Help needed - home for 20" leopard shark...

[Anonymous]

Yes, I know about shark-keeping in an aquarium, especially this shark species.

However, he was bought almost 4 years ago by the LFS I work at, and I want to turn his tank into our main reef display/retail tank, but can't until we get him a home.

I've tried everything possible locally. Zoos, wealthy hobbiests, etc., and have even done a bit of remote searching on where he can go.

I'm asking here as a last resort. He is currently in a 180 gallon tank, and needs a much more comfortable place to live. He is very healthy, and very active.

We would like some money for him, but it would be far below what a 20" leopard shark usually goes for.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Peace,

Chip

 

[Dewman]

That's a shame

Just out of curiosity, what does a 20" leopard shark eat?

 

[speck]

Hey Marillion

Try Mr. 4000 http://www.mr4000.com/
And, if you have't already, try public or commercial aquariuns

Good luck :!:

 

[ColdZero1]

I've got the perfect solution. Flush it down the toilet bowl and let it live with all the other aligators that kids put down there. What about releasing it into the wild? Where do these things come from, maybe you could find somebody down where they come from who would be willing to release it back into the ocean. lol, but wasn't there a story about how they made a big deal about releasing a seal back into the ocean, only to have a killer whale eat it a few minutes after they let it go? I can't remember. so maybe it wouldn't be such a hot idea, but it may be something to look into.

 

[RicardoMiozzo]

Take your vacations in Los Angeles. In your way to S Fransciso - a very nice trip - you can release him back in the sea, from where he should have never been take out.

 

[dragon0121]

People should leave it right where it is!!!! The LFS is paying the penalty, can't set up a reef tank, because they wanted to sell an unsuitable species. This is what people keep talking about when they say to leave unsuitable species of fish and corals at the LFS. :twisted:

 

[Anonymous]

Hey Marillion

if you have't already, try public or commercial aquariuns

Good luck :!:

Public Aquaria do not take in strays.

 

[Anemone]

Folks, releasing a captive fish back into the wild is a bad idea, and a possible ecological disaster waiting to happen. The possibility of introducing a non-native parasite where ever the shark is released is very real - I'm sure the shark has been "chummy" (been in systems) with fish and inverts from areas far away from where it might be released.

Don't do it!!!! :!:

 

[Chucker]

:idea: Folks, a little constructive help would much more likely be appreciated by the poster. I'm sure it will benefit the shark more than the "why is that thing in a tank!?" style posts.

 

[Dewman]

I am still curious about what is has been fed?
This may not be constructive, but it's interesting : )

 

[dizzy]

What size tank is the Leopard Shark used too? Twenty inches sounds small for a 4-year specimen [/quote]

 

[Anonymous]

Why don't you all get a 300 gallon plastic stock tank, they are pretty cheap, and set it up in the back with a little sand and plumb it into whatever system was filtering it's tank before?

At 20 inches, he could probably chill out in there for along time until a suitable home could be found.

I suggest this because unfortunatly I think that it will be along time before a good home can be found, few people are set up to keep these animals.

 

[Anonymous]

Thats not a bad idea- at the old wet-n-wild in westchester they had a shark tank under the floor and you could look down at it. or, you could get a big live rock tank and the shark could help keep the fingers out...

 

[dizzy]

Marilliom,

The round stock tank suggestion is a very good one if you have the floor space. I believe there are two stores in Chicago that have sharks in such setups. They have shark feeding the same time each day and I think it is a good draw for them. It would need some type of fence or rail to keep unattended children at bay.

Stingrays or very large horseshoe crabs make good tankmates.


PS
I went back and read that you had currently had the leopard in a 180, and that doesn't seem inappropriate for a 20"er short-term.
I actually saw a guy that had about a 3-year specimen in a 55. It was a bit of a pitiful sight to me, but these very hardy fish apparently can be stunted. Actually public aquariums will sometimes take big fish if they have a need or the space, but don't count on it. Check with any public aquariums that are new or about to open. Go to www.aza.org for more information on public aquariums.