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Brownbanded Bamboo Shark

Brown-spotted Cat Shark, Brown-banded Catshark

Family: HemiscylliidaeChiloscyllium punctatumPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

  The Bamboo Shark is also called the Brown-spotted Cat Shark or Brown-banded Catshark. Juveniles like the one pictured here have the bands and occasionlly spots. The adult Bamboo Shark are often plain gray or brownish in color.

   This is one shark that is successfully kept, but needs a large aquarium for room to swim in and excellent filtration! These are among the smallest of sharks at about 40 inches. Adults of the Bamboo Shark, Brown-spotted Cat Shark, or Brown-banded Catshark can be kept reasonably well in a 150 gallon or larger aquarium.

For more Information on keeping marine fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Marine Aquarium

Maintenance difficulty:    The Bamboo Shark, Brown-spotted Cat Shark, or Brown-banded Catshark gets too large for most aquariums but is otherwise easy to keep.

Maintenance:    Feed all kinds of large meaty foods like small pieces of fish, squid, shrimp, and live goldfish. Best to feed small amounts several times a day.

Habitat: Natural geographic location:    Bamboo Shark, Brown-spotted Cat Shark, or Brown-banded Catshark are found in the Indo-Pacific region, specifically, the east coast of the Indian Peninsula to northern Australia and north as far as Japan..

Foods:    See 'maintenance' above.

Social Behaviors:    Gets along with other fish as long as they are large enough not to be thought of as food!

Sex: Sexual differences:   The medial edges of the male's pelvic fins are modified to form claspers. The claspers are tubelike organs designed to deliver sperm into the female's reproductive tract. As the males grow older the claspers become more pronounced. The females do not have these.

Light: Recommended light levels:    No special requirements.

Breeding/Reproduction:    Egglayer, sometimes shark eggs are available for sale. More information on breeding can be found here: Banded Cat Shark.

Banded Catshark (Adult) Photo Courtesy: Callie Mathews

Temperature:    No special requirements.

Length/Diameter of fish:    Bamboo Shark, Brown-spotted Cat Shark, or Brown-banded Catshark adults can grow to 104 cm ( 40 inches).

Minimum Tank Length/Size:    A minimum 175 gallon aquarium is recommended.

Water Movement: Weak, Moderate, Strong    No special requirements.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom    Usually found resting on the bottom.

Availability:    This fish is available from time to time.

Lastest Comments on Bamboo Shark View all 48 comments on Bamboo Shark Add Your Comment

elsie - 2011-01-30 How can you tell the sex of a bamboo cat shark? Click For Replies (1) Anonymous - 2011-11-10 It's really easy. If the shark has claspers (two penis like structures by the anal fin) it is a male. If the claspers are not present you have a female. Reply

jason - 2011-10-09 Just wondering were am I able to purchase one of these beautiful fish as I live in Australia? Reply

Stephen Troester - 2011-08-10 Hey, I got a bamboo shark and today when I did a water change it started acting strange swimming in loops and I have to sit by the tank because it lands on its back. I'm hoping it's just something that will go away cus Bruce was just fine till I did the water change. Click For Replies (2) Charlie Roche - 2011-08-10 Usually something like that is because of stress or the conditions of the tank. Check the water, temperature PH etc and make sure all is OK. Attached is Animal World Article which summarizes various diseases but also behavior things. Scroll down and look up symptoms and recommended treatment is there. OK? Anonymous - 2011-08-14 Well sad to say it died and my blue tang died and a camel shrimp died as well it was because I got a fish that was ill and had tb and fin rott and ich and I went by the instructions on the bottle and on the second day of treatment is when all hell broke out it was that nox ich treatment but my cc seastar, clown fish, damsel, snowflake eel, big camel shrimp, hermit crabs, sally light foot, all seem to be doing well. I'm just glad I didn't lose all my fish. P.s. if you get a fish that has a sunk in stomach and won't compete for food get it out it has tb which can wipe out an aquarium in days. Reply

jose - 2011-05-22 I`m very happy, today the shark is eating better!!! 2 weeks trying but finally the results are very pleasant. Thanks for the tips and advice. Click For Replies (2) Charlie Roche - 2011-05-22 Good going - lots of people know the answers to your questions. I am glad that fella could help you. Interesting answer - never would have thought of it. Great Lionel Kakeh\r\n - 2011-07-18 Fine, I noticed your site in digg and these posts really attracted me ~ Reply

jose - 2011-05-09 Need help feeding my new shark as 3 days that dont wan't to eat. Any adviced!!! What can I do? Thank you. Click For Replies (5) Charlie Roche - 2011-05-10 Feed all kinds of large meaty foods like small pieces of fish, squid, shrimp, and live goldfish. Best to feed small amounts several times a day. Jade Thompson - 2011-05-12 Get long pair of hemostats and get feeder guppies, pinch on tail. Let the feeder fish flutter right underneath sharks mouth. It took me 3 days to get mine going but I worked with it 3 or 4 times a day. Keep trying, don't give up. It will live up to 2 weeks off of its fat built up off of the egg, but needs to eat. jose - 2011-05-13 Thanks Jade, apreciate the feedback. Today is my fifth day of trying and still no result. Already tryed silversides, goldfish and drops of garlic xtrime. First thing tomorrow get some guppies!!! bill - 2011-05-21 Yes, it is hard but what would be even more difficult would be to lose your investment. I just lost one of mine by failing to change filters. Take extra time and effort. You will have fun with results. jose - 2011-05-21 That's correct Bill, thanks for the comment. Two days ago the shark is finally eating but very small amount of food, so far so good!!! Reply

george whiting - 2011-01-11 How much for a bamboo shark? :) Click For Replies (1) jose - 2011-05-09 I paid $90.00 for mine. I don't know if it is ok. Just to let you know. Reply

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