Black Finned Sharks (catfish)

[Morquinn]

Took a quick snap shot of my black finned sharks... their fast little buggers and are hard to get pics of cuz they dont like when your very close to the tank. Sorry, they arent too great.

 

[Cultasso]

they are beauties, how big are they

 

[Morquinn]

They are 5 inches roughly a peice... we got them at about 2 inches long.

 

[jgray152]

I got some of these before but they didn't last long. I had them in fresh water. In learning very quickly about brackish fish since LFS are no help. I didn't know these sharks were brackish fish?

 

[Morquinn]

They are supposedly brackish fish.. but ive had them in soley fresh water for almost 2 years now...after reading up on them, I believe it says they are born fresh water and than make a journey to saltier water later in life. Mine seem to be doing just fine in fresh water... although are water comes from a well and maybe there is some type of better nutrients in the water than if it was city water or something. I love them, they are one of my favorite fish that I have... well I actually like all of my fish, but they are definately conversation starters when our friends come over and visit. They also love to eat! I believe that one is male and one is female, and im just going by body structure and the dorsal fin, which one seems to have a way higher/bigger dorsal fin... also one seems to be darker black in the fin area as the other one is more of a light black/gray color. They never split up either, they are always right by each other, they are very cool, I cant wait to set up the 290 gallon for them, which is soon!

 

[kanzaris]

They are supposedly brackish fish.. but ive had them in soley fresh water for almost 2 years now...after reading up on them, I believe it says they are born fresh water and than make a journey to saltier water later in life. Mine seem to be doing just fine in fresh water... although are water comes from a well and maybe there is some type of better nutrients in the water than if it was city water or something. I love them, they are one of my favorite fish that I have... well I actually like all of my fish, but they are definately conversation starters when our friends come over and visit. They also love to eat! I believe that one is male and one is female, and im just going by body structure and the dorsal fin, which one seems to have a way higher/bigger dorsal fin... also one seems to be darker black in the fin area as the other one is more of a light black/gray color. They never split up either, they are always right by each other, they are very cool, I cant wait to set up the 290 gallon for them, which is soon!

Hi Morquinn

Your Sharks look lovely. Just one thing if you want them to have a long live I would change them to Brackish. I am only going by the advice I had on this forum by people that know what they are talking about. Mine are at a salinity of about 1.007 at the moment. I will take them up to about 1.010. My biggest Shark is about 9 inch.

Sabby

 

[Morquinn]

Thanks for the imput Sabby,

I will definately be putting some salt in there, im really unsure how much as I dont know how much they need at the moment... I cant put any in there now with the other fish that are in the tank, but when they are moved to the larger tank I will do so. I am guessing I have a little more research to do. Sorry about the ugly rocks in there, the rocks came with the tank and they will be changed out soon cuz they are an eye sore with everything else in the tank. Im only guesstimating that they are 5 inches long... I really dont know how big they are because, lets face it, its hard to measure fish really.. but im guessing 5-6 inches in length, but they do have quite the girth to them. Arent they beautiful fish, I just love them, and will do anything to keep them alive, so if that means adding salt, than so be it. Im just worried it might be a shock to them or something, I really do not want them to die. (I didnt even purchase them, my boyfriend likes to compulsive buy and brought these home and than I read up on them and was like.... uhh, oh no.)
What do you feed yours usually?

 

[kanzaris]

Thanks for the imput Sabby,

I will definately be putting some salt in there, im really unsure how much as I dont know how much they need at the moment... I cant put any in there now with the other fish that are in the tank, but when they are moved to the larger tank I will do so. I am guessing I have a little more research to do. Sorry about the ugly rocks in there, the rocks came with the tank and they will be changed out soon cuz they are an eye sore with everything else in the tank. Im only guesstimating that they are 5 inches long... I really dont know how big they are because, lets face it, its hard to measure fish really.. but im guessing 5-6 inches in length, but they do have quite the girth to them. Arent they beautiful fish, I just love them, and will do anything to keep them alive, so if that means adding salt, than so be it. Im just worried it might be a shock to them or something, I really do not want them to die. (I didnt even purchase them, my boyfriend likes to compulsive buy and brought these home and than I read up on them and was like.... uhh, oh no.)
What do you feed yours usually?

Hi again

Yes they are my favorite fish absolutely beautiful.
Will you set up a complete new tank for the sharks?
When I set up my first Brackish Tank I took filter Media from my FW Tank and only added a very small amount of salt so the filter bacteria did not die. I started of with a salinity around 1.002 -1.003. You will need to get a Hydrometer and use Marine Salt. Don't forget they also will need a big tank. Unfortunatly I see these Sharks being sold at most LFS without any sign stating that they are Brackish Fish and how big they will grow.
I feed mine on prawns, mussel, cockles and cat fish pallets.
I am sure when you are ready to set up your new tank there will be enough people on this forum to give you advice.

Sabby

 

[Morquinn]

Yeah, the new tank we are going to be putting them in is a 290Gallon. Unfortunatley our petstores we have are here locally and privately owned small petstores, they do not carry the best high quality foods, and dont even have catfish food at all. They do eat whatever we put in there for them though, like beefheart, krill, bloodworms, brineshrimp, (they even eat algea wafers that we throw in for the pleco) will eat fish flakes if they reach the bottom. Also we wont be setting up the new tank until we buy a new house... we dont want to set it up and than have to take it all down again... we are in the process of looking at houses now, so it should be fairly soon if not spring time.

 

[kanzaris]

Yeah, the new tank we are going to be putting them in is a 290Gallon. Unfortunatley our petstores we have are here locally and privately owned small petstores, they do not carry the best high quality foods, and dont even have catfish food at all. They do eat whatever we put in there for them though, like beefheart, krill, bloodworms, brineshrimp, (they even eat algea wafers that we throw in for the pleco) will eat fish flakes if they reach the bottom. Also we wont be setting up the new tank until we buy a new house... we dont want to set it up and than have to take it all down again... we are in the process of looking at houses now, so it should be fairly soon if not spring time.

Good luck with the move and tell us how it all worked out. And have to have pictures once the tank is set up.

Sabby

 

[Sp3nc3r]

how big of a tank would you need for one?

and those are very very nice fish

 

[kanzaris]

how big of a tank would you need for one?

and those are very very nice fish

Hi Guppies Everywhere

My Tank is 6 1/2 x2 x 2

Sabby