Though this is a very attractive fish and fun to observe, the Silver-tipped Shark or Shark Catfish gets rather large, up to 14 inches (36 cm) and needs several companions. This equates to a rather large aquarium!
SB - 2008-11-06 I just purchased one of these fish today at Petco and it is about 4 inches. After reading these prior comments I am a little shocked to have had the woman at Petco tell me these would be OK with guppies and other community fish. I guess I will have to start counting the guppies and see if any start to go missing!
Nan - 2008-10-02 We have had a silver tip shark for 9 months now. It's between 4-5 inches and it is always swimming at the top back corner of the tank with its mouth out of the water and seems to try to stretch itself out of the tank, it's extremely hyper. It NEVER leaves the top of the corner, even if you look in the middle of the night. Does anyone have one with the same type of behavior - it seems quite strange since they are supposed to be middle to bottom dwellers.
Candi - 2008-09-14 These fish are cool, and have more of a shark body than Bala Sharks. They should never be paired with mollies, danios, tetras, pretty much anything that stays under 5 inches (community fish). Their size is usually advertised wrong as they can grow to be 24 inches (2 feet). As stated below, they do have to be changed to brackish water once they are mature, even Marine water if one wanted too. I work at a pet store and try to warn people about their size and that they should only be with same size tank mates. I have one in my African Cichlid tank, brackish setting, with two giant lava rocks, and knocked over Rome Pillars, it loves it. The cichlids do not bother it, possibly because it is like their vacuum cleaner. XD. I love my fish. (^_^)
Kevin B - 2008-09-13 Hello There, I just purchased a Silver Tipped Shark (Catfish). He started on the bottom as I expected he would, but now he seems to be swimming at the top of the tank upside down. And he seems to be getting slower and slower. Can anyone tell me if they have seen anything like that or know what causes it? What can I do with him now?
kyle - 2008-07-07 I got a 4 inch silver tipped shark and about 6 guppies. Every night at least 1 of the guppies goes missing. I really like the Shark, he is fun to watch, but I'm scared to put anything else in the tank with him other than my plecastamous and cory catfish.
Matt - 2008-04-04 I have 2 baby silver tipped sharks in a tank with a redtail shark and they get along perfectly. They are really fun to watch them swim and eat they are about 1" and a 1/2 inch redtail shark
Ryan - 2008-03-28 Carefull with these fish.. I have 2 of these guys mixed in with some smaller zebra danios. I had one of my silver tipped catfishes jump out without me knowing it. But an hour later i found it and i put it in the tank and it survived !! it made a full recovery. It went to not breathing at all to alive and happy.
Timothy - 2008-02-01 I have 2 silver tipped sharks, Very awesome Fish. They go into a feeding frenzy everytime I feed them. I feed them 3 times a day even though you are only suppose to feed twice a day. They are only probably 4-5 inches right now, but wanting to get them bigger so I can start feeding them live fish. I also have a Green Spotted puffer fish with them. They get along SO well. From what I've been told you aren't suppose to put puffer fish with sharks as they won't get along. WEll, These little guys love to get along and the sharks actually show the puffer where the food is. Funny to watch. The puffer fish gets to know the owner. Every day when I wake up it's just laying there waiting for me, and when I get to the tank his little tail starts to waggle "almost like a dog". I recommend these fish to anybody who loves active and playful fish!
Though this is a very attractive fish and fun to observe, the Silver-tipped Shark or Shark Catfish gets rather large, up to 14 inches (36 cm) and needs several companions. This equates to a rather large aquarium!
My silver tip does vertical laps around my thermometer that stands in a corner. It's strange, but fun to watch.
I just purchased one of these fish today at Petco and it is about 4 inches. After reading these prior comments I am a little shocked to have had the woman at Petco tell me these would be OK with guppies and other community fish. I guess I will have to start counting the guppies and see if any start to go missing!
Our sharks our on the top too, back and forth all over the place!
We have had a silver tip shark for 9 months now. It's between 4-5 inches and it is always swimming at the top back corner of the tank with its mouth out of the water and seems to try to stretch itself out of the tank, it's extremely hyper. It NEVER leaves the top of the corner, even if you look in the middle of the night. Does anyone have one with the same type of behavior - it seems quite strange since they are supposed to be middle to bottom dwellers.
These fish are cool, and have more of a shark body than Bala Sharks. They should never be paired with mollies, danios, tetras, pretty much anything that stays under 5 inches (community fish). Their size is usually advertised wrong as they can grow to be 24 inches (2 feet). As stated below, they do have to be changed to brackish water once they are mature, even Marine water if one wanted too. I work at a pet store and try to warn people about their size and that they should only be with same size tank mates. I have one in my African Cichlid tank, brackish setting, with two giant lava rocks, and knocked over Rome Pillars, it loves it. The cichlids do not bother it, possibly because it is like their vacuum cleaner. XD.
I love my fish. (^_^)
Hello There, I just purchased a Silver Tipped Shark (Catfish). He started on the bottom as I expected he would, but now he seems to be swimming at the top of the tank upside down. And he seems to be getting slower and slower. Can anyone tell me if they have seen anything like that or know what causes it? What can I do with him now?
I got a 4 inch silver tipped shark and about 6 guppies. Every night at least 1 of the guppies goes missing. I really like the Shark, he is fun to watch, but I'm scared to put anything else in the tank with him other than my plecastamous and cory catfish.
I have 2 baby silver tipped sharks in a tank with a redtail shark and they get along perfectly. They are really fun to watch them swim and eat they are about 1" and a 1/2 inch redtail shark
Carefull with these fish.. I have 2 of these guys mixed in with some smaller zebra danios. I had one of my silver tipped catfishes jump out without me knowing it. But an hour later i found it and i put it in the tank and it survived !! it made a full recovery. It went to not breathing at all to alive and happy.
I have 2 silver tipped sharks, Very awesome Fish. They go into a feeding frenzy everytime I feed them. I feed them 3 times a day even though you are only suppose to feed twice a day. They are only probably 4-5 inches right now, but wanting to get them bigger so I can start feeding them live fish. I also have a Green Spotted puffer fish with them. They get along SO well. From what I've been told you aren't suppose to put puffer fish with sharks as they won't get along. WEll, These little guys love to get along and the sharks actually show the puffer where the food is. Funny to watch. The puffer fish gets to know the owner. Every day when I wake up it's just laying there waiting for me, and when I get to the tank his little tail starts to waggle "almost like a dog". I recommend these fish to anybody who loves active and playful fish!