my friend just recently obtained a baby banded cat shark, and has been noticing that it's been scraching along the substrate... and not extreamly active... (since i don't know too much bout sharks, maybe you can help) is this behavior normal? or is it something to be conserned about? NEED IMPUT!!!
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REEF SHARK QUESTION!!!
- Thread starter REEFSOUL
- Start date
I'll take a guess that you mean Chiloscyllium punctatum.
Before everyone goes nuts I'll simply answer your question. Yes it could be as these are bottom dwelling and sedentary, spending most of their time either resting or foraging on the substrate. Being normally nocturnal they hide during the day and forage for food at night. Tell your friend to provide shelter such as a cave or overhang and if the lighting is bright he'll have to change it to lower light. I hope he has a huge tank and researched the requirements for this beforehand.
Regards,
David Mohr
Before everyone goes nuts I'll simply answer your question. Yes it could be as these are bottom dwelling and sedentary, spending most of their time either resting or foraging on the substrate. Being normally nocturnal they hide during the day and forage for food at night. Tell your friend to provide shelter such as a cave or overhang and if the lighting is bright he'll have to change it to lower light. I hope he has a huge tank and researched the requirements for this beforehand.
Regards,
David Mohr
yes she has the huge tank and good skimmer, and doesn't have intense lighting...and i told her that she should try and putting a grounding probe in the tank because of they're sensitivity to electronic and magnetic waves in the water... so we'll see if anything changes...
Very good point, Erik. This is, especially in the case of young sharks, an oft missed yet very important issue of concern.
However, to address the scratching itself directly, chances are this is a bad sign of parasitic infection. She must NOT treat this animal with copper, the usual medication. Hyposalinity may be used with some sharks, but the only ones I would try it with are pelagics that have already demonstrated they can tolerate varying salinity. That being said, there certainly are benthic animals that may very well be able to deal with hyposaline conditions, but I personally cannot speak to this directly.
Your friend must do a great deal more research, and if possible, try to contact the Monterey Bay Aquarium, or the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific - both of which have well-established programs for breeding, rearing, and raising benthic sharks.
However, to address the scratching itself directly, chances are this is a bad sign of parasitic infection. She must NOT treat this animal with copper, the usual medication. Hyposalinity may be used with some sharks, but the only ones I would try it with are pelagics that have already demonstrated they can tolerate varying salinity. That being said, there certainly are benthic animals that may very well be able to deal with hyposaline conditions, but I personally cannot speak to this directly.
Your friend must do a great deal more research, and if possible, try to contact the Monterey Bay Aquarium, or the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific - both of which have well-established programs for breeding, rearing, and raising benthic sharks.
A shark's skin is not really friendly towards most parasitic organisms, so I would check for some kind of gill infestation if I was looking for parasites. They would be easy to spot on a sharks skin anyway.
I would look to water/tank conditions first, as I've seen lots of fish scratch on the substrate over the years, and it was never due to parasites.
Not saying they will not scratch due to parasites, just saying this behavior can be symptoms of other things. Sharks are VERY sensitive to any kind of electrical current in the water. I would check there first as you said.
Jim
I would look to water/tank conditions first, as I've seen lots of fish scratch on the substrate over the years, and it was never due to parasites.
Not saying they will not scratch due to parasites, just saying this behavior can be symptoms of other things. Sharks are VERY sensitive to any kind of electrical current in the water. I would check there first as you said.
Jim
thanks guys! my friend thanks you and definately appreciates all of your input. as far as i know there is fine "reef" substrate in the tank...
parasitic infections...would blue neon gobies be any help in this case? i've seen them clean a blue face angel w/ brookanella...however these are different circumstances. what do ya think? try?
parasitic infections...would blue neon gobies be any help in this case? i've seen them clean a blue face angel w/ brookanella...however these are different circumstances. what do ya think? try?
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