Re: banded shark... killing  7/11/08
hello, so I had bought two banded eggs,
<Tommy, are you a non-native speaker, writer of English?>
I wrote you and you said they might be duds. they were so the pet store just gave a banded shark aprox. 8-9 inches long.
<...>
the day I got it and put it in its new home it ate 4 ghost shrimp, the second 3 ghost shrimp. yesterday 1 and today none. the shrimp was live feed now they are starting to look dead. any suggestions on what to do?
"<Fix your English and send all future corr. to Crew@WetWebMedia.com>"
<... Read: http://wetwebmedia.com/marine/fishes/index.htm
the "Shark" tray... Bob Fenner>

Banded Shark Egg 6/1/08
How can I tell if my shark egg is still alive?
<Movement>
I see movement of something in there but I cant make it out, it looks really small & kinda resembles a fish but looks more like a worm & the round yolk isn't round its more of an long oval shape & laying at the bottom of the egg is this normal or is it a bad sign?
<The former>
my LFS told me it will hatch in 2 months which tells me its early
<Mmm... not early>
in its development but was just wondering if he is supposed to be that small at this stage of the development?
Thanks, Robert
<Read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/sharkeggfaqs.htm
and the linked file in the series. Bob Fenner>
 

Shark Egg 4/18/08
First of all thank you for having such a great website; it has helped me a lot. I recently purchased a bamboo shark egg from a LFS. I put him on my 55 gallon fish tank, my question is how long can I keep the shark after hatching in the 55 gallon before I have to purchase a much bigger tank? Thank you in advance.
Gilbert Gomez
<Not long, few months maybe. My suggestion is to return the egg to the store and set up the big tank, then get a new shark egg, will be easier and better for all involved.>
<Chris>

Bamboo Banded Shark Umbilical Cord? 4/15/08
Hi, we recently purchase a shark egg and the shark hatched this past Saturday. Looks really healthy and swims in the tank a lot, very active and colorful. The shark has a small string like substance with what looks like a flesh colored ball on the end of it. The ball is about the half the size of a pea. Just wondering if this could possibly be the umbilical cord and if so will it eventually fall off.
<Possibly (of a sort) and yes>
We had a shark before but it never had one of these attached to it. Any help would be appreciated. Thank You,
<A pic would help. Bob Fenner>

Cat shark Eggs...  - 1/24/08
Well I have searched and couldn't find anything relating to my question. I recently got 2 banded cat shark eggs. I ordered them online from a company in FL, That was the only place that had them in stock I could find.
<They come and they go>
My question is when I got them I candled them to check them out but there is no shark in there, only a round ball am assuming to be the yolk. Does this mean they are fertile or they have just not developed yet?
<Likely the latter>
Just wondering if I got ripped off or have a long wait ahead of me.
Thanks!
<Ditto. BobF>

Grey Bamboo Shark Egg, source   12/24/07
Hello,
<Hi there>
I've been reading through your FAQ's about sharks and have decided on a Grey Bamboo Shark. Was wondering if you knew of a good online source for eggs???
Thanks,
Tom
<The usual good companies... Dr.s Foster and Smith, the Marine Center... Bob Fenner>

Black banded cat shark... or such... reading   9//15/07
Hello crew,
My cat shark hatched today. He is seven inches long. I wanted to know what is the difference between the black banded cat shark, and the brown banded cat shark. Are they the same species just different color morphs, or two separate species?
<... the quagmire of common names... I doubt if by the former you're referring to http://fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=4304
but neither of the stated as "cat" sharks, but Chiloscyllium punctatum (Muller & Henle 1838), the Brownbanded Bamboo Shark.
Mine has black bands. Also I read on Reef Sanctuary that his diet should consist of shark formula alone, and that it contains all the nutrients that it needs. Is this true?
<Not... please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/sharkfeedingfaqs.htm
and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>

Banded cat shark... cont.   9//15/07
Hello crew,
It's me again. My banded cat shark hatched today. He is 7 inches long. I am currently housing him in a 300 gallon tank. Live sand substrate, canister filter, queen turbo skimmer, BakPak 2 skimmer, Skilter 250, 4 powerheads, and a 10 pound chunk of live rock. Is this too much filtration, or not enough.
<Not enough reading. RMF>

Banded Cat Shark Egg... floating...    8/24/07
Hello. I just got my banded cat shark egg. I did the acclimation process correctly. When I got the egg in my tank, it was floating. After reading stuff on your site I realized floating wasn't a good thing. I can see the shark moving and breathing in the egg. Later that night I realized the egg sank to the bottom and again I realized that it sitting on the bottom wasn't good because it shouldn't be sitting on the sandy ground. I was wondering if I should make some thing to keep it suspended in the water or if floating or sinking to the bottom was ok. What would you do?
<I would tether it down... with a bit of sewing thread or low-weight fishing line... looped over it, rock. Bob Fenner>

Banded Cat Shark, young, fdg.  – 08/17/07
I have a banded cat shark still in its egg. I want to know what to feed it when its born? Any stuff that I can buy at a local grocery store or does it have to be live white shrimp or brine shrimp or certain live shrimp that has to be kept alive. Can I just get it small bites of normal shrimp, clams, squid, and mussels? Please give me any other information that you would find helpful for a first time banded cat shark owner.
<Please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sharkeggfaqs.htm
and the linked files above. BobF>

Shark egg – 08/17/07
Hello I have 300 gal tank with a 5" niger trigger a 7" panther grouper and a banded cat shark egg. My question is will either fish bother my hatchling
<The Trigger, too likely>
or should I move him to my 20g long hospital tank until he/she hatches and gains strength. Please help I couldn't find my answer on your website.
<I would move this small shark when it hatches out... and screen it in the meanwhile. Bob Fenner>

Banded cat shark question, juv. fdg.   7/13/07
Guys, I KNOW I have seen this on one FAQ, but I have read bunches of them and cannot find it again. Bob answered some questions before for me, about the baby shark, initially in the 80 gallon with the Passer, dogface & yellow tang. We got our 200 gal in, got it set up. I used all new substrate, replacing gravel with mostly fine substrate, and moved my filter (& active media) and all the live rock at once. (Of course there is a skimmer, too) It's been two weeks and all has been well. Three nights ago, the shark ate an entire cube of 'Shark Formula' which I cut into small pieces. I watched him eat one at a time, consuming them all. The next night he did not feed, then last night he showed interest, nosed some pieces, and ate maybe two small ones. The other pieces he hovered around, and tried to mouth them, but without the typical aggression or desire. I saw on FAQ somewhere about another shark doing this. Since he is now approx 6 weeks old, and now 8 inches (I'd say he's added an inch to two inches in length), I'm wondering what his feeding routine should be. My opinion is that he isn't too hungry after eating so much.
<Yes>
His normal meal had been almost half a cube prior to that hungry night. Is this what you would think? Also, is this guy ready to scale back to feeding every other day. I've read all the feeding FAQ, and it says newborns should be fed every day, whereas older ones every couple of days, but not really sure when this might take place. Oh, and water quality is fine, 0 ppm of ammonia & nitrites, Nitrates less than 5 ppm, salinity is 1.021, PH is 8.2, and temp can run from 79 at night to 82 during the day. Once again, thank you.
Thomas Roach
<I would offer some food every other day. And add vitamins to such... as proscribed on WWM. BobF>

Cat Shark juv. fdg. questions – 06/08/07
Hey, guys, I browsed through the FAQ on feeding sharks, saw a lot about sharks not eating & such, but nothing really about this one... My hatchling is 2 weeks old, has started feeding readily on cocktail shrimp soaked in Zoe. Question is, how much should I feed him? Currently, he eats one per day. So is that enough or too much? I've heard conflicting reports, feed them daily, every three days, etc. Oh, btw, he's a banded cat shark! :)
Thanks again!!!
Thomas
<Need more than this nutritionally... and the bio-assay of a non-concave "tummy" is useful here. BobF>

Re: Juv. shark fdg.   6/9/07
Hey, Bob F! (what's the F for?)
<My family name; Fenner>
Thanks for the reply on the feeding of the baby banded cat. I'm gonna be out of town Mon afternoon thru Saturday morning (Cozumel, snorkeling, etc.), and the Mom-in-law will be fish & daughter sitting. That was the reason for asking feeding frequency. She's gonna do it, I'm thinking if I feed him Monday, she could do it Wednesday & poss. Friday, but if she needs it every day I'll walk her through it. I want her in the tank as little as possible, and thought about not feeding the 4 days, but since it's still a 'hatchling' I want to make sure he gets what he needs.
<Mmm... I would likely just risk once...>
Also, the shrimp with Zoe was a stark, the little guy is now also eating the "Shark Formula", not a whole cube, I cut it into 8 pieces and feed him 4, after a cocktail shrimp he'll usually eat two pieces, then the puffer cleans up the rest. Now as far as the 'full belly' observation, my tetra's in the old lady's tank will eat and eat and eat, but we only feed once a day, not ten times. Don't want to overfeed, ya know :-)
Thanks, Mr. F!!!
Thomas
<Do read re Mazuri.com's vitamins for sharks. RMF>

Shark Egg Questions  - 05/02/07
Hey there!
<What's up?>
Its me again!
<Should I be concerned?>
Wondering if my shark egg should look fatter as the baby inside grows?
<Well considering the animal inside will go from barely visible (a few millimeters) to almost 7 to 8 inches in length...yes the egg will slightly expand and the animal will become more pressed for space; constricted as time elapses.>
I think it looks thicker. I currently have my horn shark egg in my chilled 55 gal
<Very happy to hear that "chilled" word....very good.>
until it gets to a good size so he or she can go into my 400.
<Wow...I'm liking you even more...you actually did your homework.>
The egg is gently placed in a safe spot and has current flowing towards it to provide aeration. It is expected to hatch around sep. Any other tips?
<Sounds like you're on the right track.>
I can't candle it! Its too hard to see!
<Flashlight at night!... Adam J.>

Port Jackson Shark (tropical in this case... Australia) Reproduction – 4/29/07
Hello,
<Hi there!>
I have 3 Port Jackson sharks in a tank together.
<Neat, I’m guessing/hoping that it’s a very large tank!>
I would like to know if they can be sexed..
<If they’re mature, no problem. If they’re young, it might be more difficult. Mature males have obvious “claspers” located at their pelvic region. See photo at this link:
http://www.marinethemes.com/aasearchfiles/Horn%20Sharks/pages/S04A02%2054639.html >
...and if they will breed in a tank.
<I have heard of these breeding in captivity, but I’m guessing it involved very, very, large systems. I’d think that it would be unlikely in a home aquarium situation. These fish take a long time to reach sexual maturity, around 8 to 10 yrs for males and 11 to 14 for females. Many, simply don’t live that long. Given the right conditions and care, though, it's always a possibility!>  
Regards,
Francis
<Take care and good luck! -Lynn>

Bristleworm and Cat Shark Issues – 4/17/07
Hello.
<Hi there!>
We recently hatched a small banded cat-shark in our 90gallon tank. (Don't worry, when he grows he will be destined for a much larger 240gallon)
<Mmmm, hopefully that will be soon as these sharks grow very quickly in their first year. I wouldn’t have recommended anything smaller than a 125g to start - for the shark alone!>
Last night I had the flashlight out watching him feed on ghost shrimp, as his appetite has been hit or miss in the first few weeks.
<Not unusual in a very young shark. Am concerned though, about its well being in a crowded community tank. Sharks, especially just out of the case, are vulnerable and in need of some quiet and care. A situation such as this could be very stressful/detrimental. Please watch for aggression (picking/nipping) from other fish, along with any signs of decline.>  
While doing this, I noticed a few large orange puffs appear in the tank. I watched, and found some large (~3inch) bristle worms would stick one end in the air and "discharge" a milky orange looking cloud. I managed to film one of them doing this.
<Neat! By the way, thank you for sharing this experience with us. It helps us all!>
Then I noticed several of the smaller ones doing it on a much smaller scale. The entire tank became as cloudy for a bit.  Now, my questions are
1) What were they doing?
<Likely releasing gametes/spawning.>
2) Was it harmful to the tank?
<No, just added to the nutrient load.>
3) Our population seems to have really exploded since our arrow head crab died.
<Yes, rapid population increase likely due to a nutrient problem, combined with the loss of a predator. Decrease/export nutrients and the bristleworm population will fall on its own, to more normal levels. Please see this link regarding nutrient control: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/nutrientcontrol.htm.>
I am hesitant to get another, as we have a fire shrimp and a red striped shrimp that I am worried would be no match for an arrow head.
<Given the chance, the shark will eat these first, then go after any slow fish you have (mandarin).>  
What would you recommend as a population controller in our tank?
<(See above) Unfortunately, your tank is more than overcrowded, which is putting a strain on your system’s ability to process the bio load (and it's only going to get worse as the shark grows). It’s also not an ideal situation for the inhabitants. Please read these links for more information on shark keeping and compatibility:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sharkcompfaqs.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sharkslvgrm.htm>
FYI, in addition to the shrimp and cat-shark we have the following: 2 blue damsels, 2 silver damsels a coral beauty, and angel, a yellow tang, a large clown fish, and a mandarin goby.
Todd Aston
<Take care and good luck! -Lynn>

Sexing Bamboo Cat Shark   3/31/07
Hi, read through the site to try and figure out how to sex the shark and got some useful info.
<...?>
Nevertheless im
<im?>
about to buy a second juvenile in an effort to breed them one day down the road and was really hoping that maybe there's a picture of these claspers which would be very helpful in determining what it is.
<All over the net... see fishbase.org...>
  Also my current one is about 10" long and im not sure if that's big enough to see claspers.
<Is...>
Also as a side note this shark lives with two eels and really likes to swim into their caves and usually gets stuck lucky for him or her i check each morning.
<Need to widen these....>
Built him his own swim through cave and he still burrowed under the heaviest rock in the tank.  My main question is if its capable of getting into a hole is it as a rule always able to get out and is just chilling when i wake up or should i continue to dig him out and rearrange until one day he gives up or just cant get in.  Thanks for the past replies and hopefully this one.
<Can't tell from here... but if it were me/mine... See above. Sharks, cartilaginous fishes have/"do" internal fertilization... Males' claspers are obvious, extensions on their pelvic fins... Bob Fenner>

Please help, baby shark sick  3/28/07
Please please help me, my baby black banded shark is sick.  Water quality is normal for his system (a shared system of approx. 280 gallons)
<Shared with?>
which is ammonia
0, nitrites 0, nitrates 12, and ph 8.1.  He is only in a thirty gallon tank right now,
<.... way too small...>
perhaps it is time to move him up to a 55
<Also way too small>
since he is maybe three months old (hatched in wholesaler's tanks, a miracle because the conditions were AWFUL!  It was one of those "poor baby, I will save you" deals, I know, I know, this is totally the wrong thing to do) I plan to graduate him to a 240 gallon, then probably close to a thousand gallons, maybe low and long. Anyway, this will not happen at all if I cannot diagnose his problem!  He would not eat today, although he has been eating very well.
<?>
  However, the only food I could get him to accept was silversides,
<...>
he will only nip at krill but will not eat.  I ordered some shark formula, but when I went to try to feed him some soaked in a little silverside juice, he was uninterested.  He wouldn't even eat the silversides, usually he gobbles the little shedded pieces up so fast his belly gets a little big.  (His belly appears wrinkled right now, I'm assuming this is why)  Then I noticed he appeared red and blotchy, and hurried to your forum right away to read up.  I saw you told someone to not feed silversides,
<Not exclusively>
but couldn't find where it said why or what you should feed, whole food wise.
<Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/marine/fishes/index.htm
The tray on Sharks...>
Upon closer inspection, he has a small deep red area under his chin, a few millimeters, very small.  His head appears pinkish, and he is swimming irregularly.
<Very bad signs>
His substrate is CaribSea Special Grade, and he has been on it for a few months with no problem.
Please help me, why is my baby sick?
<In an inappropriate environment, malnourished... Period>
  How can I help him?  I am a LFS owner, yet I love my animals very much,
<Mmm, no... or not at least by my definition... IF you did care, you would take the time, invest the resources to know what the animals in your care required, and provide them... As a painful example... Our U.S. president claims he is a Christian... but in actual fact he is a liar, thief and murderer... Any of which exclude his Christianity>
they are not just money to me.....I am in tears about this, and I really, really, need your help.  I have cared for these sharks before, at other stores, and have never seen this reddening of the skin get this bad.
<Move this animal to a better world... NOW>
The water was changed a few days ago, the normal amount, maybe 15%.  Everything in his system has been kept quite consistent, although I did add a 80watt UV Sterilizer about a week ago.
<This won't save this animal>
He already has a skimmer, media, liverock in other tanks in his system, I just don't know what else to do for him.  Ground probe?
<No>
Dip of some kind?  I am not going to just throw him in something without knowing it is what he needs, so please please help me diagnose this problem!
Grace
<Move it, and READ... Bob Fenner>

Shark Eggs 3/28/07
Hey guys! I just received my first horn shark egg and was wondering how I can candle it? Its hard to see inside because of all the curves. Also Where should the baby be located inside the egg? Middle, bottom, top? My system is chilled and the egg is about 2 months old. Im expecting it to hatch in late or early September. Is this right?
<Do read FAQ's here and linked files above.  Should find what you are looking for here.  http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sharkeggfaqs.htm> <<Mmm, no, not likely... the young should be visible... toward the middle of the egg... a flashlight held behind should do. RMF>>
Thanks so much.
<You're welcome.  James (Salty Dog)>

Horn Shark Egg  3/19/07
Hey crew! I was wondering what i need to do in order to tell if a horn shark egg had a baby inside
<"Candle it"... strong source light behind... looking>
as well as what to do to hatch it?
<Suitable habitat... chilled, rock et all to hang in, circulation/aeration>
I plan on placing it in my 55 gallon
<Too small for long>
until it gets a little bigger and can safely go into a larger tank. It will eventually go into my chilled 400 gallon system.
<Much better>
I know these sharks
<Is this Heterodontus francisci? There are a number of sharks with this common name, some semi-tropical... but not the one from the Californias>
prefer cooler water so no worries (all my tanks have chillers).
I have been looking for a horn shark but this is my first encounter with anyone who has an egg and I've hatched a few bamboo eggs but would like to
ask the experts and see what they have to say. I'm getting it from a local guy and he doesn't know too much! Thanks for all the help!
<You've seen my survey article here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/fishes/index.htm
Bob Fenner>

Re: Horn Shark Egg  - 03/20/07  
Yes it is Heterodontus francisci. It is from California. Now is there supposed to be movement in the egg at all times?
<No, only intermittently>
As I am told it is in the first trimester, there is not movement yet and it barley developed eyes. Is this correct?
<Yes... barely>
I do not want to purchase anything dead! Also how long until I can place him with other sharks biggest being 18" and the other being 12"?
<Depends on the other species... The principal predators of cartilaginous fishes... are sharks>
Both are docile but the 12" one is a little mean. The tank it will be in when it gets big enough is 8ft long, 3 and a half feet wide, and 2 feet tall.
<Mmm, wish this were wider...>
  As of right now I will hatch it in my 55 gallon. Should I purchase?
<What?>
Also it is said the egg is about 2 months old and still sort of soft. Is it supposed to be this way?
<Mmm, no... all of the "Mermaid's Purses" of this species I have encountered have been chitonous tough...>
Also would it survive shipping?
<They are shipped... yes>
What should it be shipped like so it can make it? what temp should the egg be keep around? Thanks
<Best to read on WWM re shipping marine livestock... Insulated, light-tight boxes, double bagged, oxygenated... Much to state. Bob Fenner>

Shark egg yolk shape  3/16/2007
Hi, i have just purchased a shark egg from my LFS and i candled it and seems to look like a blob of dark stuff inside, no way resembling a round yolk, is this normal for the stage of development??? I have read all the faq's available!! The LFS had this egg for about a day.  Is it normal to look like a nonsymmetrical blob???
  Thanks
<Not atypical... this food mass is quite malleable... Bob Fenner>

Re: Shark egg – 03/17/07
Hi again,
  I did take the egg back to my LFS where purchased and they examined it and it was indeed deceased.  I had them cut it open and it was a rancid smelling yellowish green goo.  I am glad i took it back and didn't waste my time.  thanks for the quick response!
<Interesting. Thank you for this input; will post/share. Bob Fenner>

Newborn Banded Catshark   3/14/07
Hi, my banded catshark hatched last night. I have him in a nylon mesh basket (for baby fish) sunk in the bottom of the tank. I have him in the basket because I have a 6 inch Niger Triggerfish, and a Porcupine Fish. The Porcupine is a big baby, but the Triggerfish will bother new things in the tank for a week or so.
<Mmm... the shark may damage itself on this basket... and moving about is important for its respiration and digestion... It needs to be elsewhere or the other fishes...>
The baby is about 7 inches long and the basket is only 6 x 8. The guy I bought the egg from told me to leave him in a container for a couple of weeks after he hatched,
<Poor advice>
and  that I could even put him in a hamster ball in the bottom of my tank.
<...>
Should I leave him in a container of some sort to protect him from the Triggerfish,  or should I just release him?
<... no>
I have caves built and he started chewing on  a piece of Krill today. I just want what's best for him, and I couldn't find this question in the archives.
Thanks for your time, Chuck........
Chuck McFarland
<Please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sharkeggfaqs.htm
and the linked files above... And consider running down a copy of Scott Michael's (either edition) work on captive Chondrichthyous fishes. Bob Fenner>

Re: Newborn Banded Catshark ) 3/14/07
Hi Bob,
<Chuck>
Thanks for the email. I didn't get a response right away,
<Real computer/Net troubles today...>
so I went ahead and released him. He lays around in the caves a lot and ate some krill.
I've been keeping the lights off quite a bit, my triggerfish likes to hide when it's dark. The triggerfish is always territorial for a few days, then he mellows out.
<Do NOT take your eyes off of these fishes...>
I already have Scott Michael's Sharks and Rays and his book on marine fish. The Sharks and Rays book doesn't really get into detail about raising the Catshark. I've been having more luck just researching on the internet.
<Thank you for this input>
I'll check on Amazon for his other book on captive fish.
<Mmm, really Scotter has nothing besides the one work pertinent to sharks>
Thanks for your help, I've been reading your forums a lot, I enjoy it.
Talk to you later, Chuck....
<Any way to put a divider twixt the triggers and this shark? Really. BobF>

Re: Newborn Banded Catshark ) 3/14/07
Thanks Bob,
<Welcome Chuck>
So far so good. I kind of figured the nylon cage was a bad idea. If a shark needs a large aquarium, a baby needs adequate space. That's why I went ahead and released him. I'll probably go ahead and make a partition until I get the other tank I have cycled.
<Ah, good>
I really appreciate the email, and reading your advice in the forum has helped me a lot more than the Sharks and Rays book. It's a great book for general knowledge, but this forum is way more help on certain types of sharks. Keep up the good work.
Thanks, Chuck...
<Will endeavor to do so. Thank you for your kind, encouraging words. Bob Fenner>

Baby shark food question   3/4/07
Hello,
I'm the engineer on a split hull hopper dredge doing beach replenishment off of Morehead City, NC. Yesterday we sucked up a sand shark? dogfish? about 30" long.
<Neat!>
After passing threw our dredge pumps, she was very dead. To find what she had been eating, we cut her open and while inside, noticed that there was an embryo inside with the nutrient sack attached below its mouth.
The embryo was noticeably trying to swim so we put it into a bucket of salt water and put the bucket in the engine room with the hopes that the warmer ambient temperature would keep the little fella warm enough. Today, 24 hours later, after changing his water out every few hours, he's still swimming around and appears to be trying to lose the sack. Does it detach naturally?
<Yes... this group/family of sharks has the young feed w/o a "placental" like attachment... on the "egg yolk" as you describe, develop internally and pass out of their mothers when developed sufficiently to feed externally>
If this occurs, what should we try to feed it?
<Not likely for a few days... a good idea to offer meaty food items though... No shells at this point, but fish flesh, molluscs, shrimps...>
We have various types of fish and shrimp in the galley, but we are also going to the dock tomorrow. Thanks for your help!
Sincerely,
Brian LeBlanc
<Mmm, had a good friend in college named Tom LeBlanc... Oh, please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sharkeggfaqs.htm
and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>

Live sand and bamboo shark, juv., sys.  1/29/07
Hello all,
Ya'll have the best site possible, many thanks.
I have a question concerning my  wanting to purchasing of a bamboo shark egg and place it in my 320 gal that I am currently setting up (custom job turned bad, but worked out for the better I guess).  I have read that elasmobranchs can play host to larva isopods within their gill slits as well copepod infestation.
<Mmm... not starting as eggs as far as I'm aware>
I have searched your website and really haven't found any true data.  But my question is if they are so prone to this infection, should I use live sand, because more than likely it will have such pod life within it?
<All substrates become "live" to a degree... in the presence of live rock... but not with these parasites>
I have not purchased the egg yet ( I haven't placed the substrate in the aquarium for that matter either and there is no livestock in it also) I would like to hear what you have to say first.
Thanks,
Michael
<I would not be concerned with the potential for isopod infestation here, nor with the LS. Bob Fenner>

Bamboo Shark Egg 1/22/07
Hi
<Hello Michelle>
I've had my egg for about 3 weeks now when I handle it I can only see a yolk. No movement. Is it dead?
<Don't know, can't see it.  Read the FAQ's on this subject.  You more than likely will find your answer here.  http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sharkeggfaqs.htm>
Thanks
<You're welcome.  James (Salty Dog)>
Michelle

Shark egg... health   12/14/06
Good afternoon, crew.
I have just the one relatively simple question. Recently i got a Brownbanded bamboo shark egg from my dealer and when I put it in my shark tank, I observed it's breathing was quite noticeable, the gills pulsing regularly.
Yet now, when i "candle" the egg case, I am unable to see much gill movement, just a little twitch, at regular intervals, but very slight.
<This rate is variable... sometimes related to water temperature, light/ing... other times seemingly unrelated to anything external>
The day I got the egg, I'd added an extra powerful air pump on the far corner of the tank (with this plus my skimmer, I feel good about oxygen levels), and have the egg in a area of high water flow. Water conditions are near perfect.
Is there anything to be worried about?
<Mmm, not much that one can actually do anything about... other than provide propitious circumstances... good water quality, a dearth of metabolite concentration... Which it appears you are doing and are well-aware of>
I appreciate your time, and your website is truly a gem. thanks.
15 year old Dinesh, from Singapore.
<Life to you my friend. Bob Fenner>

Summat about a shark egg    11/24/06
Hey there.... Back  again with another couple of Q's. umm 1st shark egg with like a slit in the  bottom.. good or bad? and schooling Raccoon Butterfly fish, any info I just got  one with a 4in clown tang and yellow wrasse. any help is great.
Thanks Morgan
<... the slit may be of natural progression... You have read the FAQs files on juvenile sharks on WWM? RMF>

Bamboo shark egg   9/20/06
dear Bob,
<John, beginnings of sentences are capitalized, as is the personal pronoun "I">  
          my name is John Jr and i have a bamboo shark egg that i believe is about ready to hatch ( yolk gone, fully outlined figure, constant movement) but i read in one of your FAQ's that a floating egg means the shark is dead?
<Usually, not always>
my shark is still moving but there is air in his egg do to a recent tank transfer. not sure if there is anything i can do or if he is on a course with death? please help?
     thanks John
<... with? I'd anchor this egg/juvenile and allow it to hatch out... if all the yolk is gone for more than a day or two... consider cutting open the case. Bob Fenner>

Shark Eggs, Lots of Required Reading 8/23/06
Hi, great web site. <I like it too> I use it often. <Me too> I am purchasing a banded cat shark egg in the future and am wondering about the hatching. Can you tell me the best way to do it. Should it be placed in strong light or dim? Salinity? Anything in the water chemistry need to be changed form the norm? Should it be near high flow or lower ? Any other information would be greatly appreciated
Thanks
Joe
<Time to hit the book.  Please take a look at http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sharkslvgrm.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sharks.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sharkeggfaqs.htm
and pick up Scott Michael’s “Sharks and Rays", it’s pretty much required reading for keeping sharks.>
<Chris>

Re: shark egg, poor English   8/29/06
me again well I purchased an egg. By the time I picked it up it hatched. He seems to be doing fine swimming about then resting. He seems to be doing a little heavy breathing not drastic but looks out of the ordinary (im no expert) He"s only been out for about 20 hours now and I am wondering if this is normal or should I take action(if so what)
Thanks for your help
Joe
<See where you were referred before? Read. Bob Fenner>

Bamboo shark not eating (five weeks in)   8/18/06
Hi there guys, firstly thanks for all the help over the past year on the site it has been an invaluable source of info. However i find myself stuck.
As of this Sunday it will be five weeks since my bamboo shark hatched. As with the info on your site and scott Michaels book i have systematically
gone through a wide variety of foods with no luck. However i did make the mistake of only dimming lights for feeding over the first two weeks, but as
we know she may not want to eat during that time.
So far the food list is muscles, prawn, krill, ocean nutrition squid and shark formula, brine shrimp on the off chance, and a bit of herring. Without the
specific numbers water parameters are all ok.
<W/o numbers I can't help you>
Ive
<This is your tenth English error thus far...>
tested the water for current but all under 0.1v. I feel it may be time to try the force feeding?
<Not encouraged>
Scott Michael does suggest live foods but im unsure on what to do about this. During the force feeding im assuming like other larger species she
will go into the trance state when turned upside down. Is this going to be to stressful especially if she's weak?
<Uhh, yes>
As for her behaviour its completely normal, sleep during day relatively active at night. The other morning I found two hermit crab shells so hoping that maybe she's eaten them in the meantime. Any other suggestions would be appreciated.
thanks very much Jonathan
<Check your system... other tankmate behavior... not listed, change the water temp. (upward), NSW concentration? Use your spelling, grammar checkers. BobF>

Baby Shark Questions ... system toxicity   7/26/06
Bob,
   <Michael>
  I have been trying to keep bottom dwelling sharks for a few years now. I have had a number of baby banded cat sharks that all seem to die with the same symptoms. Whether I hatch them from eggs or bought them as small juveniles they all seem to suddenly start to swim in erratic circles and end up dying.
<Something unsuitable in the environment...>
That all have had reddish/pink bellies once they died.
<Chemical, physical...>
They all were eating well and I usually feed Silversides, krill, squid and clams. I had 1 12" cat shark living in the tank for about 2 years but he recently jumped out and though I found him on the carpet still alive, he died about 24 hours later. I got him beyond the baby stage I have had my others. Is there something specific to the babies I am missing?
<Mmm, no... not likely... perhaps just more toxic to young/er... Likely a source of metal... could be a shaft on a pump or powerhead... a heater...>
I have them in a 150G tank, with some live rock
<Could be metal contamination, part of the LR>
and a refugium under them tank. A protein skimmer is on the tank but it does not put out much waste.
  I am receiving 2 epaulette sharks today and want to make sure I am caring for them correctly. I have lost 2 or 3 of these in the past too with the same symptoms as the banded cat sharks. What is the pink bellies an indication of
<General irritation, poisoning, septicemia/petecchia...>
and how to I prevent it so the babies can mature?
  Thank you,
  Michael Koenig
<Perhaps a review of what is posted: http://wetwebmedia.com/sharksystems.htm
and the linked files above... Chemical tests... data from same? I'd run Polyfilter in your filter flow path... have a QA lab do a run on your water... something toxic, amiss here. Bob Fenner>

Re: Baby Shark Questions - 07/26/06
I use a Kold Ster-il water filter so I am pretty sure my water is not the issue. I have never used Copper or anything like that in the tank. I have 2 small maxi-jet powerheads and 1 RIO 1100 powerhead
<Likely culprit...>
and a Mag 5 or 7 for a main pump. so I am not sure metal contamination is this issue. I respect your response and will review the setup. Tested for Nitrate last night as the new sharks were acclimating and got no/very low reading on Nitrate.   
  The live rock has been in the tank for 3+ years. I am not sure I understand how the rock could be an issue.
<I still suspect some source of ferrous/magnetic contamination. I have necropsied many sharks that have perished from such in public and other institutional settings... Not easy for a home hobbyist to check for such stray electro-magnetic issues... but I'd remove the powerheads... Bob Fenner>

Re: Baby Shark Questions   8/1/06
Ok I have pulled the 2 powerheads that were in the tank out and did a 30 gallon water change on Friday night. I am now concerned with the water movement and surface aeration though which is why they were in there to begin with. There is still the main Mag drive pump and 1 powerhead that pumps water into my TurboTwist UV filter in the refugium.    
  Can you expand on why/how this could be the problem?
<The Ampullae of Lorenzini... look this up>
How could a little piece of magnetic impellor be poisoning the sharks? Is it safe to put in brand new powerheads?
<Ones with non-ferrous drive shafts, yes>
Maybe the old ones were to old?  1 cat shark already has a pink belly and I removed him to a separate tank for now.
<Good>
I have added a poly filter in the refugium and added a bag of Seachem Purigen in the overflow box. I have 5 more Poly filters on the way so I have them in supply. I plan on added my canister filter with Reef Carbon as soon as it arrives.
     -Michael
<Good moves. Bob Fenner>

Re: Baby Shark Questions... system on the loose  - 08/15/06
Bob,
  Since my last email I have lost a personifer, an emperor and a banded  cat shark from this tank. The epaulette sharks are showing a little  pink on the bellies and are scratching on the sand on rocks. i have no  idea what to do now. The only powerhead left is the main pump which is  either a Mag 5 or 7. Could something in the liverock be doing this?
<Is possible, but not very likely>
  Something in the refugium?
<Ditto>
I have a livesand bed of 2-3"
<Mmm, see WWM re... in general should be much thinner... or deeper...>
and about 5 lbs of miracle mud in the refugium which has not been changed for 3+  years. The vlamingi tang in the tang is also infected with something.
<... there is something "amiss" with the environment here...>
I  have resorted to starting a Stop parasites treatment from Chem-Marin
<These folks products are shams...>
which required me to stop the charcoal filter, UV, PolyFilter and  remove the absorption pads.
<I would return to gear that is known to work...>
The canary, dwarf moray and miniatus  grouper are not affected. The sharks are still eating well but need to come up with a way to get this problem under control.
<Correction... need to define, characterize, actually find the problem first...>
I tested for  Nitrate and had no reading, no ammonia, ph was about 8.2. a 30 gallon  water change was done a week ago. There is now a grounding probe in the  tank as well.
  Anything else you could possibly recommend on why they are scratching and showing the pink on the bellies?  
  -Michael K.
<... a long list of possibilities... For what you have invested, I strongly suggest getting hold of Ed Noga's "Fish Disease, Diagnosis & Treatment" and reading it front to back... I recently have... This will likely serve as a/the best general survey, reminder of what might be "going wrong" here. Bob Fenner>

Re: Epaulette sharks/Pink Bellies/New tank on the way   8/22/06
  Bob,
  I bought a larger tank yesterday and am in the process of getting it set up.  It too has a large glass refugium and a larger protein skimmer. Got this reef tank setup for $500 used. Bargain of the year! It had a one live rock among the others that weighed 80lbs plus 2,  6" maxima clams, hard corals and tons of star polyps and serpent stars. Only some of the rock that came with it will got back in. That large rock will not, just enough to make some hiding places for the sharks. This tank had 2 pumps running it. One internal Mag 12 and 1 external pump from Pentair that they don't make anymore (quiet one).
<Keep the cooling port clean on this>
I want to get a new pump on this tank. You told me that metal from the pumps/powerheads could be causing the pink bellies on the sharks.
<Yes>
What would be a good brand of pump to put on the tank that would not have very much metal internally to the pump but also run quiet.
<Posted on WWM... http://www.wetwebmedia.com/pumpselmar.htm and the linked files...>
I need to get the transfer done fairly quickly as they still have pink bellies and I can't figure why.
<Substrate type?>
The ph was at 8.44 this morning with salinity of about 1.024. There is not a recommended specific gravity listed in the epaulette sharks section of the Scott Michaels book. Are those parameters ok for these Epaulette sharks?
<NSW is best... about 1.025>
The reef tank had 4 serpent/brittle stars and an urchin. I assume they would not be safe with he sharks.
<Not indefinitely>
I had them isolated with the fish that came with the new tank last night and the sharks were trying to bite though the screen mesh separator I built.   
  Oh, lastly. I was doing some reading on your site and saw topics about silver sides and sharks. some of the articles said silversides for sharks was a no, no but did not say why. Can you explain?
<A little fatty>
They seem to like them.  Are silversides ok for eels?
<Not exclusively>
If the sharks are not supposed to eat them I would at least like to use them up with my eel and grouper. My epaulette sharks have been eating small clams and krill as well as some silversides.   
  - Michael
<Bob Fenner>

Shark Egg...One Less Scavenger In The Sea  6/5/06
Hey crew!
Hello Ben>
My shark looks like it's about to hatch very soon. The egg was moving a lot this morning and the shark looks big inside the egg. I have the shark egg on an algae clip on the glass. I was wondering if it is necessary to move the shark egg off the clip and on to the sand?
<Yes.  Do read here and related links above for more info.  http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sharkeggfaqs.htm>
Thanks,
<You're welcome.  James (Salty Dog)
Ben

Re:  Shark Egg...One Less Scavenger In The Sea  6/5/06
Crew,
I know I should keep the egg off the bottom for good water quality but won't the clip get in the way when the shark is trying to break loose?
Thanks for your time.
<Mmm, wonder why my response didn't show up here?  Yes, place the egg on the bottom.  Do read the FAQ's on shark eggs for more info.  James (Salty Dog)>
Ben

Shark Egg Hatched...Pass The Cigars, Antonio For Me  6/15/06
Hey crew!
<Hey Ben>   
Just want to thank you for all the help you given me. Today, June 14, 2006, my little banded cat shark was born. It looks like he or she is about 6in long and looks very healthy! I notice that the shark hatched when I was feeding my fish and the shark egg still looked like the shark was in it. Thanks for your help!
<You're welcome.  James (Salty Dog)>   
Ben

ATTITUDE  - 04/27/06
HI BOB, WHAT IS WRONG WITH SALTY DOG?? HE SEEMS TO REFER EVERY QUESTION BACK TO A PRIOR Q & A SESSION AND THEN IN ONE INSTANCE REGARDING A QUESTION ABOUT SHARK EGGS HE SAYS SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF, " WHY CAN' T THE COLLECTORS JUST LEAVE THEM IN THE OCEAN."  IF THIS WERE THE CASE WHY NOT JUST LEAVE ALL THE FISH, INVERTS, SHARKS, & RAYS IN THE OCEAN AND FORGET THE HOBBY ALL TOGETHER. WE COULD ALL TAKE UP GOLF AND LIVE VERY BORING AVERAGE LIVES AND NOT LEARN ANYTHING ABOUT SEALIFE. IF HE DOESN' T LIKE  ANSWERING QUESTIONS ON THIS SITE THEN WHY IS HE DOING IT?  
<Adam, there is nothing wrong with Salty Dog.  If you want to learn more about sharks, the library is full of info.  I believe sharks are best left in the ocean.
For every shark or egg taken out, it is one less scavenger, and a very efficient scavenger helping to remove waste from our oceans and reefs.  Most, if not all aquarists buy the shark/egg strictly as a novelty, having no idea what they are going to do with it after it hatches.  Most will be in non-supportive systems for keeping one alive for any length of time.  Some say "When it overgrows my tank I'll give it to the local aquarium".  Aquariums have all the sharks they want and the odds of the aquarium accepting one are very remote.  I picture most aquarists that buy these eggs/sharks to someone buying a German Shepherd and keeping it in a closet. There are few, and very few aquarists that actually plan this venture out with a large enough system and know-how to keep a shark alive for an extended period.  If you are one of these people, accept my apology.  I have been in this hobby over 35 years and have seen countless shark eggs that were sold, and soon after hatching,  were discarded, as the novelty was over.
James (Salty Dog)

Strange (Shark) Discharge   4/7/06
Hi, Bob.  I have a 2-year old female Brownbanded bamboo shark I raised from an egg.  She is about 26 inches long which I understand is close to sexual maturity.
<Yes>
  Her diet is mostly a mix of shrimp and squid (both injected with liquid vitamins) which I sometimes supplement with live night crawlers.  It’s my impression her health is excellent.  Recently, every couple of weeks in the middle of the night when she is active, she has been discharging “packages”.  These things are brown and the size and shape of a peanut.  They have a skin like a grape and will pop when I apply pressure to them after I pick them up out of the water.  They are filled with a brown gunk.  Any idea what these might be?
     Dean C.
<Likely early attempts at reproduction... "takes two to tango"... Bob Fenner>

Re: Hello there shark crew!     3/17/06
HI there again!
  I got the egg. I have a few questions. Should I lay it on the bottom of the sand or clip it with a algae clip?
<Better clipped>
If on the sand, where should the egg be laying, it's laying on the side with the most algae on it should I flip it the other way? I have a chocolate starfish, will he eat the egg?
  Thanks
  Ben
<Might. Bob Fenner>

Shark Embryo Development/Shark Egg FAQ's  3/15/06
Greetings, gentleman. I've owned one brown-banded catshark for some time now (he is kept in a 600 gallon basement tidepool) that I purchased as a medium-sized juvenile. I recently received a tank-produced egg which I am attempting to hatch. My question is this: The embryo inside is still in the early stages; the yolk is about the size of a chicken egg's, and the baby is very small. For the past few days, he showed a great deal of tail movement, but as of this morning he is very very still. Is this normal during the early stages? I can't seem to find any information about early-stage embryos, only the ones that are ready to hatch. <Pete, do read our shark egg FAQ's, part 1 and 2. http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sharkeggfaqs.htm
Thanks, <You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)>
Pete Sewchok

Shark Egg  - 03/05/06
I have a banded cat shark egg and my local fish store told me I will have to cut the egg open when its time to let the shark out. Is that true?? Right
now the yolk is smaller than the size of dime, how long will it take from there for it to hatch?? <Do read our two part shark egg FAQ's. I'm sure you will find your answer there.  http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sharkeggfaqs.htm  James (Salty Dog)>

Hopefully not a repeat dumb shark question! Just poor English  3/2/06
well here's to mark twain and his no stupid question philosophy. I read you faq's on sharks and I understand your moral standpoint against keeping them, but since I disagree (different strokes for different folks) I must yield to the experts.
<?>
Apologies for the babbling, on suspension of cat shark eggs, I understand the better water quality/circulation but I was wondering if it was safe to rest (secured) on a large rock standing in the center of my tank, I rested the egg on a cradle like out shot of the rock, and wrapped a net around the egg and tied it under the outshoot. I was simply wondering if it should be remover from the rock, other than the obvious shortly before it hatches so it isn't tangled up on a rock, but will resting it damage the shell at all should I flip it etc. Once again apologies for the babbling on, but I try to be thorough.   
  thanks,   
  Joshua
<Likely not a problem here. I would leave it as is, un-tie when near hatching. Bob Fenner>

Shark size/age and sexabaility  - 02/20/06
I am trying to find out some information regarding the sexing of bamboo and epaulette sharks.
<... easily done... the presence/absence of claspers...>
I would like to know what is the smallest size that these species are reliably sexable based upon the presence of claspers in the males?  
<Sexable at birth...>
Are the claspers something that become visible at sexual maturity, or can they be used to determine a male as a baby or juvenile?
<The latter... Bob Fenner>
Thank you very much.
Chris Kirscht

Shark Egg Care   12/28/05
I just bought a Chiloscyllium Punctatum shark egg from my local fish store, and I wanted to know if I should take off all the hair algae type stuff on
it. Also I wanted to know if you know how long it will roughly take to hatch, I can currently see the shark in it and it is breathing.
<Some algae growth on the egg is normal, since you can see the egg is does not sound excessive so I would just leave it be.  I would rather not risk puncturing or damaging the egg.  As for incubation duration it’s hard to say without seeing the actual animal. Though those offered in the trade are often near the end of the term though so I would say you anywhere from 4 to 10 weeks left, as a pure guess. On another note please research the needs of this future tank buster, if you have already I apologize for assuming.>
Thanks
<Welcome, Adam J.>

Re: Shark Egg Care
Yes I have a 180 gallon with only a blue damsel in it so he will be by him self. On the one side of the egg I can see the shark he already has all his colors and fins etc...
<Sounds good should be fine for at least a large portion of this animals lifetime, Adam J.>

Shark Egg Care  12/30/2005
Adam J. I can see the shark inside the egg he has his fins gills etc... and he also has his colors. so how long should it take.
<Depends on the size of the animal but if it is easily seen I would say 8 weeks or less, Adam J.>

Banded Cat Shark  12/16/05
Greetings crew,
<Maria>
I own a 220 gallon salt water tank, that contains about 50 lbs of live rocks, all which are on one side of the tank in order to maintain open space on the other side.
<Good idea with sharks>
  On September I purchased a Shark egg, and was born on November 23rd.  Since then, I have not witnessed the shark eating food, but
I am guessing he eats what I put out for him, which is shark formula, ghost shrimp and brine shrimp, since he is still alive.
<Mmm... best to observe first hand... use a "feeding stick" to place the food right in front... don't leave items not taken...>
Also, we believe that he could be blind because he tends to run straight into the rocks and when he tries to catch his food he does not succeed.
<... are you supplementing the food? Vitamins, iodine are important... Covered on WWM>
90 percent of the time the shark likes to hide inside the rocks even though there is plenty of room on the other side of the tank.  Is his behavior normal or do I need to take out the rocks?
<Not normal/healthy... rocks present are not the real issue/problem...>
Another concern is when one time the pH in tank was low and I had to use a pH  buffer, and I believe that the shark did not like this because  he got
out of the rocks and started swimming uncontrollably.
<A bad reaction>
If the pH buffer is bad for the shark, what are my other options, what can I use instead of the buffer?
<This and all other water quality modifiers should be mixed up in new water outside the system, introduced slowly, as during changes...>
Thank you, let me know.
Sincerely
Diego Arboleda
<Do read through here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sharkeggfaqs.htm
and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>

Floating shark egg question?  Pop Goes the Shark!  11/19/05
I am a huge fan of this site you guys are great. Well all you guys then there is Paul, 99% of the time I would say great well this is my 1 % story. So you know the story out with the bull. So I have a fairly advanced system with a 90g display tank, 30g refugium, a 55g display as well as a 30g display all connected. h2o is great all ways macro is great coralline also very well. So I read a lot about fish and what they need and who can go with who etc etc etc. So last week my girlfriend (the only thing worse than a major aqua addict is one having an also aqua addict girlfriend) got me a present yeah. Well to my surprise she pulls out a dark brown object that looked kinda like a rock perfect for skipping. 
"A Shark Egg!!" she says all excited. and after all my reading I had never heard of such a concept bring it home and do it yourself for 40 bucks cheaper. Well the LFS told her to half berry
<bury
it in the sand and leave it alone. And that it would be fine in the 90g for two years.
<... no
I myself wish I was there we never would have gotten the egg. I do plan on upgrading my system in the near future but not for one fish. After lots of reading I found great instructions on how to do this and countless struggles with the girl I attempted to move the egg to the lettuce clip well the egg was a floater, thinking nothing of it I fixed the egg so that it was suspended not floating. later that night I was reading WWM and I read an article about a floating egg and Paul wrote that if the egg floats than it's a empty egg or a dead shark.
<Often the case, not always
Well I grabbed my specimen container and a knife very sharp
<Neat syntax
and I began to examine the egg. Well nothing has happening so I thought he was right it must be dead well being a marine bio major I decided I was going to dissect this shark, it had other plans.....
<Wow, if this were written "up and down" I'd swear it was Japanese... for the lack of commas, word order...>
as made one tiny snip and out jumped a perfectly healthy shark onto the carpet of my room.
<Neat
The shark is now safe in the tank seems to be ok I've already begun to find a suitable owner for the shark my question is do you have any recommendations for that maybe someone to contact in Boston area?
<Mmm, nope... but know how... I'd post this in the large/r BBs
And more so I wanted to tell you about a floater not a sinker thanks so much.
"the greater good"
<Mmm, BobF, the "lesser evil"

Shark Egg...  11/9/05
Please help me: I don't think you got my message before
<Don't recall seeing this>
Will any sea buffers harm my SHARK when it hatches?
<Mmm, not likely>
I have a product called Perfect PH 8.2. I realize that it says 8.2 not 8.3 but I use it in my reef tanks and since adding it, none of my variety of fish or inverts have died. This buffer is not a must but I think that it would help the health of my SHARK by using it. These are questions that have truly stumped me and I have looked hard to save you people the trouble but just couldn't find them. Thank you, your website is very helpful on SHARKS but I cant seem to send you a normal message- Mike Bending
<I would not be concerned here... but do take care re familiarizing yourself with the care of juvenile sharks. Bob Fenner>