Ir. Shark?!

[mantis]

I'm quite sad that my Iridescent Shark is so shy, running away at the slightest tank noise, playing dead, and mainly hiding behind plants at the bottom. Am I doing something wrong? All the other fish in the tank are active. My other question is, they say a fish grows with the amount of room it has to swim in, so does that mean since this shark pretty much doesn't really enjoy swimming around the tank it'll stay the same size or will it still grow to that big size I hear people speak of? The only other fish I have that likes to hang at the bottom is the Catfish Shark and I was thinking maybe the Ir. Shark hides because of the Catfish because at first they used to be buddies hanging out together, now they don't hang out at all.

2 Zebra Danios
2 Blue Danios
Beta
Catfish Shark
Iridescent Shark
Khullii Loach

 

[mantis]

I have seen once the Catfish Shark go up to the Ir. Shark when it ws behind the trees and bump into it causing the Ir.Shark to run away only to return within seconds.

 

[WonderFish]

I'm not sure about the irredescent sharks behavior.  Most fish who ask like that are species that like company of their own kind, but I don't  know if this goes for this species. Look up some information on it.

But the only grows to the size of the tank rule is a bunch of bull.  Well, actually maybe it's true, it'll grow to the size of the tank until its head touches one end and it's tail the other.  

Really it all depends on your water quality.  The bigger the fish the more it detriments the water.   If the fish doesn't get good water quality as well as more food as a big fish needs, it's growth will probably be stunted, and well it wont grow to it's full size.  Big fish rarely do in home aquariums unless you provide it with a very large aquarium as well as all of its needs.

Also, you only have one kuhli loach?  Or do you have more?  These fish are much more interesting in a group.  They're funny in fact.

Sorry I can't help you with the shark, I don't know much about this fish, or do I care to.  Good luck!!

 

[mantis]

Thanks for the reply to the post. I'll change the filter as I think it's that time as well as getting another snail, i think the one I had in there lived it's life and the khullii loach had fun eating it's eggs. Yeah I only have one khulli loach, I haven't been able to find another at any of the pet stores I have checked out. But I will surely get one or two more.
Thanks again

 

[colesea]

That is the way the irridescent shark acts.  If you go to PlanetCatFish.com and look of irridescent shark, you'll see that these fish actually grow up to approximately three feet full adult size.  They're a food-fish. The irridescent sharks you see in the pet trade are actually overflow from the industrial food-fish farming.  They're also a schooling fish, which is reccommended to be kept in numbers of at least six or more.

There are methods of stunting the growth of a fish not reccommended be taken by an amature, but the size of the tank is definately not one of them.  If a fish, like the irredescent shark, ultimately grows to 3+ft in size, you can bet it is quite a long lived fish.  Most irredescent sharks in home aquariums die at about 8" and  5-6 years because the tank stunts them or they are improperly taken care of.  The largest Irredescent shark I ever saw was 12" and had grown up in someone's 75gallon tank.
~~Colesea

 

[catfishmike]

not an aqarium fish,very jumpy,they don't like light,need to live in large schools,known to ram themselves into the side of the tank.this fish should stay at home in it's natural waters

 

[mantis]

Thanks for the replies. I was reading the profiles and heard that it's a great fish to have, so I went out and got one. True on the always likes to hide part. My tank is definately not big enough for 6 or more of them. I'm going to just get 1 more and pass them on when they get bigger or get 2 and take out some of my other fish. It's also time for me to get a bigger tank. Thanks again

 

[mantis]

I went out and bought another Iridescent Shark, so that now there are 2 of them. Couldn't really get anymore as that would overcrowd my tank. The Catfish Shark is even more aggressive towards them, when he is bored he goes to their hideout and chases them around. He's become so dominant of the tank that he has kicked even the Kuhlii Loach out of his cave hideout and patrols the front of it making sure no fish goes near. Do I part with this Catfish that has managed to tame the newly introduced hyper Ir. Shark who now hides with the other one? Should I create another hideout or feed more?

 

[mantis]

Does the salt during water changes have anything to do with this behavior? Strangely the Catfish Shark is afraid or just doesn't bother the betta when it goes inside it's hideout.

 

[WonderFish]

Just wondering, but why did you go and buy more sharks if you are only going to get rid of them once they get too big?  I don't know, it just seems like a waste of money, and fish,to me.   Oh, and why do you add salt to your water?  Seems to me you don't really need it for the fish that you have.  Just a thought.

 

[mantis]

I went out and got another because they are a schooling fish and now that there are 2, the Catfish shark isn't soo much of a big boss as he was before. As for when they get too big, if I have money for a bigger tank I will, but if I don't, my local pet store will give me store credit for them while selling them at some high price and I can then either start with new Ir. Sharks or try out some other fish. The amount in store credit I'll get will be more than I paid for them, so no loss in money there. I love the fish, but at some point I'd like to try out some others as well.
I was told that with Catfish and during water changes Aquarium Salt should be added.