Raising Sharks in Your Home Aquarium
By Mike LaVallee
When you think of raising sharks in a home aquarium, do you think of the movie Jaws? Well, people keep sharks as pets, but they’re not like the shark we see in horror movies.

There are several smaller varieties of sharks that are more suitable for home aquariums. The most common shark breeds that people buy for their tanks are the Epaulette and the Bamboo shark.

These sharks can grow to be about 3-4 feet in length. The Bullhead shark is another popular option, due to the characteristic ridges on the top of their heads. If you’re considering raising a shark in your home, there are a few important things to keep in mind before you ever start to look for a shark to purchase.

1) Size of the tank - Expect to spend a lot of money, because raising a shark in your home is going to require a very large fish tank, which can be costly. One shark alone will need about a 240-260 gallon tank. It will need to be quite long in length, too, since these sharks can’t survive in a small tank.

2) Weight of the tank – You’ll need to keep this in mind because these tanks can weigh as much as a pickup truck. Placing the tank within your home will be important. Putting it upstairs won’t be an option as the weight of the tank will weaken the floor and you’ll end up with a hole in the floor. You’ll need to find a sturdy concrete floor that’s several inches thick to hold the weight of the tank.

3) Cost of care of your shark - Raising sharks in your home won’t be a cheap hobby you can start. Sharks are expensive and so are the tanks that you’ll need to keep them in. Then there’s the filters and equipment needed for the tank, as well as the food you’ll need to feed the sharks. There may also be the cost of another tank if the one you bought doesn’t end up being big enough for the shark as it grows to its adult length.

4) Having the right mentality for raising a shark - Caring for a shark is not an easy task. Sharks need to eat at least three times a day and their tanks should be cleaned out quite frequently. You’ll need to do a lot of researching on the kind of shark you plan to get and exactly what you’ll need in order to care for one.

Shark owners, for the most part, enjoy raising them - but you need to make sure this is something you’re really serious about. Caring for sharks isn’t like caring for cats and dogs. They need an environment they can thrive in, which would not be a small, overcrowded aquarium.

Save up a lot of money and thoroughly research shark breeds before making your final decision. Sharks are living beings that don’t need to suffer because their owner wasn’t prepared for the work involved in caring for them.