[daisy]

Hey - it was great to meet you tonight, and i'm really glad you found the site.

I'm sorry i didn't come right out and say don't buy it - we all make our own choices, and Lou will take it back - I've been his customer for years. he may not give you 100% back, but he'll take it if you insist.

On the other hand, it's also possible that he'll sell you a much larger tank

Seriously, though - welcome to MR and don't get discouraged. you've bought into the greatest hobby anywhere. And now you've got a community to help!

PM me!

-daisy

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Lou at Exotic pet or Lou at Jawz?

 

[Breezp]

had to be at exotic

 

[daisy]

exotic

 

[Breezp]

lol how did we know lol I bet u payed about 150

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Exotic

Pet

 

[Breezp]

coral $60ea or 2 for $100 lol

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Free bubble algae, hair algae, aptasia and mantis shrimp.

 

[jhale]

don't get sidetracked bashing the lfs, that won't help the OP. he has a shark to return and a tanks livestock to figure out.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Jon's right sorry.

:backtotop

Getting that shark back to EPW is first priority.

 

[masterswimmer]

Welcome to MR. You made a good decision to come here. You'll get a lot of help and support. The first thing you need to master is research....BEFORE your purchase.

Read, read and read some more. When you're done reading, read more.

The advice given above is spot on.

Don't let these posts keep you away from our community. Hopefully they'll be a springboard to a successful reef.

swimmer

 

[michael stern]

Welcome neighbor.
Lot's of good advise given above.

In general, don't trust advise from any of the LFS around here. But you can trust any of the vendors here for sound advise. Just remember, take things slow.