Animal-World > Freshwater Fish > Catfish > Silver-tipped Shark

Silver-tipped Shark

Shark Catfish - Tete Sea Catfish Family: Ariidae

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Hexanematichthys seemanni Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

   Though this is a very attractive fish and fun to observe, the Silver-tipped Shark or Shark Catfish gets rather large, up to 24 inches (60 cm). It will need to be kept in a large aquarium!

   This is a peaceful fish and very good in a community aquarium as long as it is kept with tankmates it own size.

   The Silver-tipped Shark or Shark Catfish is actually a brackish water fish! So they would prefer hard water with salt added. As with many of the livebearers, 1-1.25 teaspoons per gallon of non-iodized salt is usually recommended.

   This fish has a venom on the spines that causes wounds to heal slowly so be careful when handling them!

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Distribution:
   The Silver-tipped Shark or Shark Catfish fish are found in Coastal Peru.

Size - Weight:
   These fish get up to 24 inches (60 cm).

Social Behaviors:
   The Silver-tipped Shark or Shark Catfish are generally a good community fish with fish their own size. Can be territorial with member of their own species. (Don't keep with fish that are much smaller since they are predaceous).

Sexual Differences:
   Not known.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:
   These fish will swim in the middle and bottom of the aquarium.

Acceptable Water Conditions:
   Hardness: to 35° dGH (Can be kept in brackish water)
   Ph: 6.5 to 8.5
   Temp: 26-28° C

Breeding/Reproduction:
   The Silver-tipped Shark or Shark Catfish have not been successfully bred in aquariums. In the wild they are mouth-brooders with the male brooding the eggs.

Availability:
   The Silver-tipped Shark or Shark Catfish is readily available.

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Latest Comments
Danielle recommended that fish should not be bought from Wal-Mart. I buy all my fish at Wal-Mart; mainly because they are the only ones that sell fish in my area. There is one pet store, but his fish are almost double the price. Even if the fish arnt the healthiest from Wal-Mart, they have a 90 day return policy, just keep your receipt and if the fish doesn't make it, take the body back. I've got 3 tiger barbs, 1 shark cat, 1 algae eater, 3 tetras, 2 African dwarf frogs, 3 mollies, a snail, and 4 small gold fish in a 30 gallon tank with 7 live plants and plenty of cover. All of them from Wal-Mart, only had problems with the mollies a week after I got them, took them back and got 3 new ones. I'm not saying Wal-Mart is the best place to shop, but when I asked the other pet store about their return policy, he laughed. Brian 2009-10-22
I have 2 silver-tip (catsharks). I have had them for about 1.5 yrs. I just put them in a bigger tank and they are getting bigger. They were about 3 in., now they are about 6in or so, they won't stay still to measure, lol. They are my favorite "baby's". I just bought a black knife fish that is about 4in and I was told it would get about 12-24in in a 30gal tank. Wow, maybe it won't hide behind the filter anymore when it gets bigger. I love my sharks and they know when it's close to the once a night feeding, they start roaming the aquarium all crazy. I just read they are brackish? but I don't do anything special. I do put aq. salt when I change the water. So far so good. laurie 2009-09-15
I have had 2 silver tip sharks for 1.5yrs now. My favorite fish in the tank. they are my "babys". They have are about 6.6in long now. They do eat fish that fit in their big mouths. Although I have 2 small red tetra's that are hanging in their with them. I put aquarium salt on water changes and they do just fine. I feed them flake food, frozen brine shrimp also and redworms. laurie 2009-09-15
My silver tipped shark died last night...It was definitely my favorite. I'm scared to get another one though, because I have a regular water tank. I was never informed that they were brackish water fish. Do these fish even stand a chance in regular water? Mine only lived a month. It was very spunky up until the day before it died. Sarah 2009-08-12
I have 4 gourami's, 3 black skirts, 2 bala sharks, and 2 silvertip's all in a 55 gallon and they ALL are very good together! I NEVER added a pinch of salt and they swim around fast & swiftly. I've been feeding all of them a mixed diet of flakes, pellets and mixed flavored blood worms. They all go crazy over the blood worms. They literally know when I'm feeding them. They watch me walk too the tank, lift up the hood and they start swimming crazy! 99% of the time I feed them only once a day, sometimes I'll give them a snack of flakes which they love also. Temperature wise, my water heater is set at 78 and all my levels are great. Very happy with this mix. john 2009-08-10
Some of the coolest comments:
I have 2 Silver Tipped Sharks(Columbian Shark Catfish) and they are my favourite fish by far. They are housed in a 50G Tank with 5 bumble bee gobies, 2 Needlefish, 2 Silver Scats, 1 Mono Sabae, 1 Mono Argentus. I have a sandy substrate. And my specfic gravity is 1.12.(Sea Salt in the water) I've had my 2 sharks since they were babies and they grow quite fast. I started them in freshwater for 6 months then started to add sea salt in at every water change increasing very slowly. They love the brackish water. They became more and more active as the salt was increased. These fish can survive in freshwater but thrive in brackish. Its amazing how many fish out there do well in brackish. The needlefish became more vibrant in colour and active.(Be careful with orange scats and needlefish) Had 2 almost kill one of my needlefish. Mobitex 2009-09-16
I love these fish. They are so much fun to watch. They like to hang out and lounge around at the bottom of the tank, but they also enjoy swimming around, especially vertically against the glass. They love it when the tank is freshly cleaned. When they look bored they will actually yawn! It's the funniest thing. Mine also don't mind being pet every so often. I've had my for about 3 years now since they were little things, one is about 7 inches long the other is 9 inches, living in a 29 gallon tank with a pleco. These guys will eat smaller fish and will kill larger fish if they are not fed. They got along ell with Iridescents until I went on vacation and the person I asked to take care of the tank failed to feed them enough. These are very hardy fish. They've outlasted 4 plecos, rainbow sharks, mollies, cherry barbs and basically everything else I had at one time or another. As far as food goes, I feed them a mixed diet of flakes, shrimp pellets, and algae pellets. These guys are like vacuums, and will literally suck up rocks and spit them out! Andrew 2009-07-04
Comments Dr Jungle REALLY Likes to Hear!
I wish I had stopped by this site before I bought my silver tipped shark. While at PetCo, the girl assisting me told me that this shark only grows to be about 12inches long, not 24. I also got 2 yellow guppies, and she never mentioned that they may end up being like feeders. I think it's interesting that there are so many comments about how the little fish will become food for this kind of shark. It's completely true that when the lights go out, your little fish go missing. Only 2 days later, and both my guppies are gone. Thanks for having a really well maintained site, as I now have a better understanding of my shark. ^_^ Pouncer 2009-03-06
Everyone that i talk to at various pet stores gives me a funny look when i ask them if they carry this fish. The place that I picked the two that i had was wal-mart. thanks for posting this page full of useful information so i can send it to my friends Ian 2006-03-04

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Author: David Brough. CFS.