Shark attack!

[wgscott]

What is it with shark mania. I walked into a certain well-respected fish store in Hayward, CA today and they had a bunch of sharks for sale, and people were buying them right and left. What gives? I have to say I am disappointed. They were also selling an octopus and my wife asked them (without my prompting) if it was legal. I think this is really irresponsible.

[Bamm Bamm]

Ask Perry If your talkign baout Aquarium Conceps..He might still work there..Last time I went in there they had a horned shark in a 25-30 gallon tank I was pretty pissed also...Dan

[PerryinCA]

Nope, don't work there anylonger. I might still be considered an employee, but haven't even stepped foot in the place for over a month. Gotta be talking about AC.... What type of sharks? I think I heard about that....

They always had one or two sharks in stock, (banded cats or horn) but they never sold, just kinda hung out. I am wondering what they were selling. Most people don't buy those sharks do to their boring nature (sit at the bottom unactively). Sad to say, but some of the more knowledgable people that were employees no longer work there. There are a couple there now whom I have heard are pretty much dumb@$$'s.

The octopus thing is not a big deal IMO. Although they have a short lifespan, they're relatively easy to keep in captivity (as long as they are a smaller species).

Surprised about the sharks though. I didn't think AC was very active right now because they are gearing up for the move.

-Perry

[wgscott]

They had leopard sharks and then also just some slate grey species. They were all a foot long about. There must have been about 10, and they were selling like hotcakes. I ddin't mean for this to turn into an AC bashing thread. It is only one of 2 decent places in the Bay Area. But I was surprised to see this and also nickle-sized rose bubbletips for $150. The purple tang that lives in a 6" cubical had HLLE. It just didn't look like the same store I visited about two months ago and blew $400 at. I think they must miss you, Perry!

[PerryinCA]

You know, thats somewhat angering to hear. I am gonna have to take a trip over there next weekend and whats going on. I wonder why the sudden rush and high stock level of leopard sharks? I could have swore they were a temperate species.

Like I mentioned before, Ken has been really preoccupied with the move (last I heard). Hopefully he is just having a temporary lapse of consciousness and he'll snap out of it.

My dad apparently went there today and said he also felt that everything looks below normal (stockwise). I'll see what I can find..

-Perry

[Dive_Master]

I read this and it makes me sad that people buy sharks without doing any research before acquiring these graceful animals.

I have sharks at home. They require a lot of atention.

First of all they grow very big. The leopard shark is about 2 feet long and is in a 500 gallon tank with a 18 inch horn shark.

There is nothing in the tank except fine crushed coral.

The temperature need sto be kept below 70 degrees. I keep my at 65.

They eat alot and the water is not perfect always (A liuttle nitrite) but the fish are fine. I feed them once a week.

I know one day that they are going to require a bigger tank, I am going to build one that is circular or modify a 18 foot pool and put them in the there.

Thank God my wife understands my passion for sharks and leaves my basement to my fish.

There are alot of leapard sharks in the stores lately. I cannot imagine that all people that buy them can provide the care and tank that they requrie.

It is disturbing.

[naser]

how do you know they arent being taken care of? anyone knows what a shark is before they buy it. they and i know it grows. just like everything. untill you see them coming back dead and or starved i think your prejudging them. i mean you have a tank to keep them what says someone else cant either?

[Dive_Master]

I think you misunderstood my comments.

A lot of people buy sharks hoping that if they do not feed them a lot, they won't grow too fast or people just do not understand what they are getting into. I did a quick study by sitting in a fish store and asked people that looked at the sharks if they knew how big they get. Well, over 50% of the people that considered getting one said may be a couple of feet. Well, they think that because why would a Pet shop sell fish that grows up to 6 feet. Also, I asked them how big their tanks were and what fish they keep inside. Well, most of them would keep tropical fish together with the shark at temperatures above 75 degrees in tanks much smaller than 200 gallons. Well, the sharks are only about 8-10 inches long. NOW!!!

I know for a fact that people try keep sharks at water temperature well above 72 degrees and some start keeping them in 75 or 125 gallon tanks. Well, that is absurd. The leopard sharks grow too fast for that.

If you can spend the time and the money to keep sharks, more power to you. They are beautiful, but it like any other pet, you need to be ready to accomodate it and provide the best possible surroundings. I see dogs locked up in a 4X4 cages and that's wrong too.

What do you do when the sharks outgrows its sorrundings. The pet shop will not take it, because it has no facilities. The city aquariums do not want them, so what do you do? Well, I think you know what I am getting at.

So the question is what gives humans the right to keep animals in captivity for a short periods of time without seriously considering the dedication that these animals need.

That's it. There is nothing else to say except for one thing.

Don'tt get me wrong, I support keeping fish or other animals in captivity even for the sake of enjoyment, but we need to provide them with the best possible environment and research their needs so we can learn and enjoy them for long periods of time.

[naser]

well it just sounded like you were jumping down the throat of anyone even wanting to buy a shark. maybe i took what you said wrong. instead of getting mad why dont you help people that have them... let them know what to do instead of getting upset. just my 3 cents.

[Dive_Master]

I was not MAD. I try to help as much as I can.

I think that PET SHops have to educate thier customers more instead of trying to sell the fish to make the sale.

[SeaBean]

Three words: Shark Fin Soup!;;

[Marinefish]

DO NOT BUY SHARK FIN SOUP!!! It is made by cutting the fins off LIVE sharks and throwing them into the ocean to slowly die!!!! And sharks have as many nerves in their fins as we do in our arms, AND they suffocate if they can't swim!!! That was probably a joke, but it's not funny when it conjures up horrid mental images. Don't mean to jump down anyone's throat, (except shark fin fishers) but it wasn't funny to me. Also, people should know where that stuff comes from.

[leebca]

I sympathize with you wgscott. It is quite irresponsible to import them for the hobby. Sharks swim in the open ocean and along reefs, but they roam a very long distance and grow fairly large. Any tank, even for the smallest of the species, less than 500 gallons is not in their best interest. But, it is a matter of money and the hobby thinks of fish as a commodity, like a piece of fruit. Until that thinking changes or is forced by legislation, this will go on.

I just hope that the public will learn.