banded cat shark

[sk8rreefgeek]

Just putting this out there: A few months ago, I saw the coolest little shark. I asked about it, and was told he just hatched a few days ago. I asked a few more ?'s and I was told he would be fine to take home. so I bought it. I could NOT get him to eat anything. I tried a diff type of food almost every day for a week and a half. The guy at the store told me to bring him in, and he would "force-feed" him till he ate on his own. I called back a few days later..."that was a stubborn little bastard, and he didn't make it"
Long story short: If you ever want to buy a (baby) banded cat shark, pay for it, but leave him at the store untill he starts eating on his own! or buy an egg I guess, and hope for the best.

RIP Bruce!

[Blown 346]

Or if you ever want to buy one, make sure you have tank that will fit the sharks needs long term. They will outgrow even a 125 gallon tank. They need alot of room, and a very experienced aquarist to live longterm and be helathy.

[Scuba_Steve]

I think outgrow a 125 is an understatement. Unless you have at least a round 500g dont even think about it!

[sk8rreefgeek]

ya, they'll get about 3 feet long

[Blown 346]

I was just using that as a example since a 125 is 6 foot long.

[dcombs44]

If I read correctly, the thread starter has a 55 gallon. PLEASE do your research before you buy. Don't just trust the local fish store employee. Many people here could've warned you against making that purchase.

Ask then act, not visa versa. If not for the sake of your pocket book, do it for the health and happiness of the animal.

[kar93]

Remember sharks Need PERFECT water aswell

[Ruskin]

Originally posted by karlkidd
Just putting this out there: A few months ago, I saw the coolest little shark. I asked about it, and was told he just hatched a few days ago. I asked a few more ?'s and I was told he would be fine to take home. so I bought it. I could NOT get him to eat anything. I tried a diff type of food almost every day for a week and a half. The guy at the store told me to bring him in, and he would "force-feed" him till he ate on his own. I called back a few days later..."that was a stubborn little bastard, and he didn't make it"
Long story short: If you ever want to buy a (baby) banded cat shark, pay for it, but leave him at the store untill he starts eating on his own! or buy an egg I guess, and hope for the best.

RIP Bruce!

was one of your question is it eating? I'd never keep a shark personally, but like anything you buy from the fish store you should always make sure its eating and ask them to feed it while you watch.

[shabreeson]

not that I have a shark or anything, but has anyone here ever had luck with force feeding a shark or a ray? I saw it done on national geographic and I have always wondered if anyone here has done it.

[sk8rreefgeek]

Ya, I learned my lesson. I'm a rookie. I put this up so hopefully no one else makes the same mistake I did.
But ya, the guy told me I could keep it in my 55 for about a year before it got too big.

[Blown 346]

Originally posted by shabreeson
not that I have a shark or anything, but has anyone here ever had luck with force feeding a shark or a ray? I saw it done on national geographic and I have always wondered if anyone here has done it.

I dont see how force feeding any animal would be able to be done. If the animal wont eat froce feeding wont work, it will only stress the animal out.

Usually with new born sharks you have to try and feed them small pieces of raw fish like squid, clam. Most of the time they wont eat for the first week.

First feeding is the hardest part, after you get them to eat regularily then its just having the knowledge and filtration, and tank setup to succeed.

[magdelan]

Originally posted by Blown 346
I dont see how force feeding any animal would be able to be done.

Ever have Fois Gras?

If not and you don't know what it is, read this and you may be surprised.

[Blown 346]

I can understand birds, but force feeding a shark, I dont think I would want to try it.

[kathainbowen]

Originally posted by magdelan
Ever have Fois Gras?

If not and you don't know what it is, read this and you may be surprised.

Even less abusive and more commonly seen by the average pet owner- giving medication and/or supplements to their pets (like nutristat for puppies or kittens, worming products, electrolytes, "pillling" and animal, etc.)

[kathainbowen]

To answer the question more directly, it is possible to force feed certain fish and sharks, depending on their behavior and their current state. I knew a person to force feed a reluctant queen coris wrasse for weeks until it got used to a new tank (*it burrowed into shallow sand in the front of the tank, so all he had to do was just gently waft the sand off and squirt food with a thin pipette into the wrasse's mouth). I have never personally seen a shark of any form take to force feeding; however, you might find testimonials out there.

There are many different tricks to getting a shark to feed. To get a shark to feed you must offer them excellent conditions of both the water chemistry and the tank its self, as well as a variety of food, especially fresh. If you live close to the ocean and have access to fresh, fresh fish, octopus, squid, crustaceans, and shellfish (before they add all those ucky preservatives) you can offer this, as any marine animal can prove more likely to strike at fresher meats like this. Other keepers have noted success feeding live foods, rather like coaxing a lionfish to develop a feeding response, using things like silversides, snails, hermits, crabs and shrimp. Many sharks are more active predators at night, prefering to just hang out during the day, so feedings under total dark or mostly dark may work better for some specimens (for human observers, you can use one of those "infrared" lamps, like for snakes and reptiles for viewing of nighttime activity and feeding).

Cat sharks can be quite fun as they are among some of the smallest growing sharks, and most adapt quite well to captive life, so long as they are given the kind of care and environment they need. Otherwise, they have a tendency, like so many other impulse pets (like iguanas, bettas, burmese pythons, goldfish, and the ever-popular "Christmas Puppy" in this giving season) to just waste away and perish.