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Post by LunchboxCritter on Dec 11, 2011 23:03:34 GMT -6
I have been catching these baby bonnet head sharks at the beach.
Does anyone have any experience keeping such a fish in captivity? What sized tank would be needed to support a single fish. They get a little over 3' when full grown. Would a 250 gallon tank be suitable for a fish this size?
Anyway, here is one of the fish that I caught and released.
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Post by AlanM on Dec 12, 2011 7:17:33 GMT -6
I don't think a 250 would be big enough to keep a full-grown one. A standard 265 is 84"x30"x24", so the shark wouldn't even have enough room to turn around. He'd be almost half as long as the tank.
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Post by LunchboxCritter on Dec 12, 2011 7:50:35 GMT -6
I wonder how long it would take for one in a tank to out grow it's environment, and if one could be released back into the wild after being in captivity.
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Post by ree123 on Dec 12, 2011 11:53:20 GMT -6
You better buy a used baptistery and convert it to a tank to house one of these guys, IMO.
I saw one of these tanks once. It was impressive ! It had lots and LOTS of Africans in it.
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Post by cbryll on Dec 22, 2011 16:26:17 GMT -6
How the heck are you catching them ? On purpose?
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Post by gymnothorax on Dec 23, 2011 7:16:08 GMT -6
Bonnetheads present many challenges in captivity. First, they need a large tank, atleast an 8" cylinder, minimum. They are a mobile shark that cannot breath without constantly propelling itself forward and running fresh water over it's 5 gill openings. Second, all sharks possess a 6th sense referred to as the ampulii or lorenzini which allows them to sense the electrical signals produced by other life-forms. The modified skull structure of hammerheads and bonnetheads is used to enhance this particular "radar sense" and make them even more efficient hunters. In captivity in most cases the current set off by your equipment will be enough to keep the shark constantly "on edge" which will yeild a stressed, lethargic fish with a big set of teeth. And last, this shark has a big set of teeth, they are extremely efficient predators that produce a bioload requiring a huge protien skimmer and very large and frequent water-changes. Unless you have the room to accomidate a tank of several thousand gallons and $15-20thousand set aside for the project I would advise against it. They're are much more approptiate species that will yeild much more reward for much less.
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Post by jtrotter77 on Dec 26, 2011 0:05:33 GMT -6
I have worked with them and I don't recommend trying to keep them as it will most likely just die. Sorry but they need a very large tank. As stated above they are a type of shark that has to keep swimming. Also they tend to swim near the top of the water at most times. They will circle a tank non stop and usually only leave the top water to hunt, ect.. They are likely to jump and will either break or knock off your lid, Jump out or kill,injure their selves in the process of hitting the lid. Also they stress really easy. They are some of my fav.
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Post by LunchboxCritter on Jan 11, 2012 9:37:27 GMT -6
Thanks for the information.
I'll keep throwing them back when I catch them.
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