How many iridescent sharks should be kept together?

How much space do you need for an iridescent shark?

This is especially true if you have a school of four to five iridescent sharks, which will need an aquarium of at least 100 gallons as juveniles and at least a tank size of 300 gallons as adults. Add approximately 150 gallons worth of space for each additional iridescent shark.

Are iridescent sharks dangerous in aquariums?

This can, understandably, be dangerous to them as well as to their tank mates, especially in an aquarium. This skittishness can cause your iridescent shark to thrash and hit their head or fins on decor in the aquarium or on the glass of the tank itself.

Can you breed Iridescent sharks in captivity?

To date, there have been no successful breedings of iridescent sharks in captive aquarium environments. This is because of the spawning habits of the fish and the sheer size of the adults. This fish is migratory and will travel upstream from its normal habitat to spawn in the late spring and summer months.

What fish can I keep with my Iridescent sharks?

There are many large peaceful or semi-aggressive, but not overtly so, fish that will make good companions and tank mates for your iridescent sharks. These include: The iridescent shark can live with any non-aggressive or semi-aggressive fish of a similar size and which will not harass the shark itself.

How big do Iridescent sharks get?

The average iridescent shark size can reach 3-4 feet in length when fully grown. We weren’t kidding when we said these fish can get quite large! Their size is one of the biggest problems that owners have to navigate.

What size tank does an iridescent shark need?

Iridescent shark becomes extremely large and it requires proper sized tanks. Besides this fish prefers living in a school and it means that far more space in a tank is required. For the juveniles a tank of 400 liters (88 gallons) capacity is required, for the adult fish – from 1000 liters (220 gallons).

How do you care for an iridescent shark?

Iridescent shark care is interesting. It’s actually rather manageable when it comes to their actual water parameters, food, and tank mates. The biggest thing you need to deal with is their size. As we’ve already established, these fish can get quite big.

Can you keep iridescent shark fish in the US?

In South-East Asia this fish is grown to cook it, but in the USA and Europe this fish is often kept in tanks. Further in the article, you’ll find out how to keep iridescent shark fish, feed it, select tank mates, and breed it.

What is the lifespan of an iridescent shark?

Iridescent Sharks can live for 15 to 20 years in captivity, but the sad truth is the majority of young fish only survive for a few years due to inadequate conditions. Cramped aquariums, aggressive tank mates, dirty water and poor diets all take their toll on these sensitive catfish and reduce their lifespans.

What happens to Sharks in aquariums?

Cramped aquariums, aggressive tank mates, dirty water and poor diets all take their toll on these sensitive catfish and reduce their lifespans. Iridescent Sharks are timid and rather shy, and their behaviors change as they mature. Juvenile sharks prefer to live in groups and often school together for safety, which is simply a beautiful sight.

Are iridescent sharks hard to keep in aquarium?

Iridescent Sharks are challenging to maintain in an aquarium because of their large size, high activity level and a few behavioral quirks they exhibit in captivity. The truth is, they’re a better option for heated ponds rather than aquariums, and few hobbyists have tanks suitable for a single adult shark, let alone a group:

Why does my iridescent shark keep hitting his head?

This skittishness can cause your iridescent shark to thrash and hit their head or fins on decor in the aquarium or on the glass of the tank itself. It may not be intentionally destructive while trying to escape what it sees as a threat, because these fish have very poor eyesight overall.

How big can an iridescent shark get?

The idea of keeping iridescent shark in a tank still stirs up controversy. Though in captivity this fish very seldom reaches the size it can be in the wild, but yet it grows to be rather large (up to 20 inches long). At that the tank size doesn’t influence their growth rate.

How to breed iridescent shark in captivity?

The mating and breeding season of Shark is late spring or early summer when the water level rises upward. Most of the Sharks are comfortable in laying eggs in the middle level of the ponds and streams. You need to provide a separate large tank for the breeding process of Iridescent Shark because it feels challenging to spawn and breed in captivity.

Where do Iridescent sharks lay eggs?

Most of the Sharks are comfortable in laying eggs in the middle level of the ponds and streams. You need to provide a separate large tank for the breeding process of Iridescent Shark because it feels challenging to spawn and breed in captivity. After breeding, separate the eggs from their parents.

Do you need a filter for an iridescent shark?

You will need a powerful filtration system in place while keeping this kind of fish, as they produce a significant amount of organic waste. External filters are preferred for these fish and their tank mates because they typically also provide the level of water flow that the iridescent shark prefers.

What kind of fish can live with an iridescent shark?

The tank mates of your iridescent sharks should be large, peaceful fish that can also be schooling fish if you’d like. You want to look for species of fish that are large enough or will be large enough that they won’t be eaten by your iridescent sharks.

What are the best iridescent shark tank mates?

The best iridescent shark tank mates are peaceful fish of similar size. Anything much smaller might get mistaken for a snack (which you don’t want). Since these are peaceful and shy fish any aggressive fish are to be avoided as well. Iridescent sharks don’t have the gumption to fight back or defend themselves which can make them easy targets.

Can you keep Iridescent sharks with crabs?

Iridescent sharks should also not be housed with crabs, shrimps, or snails. As soon as they can, they will begin to eat these tank inhabitants, so unless you’re maintaining a population in a separate tank and feeding off the excess crustaceans to your iridescent sharks, it’s not advised to keep them with these fish.

What kind of fish can iridescent shark live with?

Iridescent shark gets alone well with tank mates of the same size or the fishes they can’t swallow. Pangasius will treat any small fishes as food. It may disturb slow species or vice versa it can be scared by aggressive and predatory tank mates.

What is an iridescent shark catfish?

The Iridescent Shark Catfish has a very long history with humans. Southeast Asian nations have been utilizing it as an important food fish for hundreds of years and it is also a popular aquarium fish. It is known by a number of common names.