I just set up a 55 gallon tank. It is still sitting empty. I was thinking about getting Blue Shark for the tank. A fish place near me has one and it is like $30. its about 4 inches long and on the tank it says it bites. Well i was wondering if anyone can give me more info on this shark and what else could i put in the tank with it? Thanks!!! *thumbsupsmiley*
Can anyone give me info on Blue Shark???
- Thread starter JD
- Start date
If it's aggressive enough to bite your hand...I doubt there's much you could put in with it.
Could you give us a physical description? "Blue Shark" sounds like a trade name made up by the store owner or his distributer, and it could refer to any number of fish. The only Blue Shark I've ever heard of is the large one that swims in the ocean and could eat you for lunch...
Josh
Could you give us a physical description? "Blue Shark" sounds like a trade name made up by the store owner or his distributer, and it could refer to any number of fish. The only Blue Shark I've ever heard of is the large one that swims in the ocean and could eat you for lunch...
Josh
I contacted the LFS and they said its called a Blue Shark, but derives from a Whale Shark, I really didnt understand him at all, but he also said they are seasonal. He also stated that the yare very aggressive, and that they should be left alone in a tank by themselves. But if anyone has anymore information I would appreciate it a lot. Thanks.
Ah..hah. hem
The only animal I know of that goes by the common name of "Blue Shark" is the creature known to us Elasmobranch buffs as -Prionace glauca- a member of the Carcharhinidae family, or the requiem sharks, of which the most well known member, the Bull Shark -Caracharhinus leucas- is the top aggressive shark for the most unprovoked attacks on humans (The Nurse Shark is known for the most provoked attacks due to human divers and tourist messing with 'em). Whale sharks, while also Elasmobranchs, belongs to its own family known as Rhincodontidae. They're plankton eaters.
You would easily reconize a Blue Shark. They're the first sharks on the bait in all the Discovery Channel Shark Week Specials. They're very slender sharks with long, narrow snouts. They're the smallest ones on the chum usually. They have a worldwide distribution.
*steps upon soapbox* If this creature is truely a true shark, and not a freshwater fish like a "Bala shark" or "Red tailed black shark" neither of which are true cartilaginous fishes, DO NOT BE TEMPTED TO BUY IT! You'll be obtaining a creature that grows to at least 20ft and will take your arm off. Sharks belong in the wild and not in the hands of any aquarium hobbiest, I don't care how "professional" they are. Zoos and Aquariums actually employee shark professionals and experts to take care of their creatures. These facilities are the only places that have the skills and space to house these creatures.
*steps down* I have never heard of any fish in the trade known as a "blue shark." It could be some name the LFS owner came up with for an exotic fish just introduced to the hobby. Sounds like the LFS doesn't know what they have. Especially that snowball about being derived from the whale shark *snork*. Besides, certain sharks are illegal to have in captivity without permits, so I would definatly call your local DEC and blow the whistle. Go back and get us some pictures of this creature, now I'm truely curious.
~~Colesea
The only animal I know of that goes by the common name of "Blue Shark" is the creature known to us Elasmobranch buffs as -Prionace glauca- a member of the Carcharhinidae family, or the requiem sharks, of which the most well known member, the Bull Shark -Caracharhinus leucas- is the top aggressive shark for the most unprovoked attacks on humans (The Nurse Shark is known for the most provoked attacks due to human divers and tourist messing with 'em). Whale sharks, while also Elasmobranchs, belongs to its own family known as Rhincodontidae. They're plankton eaters.
You would easily reconize a Blue Shark. They're the first sharks on the bait in all the Discovery Channel Shark Week Specials. They're very slender sharks with long, narrow snouts. They're the smallest ones on the chum usually. They have a worldwide distribution.
*steps upon soapbox* If this creature is truely a true shark, and not a freshwater fish like a "Bala shark" or "Red tailed black shark" neither of which are true cartilaginous fishes, DO NOT BE TEMPTED TO BUY IT! You'll be obtaining a creature that grows to at least 20ft and will take your arm off. Sharks belong in the wild and not in the hands of any aquarium hobbiest, I don't care how "professional" they are. Zoos and Aquariums actually employee shark professionals and experts to take care of their creatures. These facilities are the only places that have the skills and space to house these creatures.
*steps down* I have never heard of any fish in the trade known as a "blue shark." It could be some name the LFS owner came up with for an exotic fish just introduced to the hobby. Sounds like the LFS doesn't know what they have. Especially that snowball about being derived from the whale shark *snork*. Besides, certain sharks are illegal to have in captivity without permits, so I would definatly call your local DEC and blow the whistle. Go back and get us some pictures of this creature, now I'm truely curious.
~~Colesea
I think there is a so-called "blue shark" thats freshwater. I think its a South American fish I saw at the local fish wholesale warehouse. I has a rounded-bullet shaped front nose, swimming with its head high, tail low, constantly circling the tank and with its mouth open. They were 5-7 inches long when I saw them 3-4 weeks ago. I can find out more tomorrow what they exactly were. But they did look like mini-sharks, and my friend did say they were sharks, but not the saltwater type. And I don't think a 4 inch saltwater blue shark really looks like a saltwater shark at that size. ;D
eseow, you are right on target. The way you described it is exactly the same as I saw. It swims with his head high, and his tail low, and facial features are as u explained. I am not sure of the name of it, thats what my LFS called a blue shark. It really does look like a real shark, but only minature. Does anyone now know what I have been talking about? If so, could i get more info please. Thanks to all!!!
Is the fish laterally compressed (flat in a vertical direction) or dorsal-ventral depressed (flat like a catfish)?
I know there is a whole family of weakly electrical fish from Africa and South America that are being called by strange trade names. There is the "baby whale" which has the round, cigar or bullet shape you are describing but is usually brown, the "baby dolphin" a similar fish with a beak, the "elephant nose fish" which I'm sure all of us have seen at some point in the LFS, and of course the "Black Ghost Knife." These are honest freshwater fish from blackwater, mucky environs that don't have good eyesight so they use a weak electric field to find prey in the silt, which is primarly worms. Many of them are still very new to the trade and are primarily wild caught. I don't think all species have even been classified yet.
So far as I know though, all true sharks are saltwater sharks. Even though there are freshwater rays, there is no such thing as a freshwater cartalagionous shark that I am aware of. Sharks are known to go far upriver into freshwater (as in the case of bull sharks found 300miles up the Mississippi), but they spend much of their primarily life in the ocean. Being in true fresh water for an extended period of time is very stressful to many species of shark, especially your oceanic species, even under proper acclimation. These creatures cannot maintain the bouancy they need, nor the proper osmotic pressure in their blood, which may explain the awkward swimming style. True sharks swim on a level plane, they have to, to take advantage of the lift provided by their pectorals.
~~Colesea
I know there is a whole family of weakly electrical fish from Africa and South America that are being called by strange trade names. There is the "baby whale" which has the round, cigar or bullet shape you are describing but is usually brown, the "baby dolphin" a similar fish with a beak, the "elephant nose fish" which I'm sure all of us have seen at some point in the LFS, and of course the "Black Ghost Knife." These are honest freshwater fish from blackwater, mucky environs that don't have good eyesight so they use a weak electric field to find prey in the silt, which is primarly worms. Many of them are still very new to the trade and are primarily wild caught. I don't think all species have even been classified yet.
So far as I know though, all true sharks are saltwater sharks. Even though there are freshwater rays, there is no such thing as a freshwater cartalagionous shark that I am aware of. Sharks are known to go far upriver into freshwater (as in the case of bull sharks found 300miles up the Mississippi), but they spend much of their primarily life in the ocean. Being in true fresh water for an extended period of time is very stressful to many species of shark, especially your oceanic species, even under proper acclimation. These creatures cannot maintain the bouancy they need, nor the proper osmotic pressure in their blood, which may explain the awkward swimming style. True sharks swim on a level plane, they have to, to take advantage of the lift provided by their pectorals.
~~Colesea
Ok, found out what this "Blue Shark" is today. One thing I know, I don't want it! >
Basically told it was a parasitic fish from South America. It preys on larger fish by burrowing onto them, and living off the host. Not my cup-of-tea as a pet. My friend told me not to get, which I told him I wasn't just someone asking. It would be like keeping a leech as a pet if you ask me. But, if you get it, you can only keep it with other "Blue Sharks" due to feeding requirements, or small fish such as guppies for it to feed off of. *thumbsupsmiley*
Basically told it was a parasitic fish from South America. It preys on larger fish by burrowing onto them, and living off the host. Not my cup-of-tea as a pet. My friend told me not to get, which I told him I wasn't just someone asking. It would be like keeping a leech as a pet if you ask me. But, if you get it, you can only keep it with other "Blue Sharks" due to feeding requirements, or small fish such as guppies for it to feed off of. *thumbsupsmiley*Hey, leechs make great pets. Very undemanding. You can feed a leech by filling up a sausage casing with blood and putting it in water. Once at the shop, I pulled a leach off my painted turtle. The leech was the -exact- same pattern and colors as the flesh of the painted turtle. I don't even know how long it had been living on the turtle since it was up inside the crowl of the neck.
~~Colesea
~~Colesea