How fast do iridescent sharks grow? I have a 20g tank and plan to eventually get a bigger one. He's about 3'' now. I'd like to have an idea how long I have to get a bigger set-up. :shark:
growth of iridescent sharks
- Thread starter lisaann4jc
- Start date
in less than a year he should be well over a foot. those suckers grow like crazy and max out somewhere around 3 1/2 feet! i hope you plan on giving that guy a swimming pool.
Something else to be aware of is the fact that they prefer the company of other irredescents (at least while small to medium in size). They are skittish and largely noctournal when alone.
Dave
Dave
I thought I researched this guy before I bought him, obviously I didn't. There are so many lfs that sell them. I don't want to try to take him back, I'd like to keep him. What do people do that get them. I'm sure there's GOT to be a lot of suckers out there like me. :sad:
You're not alone. I got suckered into buying 2 of them for a 10g. "Oh yeah, they'll be fine in a tank that size". Bologna!!! :huh: I found out very quickly that a 10g was getting a little crowded. They are currently in my 55g community and after Xmas they are going into a 66g by themselves. They are between 6-7 inches long now.(I've had them since March) Anyways, I know they will soon outgrow the 66g, but I think I have found a home for them when the time comes. Someone with an indoor pond. I wish you luck with yours. They obviously wre never meant to be kept in an aquarium and its too bad that they continue to abuse them by doing so.
Debra Mark
Wench Boots!
Our Irridescent Shark is about 28" and has probably doubled in size in the 2 years we have had him. He was a returnee to one of our LFS's and a "sympathy purchase" on our part. I have to say he is one of our fish that has the most personality and is extremely tame. I wouldn't recommend irridescents as a purchase for most people, but I definitely wouldn't give ours up! 
Unfortunately most of the time they don't survive so people don't have to worry about what to do with them. For the thousands sold you only ever see a handful of large irredescents around. they either get stunted and die or they die of some other lack of knowledge or care. All in all there really are only a small percentage of hobbyists around who keep fish alive long term. I know far too many people who think that losing a fish or two each year is a normal part of the hobby and should be "expected"
Dave
Boohoo said:
ya same here. I was completely new to the hobby and i was told they got 6-8" and would be "fine for a 10 gallon tank" well when i got my 20 gal long i put mine in there and he was about 4" when i finally decided I would have to give him up. It's a shame they are sold so often but what can we do? to my knowledge there is no standard size tank that can comfortably house these fish.
I.shark
I have 1 in my 270Gal tank w/ 2 O's ,a clown knife and my little piranha. I've named him Bull, cuz all he does is destroy everything that gets in his way. He is about 9" now. But I have read that they can easliy break the glass of your tank at that size, so i was looking for some options.
I have 1 in my 270Gal tank w/ 2 O's ,a clown knife and my little piranha. I've named him Bull, cuz all he does is destroy everything that gets in his way. He is about 9" now. But I have read that they can easliy break the glass of your tank at that size, so i was looking for some options.
The only real option is too trade them in or donate them to someone with a huge pond or tank. One of the big downsides with large irredescents is that they really do prefer some company. they have a tendancy to ram into things and injusre their noses. A lot of the bigger fish you see will have severe nose damage.
I dream of someday owning a tank big enough for a couple of adult irredescents, they always will be one of my favorite fish.
dave
I dream of someday owning a tank big enough for a couple of adult irredescents, they always will be one of my favorite fish.
dave