Banded Cat Sharks

[rbb213]

:?: :?: :?:


Any one have a clue on what banded cat sharks eat?...

Is it possible to hand feed them?
Like hold them in your hand, turn them upside down, to calm down, open their mouth, and stick small pieces of fresh shrimp in their mouths?

Answers needed like really soon, I have ont that is like 6-8 inches long, and it seems like to be a finiky eater. I was just wondering what are the other possibilites?

Thanks in advance

Rocky

 

[Anonymous]

Ok, you will need krill, broken up into small enough bits for them. Soak it in Selcon. You will need to hand feed, which will be a pain in the butt in a 125. You will have to basically put the food right under its nose.
Feed in this manner for several weeks.

Please tell us you've researched the heck outta sharks first, please?

 

[Anonymous]

Please don't turn them upside down and try to feed them, either. And please, please, please tell me you've got it on sugar-fine sand substrate.

 

[rbb213]

Thanks Seamaiden


Well its been in the tank for about a 1 1/2 weeks, and I have been paying attention to his movements, and the non-eating habits. I got a few good answers so far and also a good link on more reading information about them. SO far he ate the fresh shrimp that I hand fed it, but, as i guessed it went back into hiding.

 

[danmhippo]

As long as he ate something, it's a good sign. You will be seeing more and more of him after he get used to you. Try varieties of food to offer, oyster, clam meat, shrimps, squid, silverside...etc. Sprinkle a few drops of selco/selcon on it to enhance the smell to attract the shark.

 

[sjfishguy]

Small pieces of squid offered on the end of a skewer has worked for me with several new born banded catsharks.

 

[dizzy]

Rocky,
I don't know if you are aware of it, but the banded cat sharks are nocturnal. We have two in our store that hatched from eggs in the store. Just feed them right before you turn off the tank lights and try and observe yours under dark conditions. They will usually eat chopped squid or shrimp. Trying to force a cat shark to eat in the day time is not a good idea.

 

[rbb213]

Hey PPLs, Well its been a few days, and I been watching him very carefully, after reading what seamaiden gave me, it was overwhelming with information. But all is said, I did feed him by hand, and he took to it well, a few hours after that, he was swimming normally.

If its okay with you Seamaiden, Can i post that link to everyone?

Rocky

 

[highrpm]

Just my 2 cents - Most common problem I have seen or heard of with sharks is that extra/uneaten food gets trapped in a cave, shell, rock work, etc....shark gets hungry at night, as they are nocturnal feeders. When the shark goes for the food, they can get stuck, and this basically sufficates them. So my two tips of advice:

1. take out un eaten food
2. make sure your rock work/decorations will not trap your shark.

they are very cool, but aren't the smartest thing that can go in your tank. When they get stuck, they freak out, and will over exhaust themselves trying to get out, making the problem even worse.

Thanks

 

[reefNewbie]

and as a precaution i would get rid of that rio 2500. swap it out with another compatibale pump.

 

[rbb213]

and as a precaution i would get rid of that rio 2500. swap it out with another compatibale pump.

Opps, i forgot to change my profile...I dumped that thing like 3 months ago....lol

 

[Anonymous]

Hey PPLs, Well its been a few days, and I been watching him very carefully, after reading what seamaiden gave me, it was overwhelming with information. But all is said, I did feed him by hand, and he took to it well, a few hours after that, he was swimming normally.

If its okay with you Seamaiden, Can i post that link to everyone?

Rocky

PLEASE DO! We want GOOD information disseminated, and we want the folks who take on whatever animal they've decided to to succeed. Be my guest (and save me the trouble, eh? )

 

[Anonymous]

Oh yes, with the babies, I really prefer to feed them by hand. This helps avoid that uneaten food just mentioned, and avoids injury. It also is very helpful in acclimating the animal to handling, which can be exceedingly helpful.

 

[rbb213]

Well tonight was another night for feeding, He ate quite well, (scallops) h is now just sitting there, looking stuffed. But i only gave hime like 3-4 tiny pieces of food (to not over feed him). Also turning off the lights helps cause he does most of his swimming then. Dumped a few small Pieces on the bottom for him to feed if he wants too...

This hand feeding reminds me of feeding my kids...lol...but the only thing, they ask for more...lol

For his food, i been using fresh shrimp meat, scallops, and krill, so foar he's taking it quite well....

 

[Anonymous]

Ok. Sounds pretty good so far, then.

You really don't want to leave the food there. Feed him what he'll eat by hand, then leave the tank clean.

 

[rbb213]

removing tonight!!!!

 

[Anonymous]

I was under the impression that any shark tank needs to be a lot bigger that 125 gals. Anyone got any links that I can read on keeping sharks?

 

[rbb213]

here ya go


go to http://www.wetwebmedia.comand do a search on sharks.


Oh ya, I volunteered to be the scape goat on this one

 

[Telochupoto]

The whole sizing issue of a tank just refers on how big you need the tank to be in order to get the shark to grow to its almost full potential size.... placing it in a 125G is not bad, just means he will grow to a 3 foot length or so [it will also take longer than in a larger tank]. Sharks are very flexible and can turn around in tanks that are even a third of their size in width.

 

[reefNewbie]

I know, my LFS has a poor 2 ft. remora shark in a 90 gallon tank 8O

he tried to give it away to different aquariums but no place would take it!