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What Types of Sharks Can You Keep in an Aquarium?

A shark can be an interesting addition to your aquarium, but not if it eats all the rest of your fish. In fact, most sharks grow too large for an aquarium, even one with saltwater. There are some species of freshwater sharks that don't grow large, but they are not really sharks. They aren't predators and they don't have teeth, but they can give you the satisfaction of saying you have sharks in your aquarium.

Saltwater Sharks
- Most saltwater sharks are not only too large for a home aquarium, but are too dangerous to be handled by someone without the proper training. Three exceptions are the Brownbanded Bamboo Shark, the Epaulette Shark and the Cat Shark. They are among the smallest of saltwater sharks, but some still grow to lengths of 40 inches or more and require a 150-gallon or larger aquarium. They eat meat, fish, live goldfish or shrimp and are best fed small quantities several times a day. They get along well with other fish that are too large to look like food.
Freshwater Sharks
- True freshwater sharks either grow too large to be kept in a home aquarium or belong to endangered species. The Bull Shark, which can live in both salt and fresh water, grows to 10 feet or more and can weigh more than 600 pounds. That's too large to keep at home, although it may thrive in a public aquarium. River sharks, a category that includes six or more sub-species that live in rivers in Asia and Australia, are smaller, but aren't suitable as pets, partly because they are rare and protected and partly because they are dangerous.
Quasi-Sharks
- Many smaller freshwater sharks are available for home aquariums, but they aren't really sharks at all. One example is the Bala Shark, also known as the Silver Shark, which grows to a maximum length of 14 to 16 inches, but is a bony fish more like a carp than a shark. Its name derives from its sleek, shark-like body. Two related species are the Red-Tailed Shark and the Rainbow Shark. The Black Shark is another bony shark impostor that is a popular aquarium fish which, because it can grow almost 3 feet long, must be kept in a large tank.
A Shark Aquarium
- A shark needs room to move, so the aquarium should be at least three times its adult length and twice its width. It should be shallow and be as free of corners as possible, so a rounded or octagonal aquarium works better than a rectangular one. Give the shark plenty of open space for swimming, with perhaps one or two hiding places. The filtration system should turn over the water once every 5 to 6 hours. Sharks don't tolerate metal, so keep metal pipes and tubes out of the water. It's best if the aquarium itself has no metal in its construction.

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