Erich - 2015-04-29 Looking for a 6in+ sized cat, if you have one let us know
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Tyler Munson - 2016-07-07 Although your post was long, long ago...I am desperately trying to find a suitable home for my 7", brackish raised, silver tipped shark (cat). If you still have room for a growing catfish (and reside in Southern California), please let me know. Thank you.
Tyler M. 619.307.9978
Lita - 2016-09-06 I have two white tip catfish sharks both are 10 to 11 inches and they're free unless you want to give me $10 dollars each
Anonymous - 2022-01-18 hey do you still have the 10 to 11 inc fish
jo - 2022-01-18 hey do you still have the 10 to 11 inc fish
Sacha - 2017-08-17 My brother in-law got two silver cat fish and one of them is just swimming up rite and his dorsal fin is redish and I think is blood ??? Not sure the other fishes are poking him and he just swims to the filter bubble's is he died ???
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Bailey - 2019-12-31 Hello, I realize this was awhile ago, the same thing happened to my sons Columbia’s Shark, Wayne. He went to feed him this morning and his first dorsal fin is all red and he’s floating upright. Breathing and everything seems okay but he’s not swimming. What was your outcome?
Kristina - 2014-09-10 I got a silver tip shark about a month ago and I have it in a 5 gal tank. The fish mostly just sits in one corner of the tank and doesn't do much. why? is it because he's stressed or lonely? and how often do I need to clean/replace water in the tank. new at this fish thing.
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Clarice Brough - 2014-09-10 It sounds like you fish is very unhappy, probably because the tank is way too small. If you check out the aquarium setup section for this fish, you'll get an idea of what to do to keep him not only healthy, but happy:)
Adrienne - 2014-11-15 Make sure you have the right amount of salt in your tank. They are brackish fish
Knife Fish Lover - 2014-11-20 Your tank is way too small,as the Silver Tip Shark-Catfish needs a 55-75 gallon minimum.
Quinn McNabb - 2015-06-03 Hey so I just got 3 of these guys over the weekend from Petsmart. I got Salt and everything and have them in a 20 gallon tank right now but am looking into a bigger tank. I was just wondering what kind of fish pair well with these guys. If I switch them over to Saltwater too early will they die? what size before I move them over? If I got a stingray would they get along? How long can they be in the 20 gallon? (2-3 inches at the moment)
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Clarice Brough - 2015-06-05 They are fast growers, reaching up to about 14 inches in just 2 years. Only small juveniles are okay in fresh water and they will need a brackish water tank. You could start slowly adding a small amount of salt with your water changes now. For juveniles it is recommended to have a salinity of about 1.002 sg. with salt increasing as the fish ages. A salinity of 1.010 sg is recommended for adults.
Jaymi Loobey - 2014-08-20 Okay. I am thoughrohly confused now. I saw this fish at petco and the card said nothing about it being brackish or slightly poisonous. The petsmart site you guys show as selling this fish says it's related to minnows, not catfish like you do. And you say it is a scaleless fish even though the picture you have of it clearly is of a fish with scales. I just want to know if one will go well with bala sharks and a koi. Sheesh!
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David Brough - 2014-08-20 The point you make about confusion in the pet industry is a good one. The problem is compounded by the fact that different fish may have the same common names. That is why we always mention the genus-species. The fish at Petsmart has the same common name but is a different species. Animal-World is describing Ariopsis seemani while Petsmart is selling is something else... Im not sure what it is since I can't find it on their page. However, if you google Silver-tipped Shark you will find that a majority of write-ups describe it as a catfish. There are also actual sharks, a large species of requiem sharks with the same or similar name. The catfish on Animal-World may better be called a Columbian Shark Catfish, we will consider changing it. Sorry about the confusion.
Clarice Brough - 2014-08-20 I think the retailer has the fish mis-labeled - and thus their care info pertains to a totally different fish. You can tell the difference between a minnow species and a catfish species by looking at the fins on their back. This fish, the Silver-tip or Columbian Shark, has two fins on top, a large dorsal fin in front followed by an adipose fin just in front of the tail. Minnows are not sharks or catfish, but Cyprinids, and although some types of minnows may have barbels (just like this fish does) no Cyprinid will ever have the second fin on its back... the adipose fin will be absent.
As far as compatibility, the Bala Shark (which is a Cyprinid) is a good sized fish, and peaceful but skittish. It gets along with most fish, even smaller fish, just as long as they are too large to fit in its mouth. This Silver-tip is a catfish, and it too is peaceful with other fish as long as they are the same size or larger. Minnows would be fine with either of these two fish, as they too are peaceful... but watch the size when keeping them, especially with a catfish. If you add a fish that is tiny, it could become lunch.
Eric Axolotl Hamby - 2015-04-20 They are actually full saltwater. Pretty much the entire hoby is wrong about these things they just dont care becouse they look nice in a fish tank.
Eric Axolotl Hamby - 2015-04-20 Wanted to leave this video about these wonderful fisdh and the lack of knowlage that surounds them. The are full saltwater fish not brackish like they are mostly sold. Please watch before buying.
youtube.com/watch?v=AoQWIC2FOPM
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Clarice Brough - 2015-04-20 That's a nice video, and unfortunately these are one of those fish species that has a lot of mis-information passed around about it. However, they are not truly a marine fish, nor or they a freshwater fish. They are actually brackish-water fish. They are sold as juveniles in a freshwater system, because that is their stage of life when they are collected for the hobby. Adults can be kept in a brackish tank or a full marine tank. They can be kept at a specific gravity of 1.010 minimum, but the best salinity is between 1.015 to 1.025 sg.
These fish are found in Pacific-draining river mouths and estuaries from the southern Gulf of California to northern Peru and they spend the majority of their lives in these brackish waters. The adults spawn in the coastal marine waters and then the male, holding the eggs in his mouth, migrates many miles upriver to freshwater before releasing them. The youngsters hatch out in the freshwater many miles inland, and then they migrate back to the brackish river mouths and estuaries.
matt - 2014-11-30 My silver tip catfish has white bumps on his let side. Any ideas what it could be ? I have pics. thanks
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Clarice Brough - 2014-12-02 Hard to say Matt, but lumps, bumps, and growths can also be a variety of things. The first thing to determine is if he eating and swimming around normally. Is so, it could just be that he has injured himself, but if not then you need to look for other symptoms. Often they are simply a bacterial infection, but also check for ich, fungus, or Columnaris, see the Fish Disease and Treatment page to help. Then if all those are all ruled out you have to look at things like encysted worms (i.e. nematodes), Lymphocystis - a viral infection, or even possibly tumors.
david - 2008-11-29 I just bought a silver tipped shark at petco yesterday and now im really worried because I was told that they get about twenty four inches and that they will eat any fish thats smaller then him. I really love this shark but I dont want him to eat all my fish in the tank. He;s only about an inch or two now but should I return him??? I have swordtails, platties, mollies, yo-yo loach, rainbow shark, and tetras. I am doomed right? This fish will eat all my fish when it gets bigger right??? Please help me before it's too late for me to return the shark. Thanks Dave
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*Brianna* - 2010-04-02 My Silver Tip Does Fine With The Other Tank Mates In My 29 Gal. They Include Swordtails, Platties (3 Really Small Ones), Indian Ghost Fish (With Are Like Tetras) Danios, And Also Ive Had A Few Little Guppies In There. They Did Fine. And My Silver Tip Is About 5 Inches. =) For Everyone Els eI Havent Had Any Killings Yet So I Think They Would Do Fine With Smaller Fish. He Also Has A Few Other Same Size Fish He Swims With.
Jeremy Roche - 2013-05-25 The biggest issue you may have is tank sive. They can out grow the tank depending on size. They are not very aggressive fish and do well most of the time with smaller fish.
Jay - 2013-05-21 I have 2silver tip and 4 tiger barb went missing my sharks r only 3 inches
Toni - 2013-08-20 Do you know what might cause my silver tipped shark to swim using only his tail fin? He won't use any of his other fins. I'm afraid he might eventually die. :-(
Anonymous - 2014-08-11 Silver tipped sharks are calm and non agrresive creatures your fish are fine
kye turnbull - 2013-05-12 my friend said that he went swimming some where and saw Australian shark catfish that were about 1.75 metres long! im going to get some of the Australia species on the week end, there the easiest to find here because there native ( also these fish were seen in freshwater, they grow even bigger in salt!)
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kye turnbull - 2013-05-13 anyone got suggestions on what keep it with? im thinking maybe with my tandus tandus catfish, hopefully they will be good friends ( unlike what happened to my bristle nose catfish )
Clarice Brough - 2013-05-14 I think you'll have better luck with this combo, as they occupy different areas of the tank and don't look alike. Have fun!
kye turnbull - 2013-05-15 Tandanus catfish don't look anywhere near what bristle nose look like, they look like silver tipped sharks but brown and have a tail.
kye turnbull - 2013-05-15 an ell tail
7bar7 - 2014-08-01 I just bought 2 silver tipped shark.... My fish supplier would not sell only one... they HAVE to have another silver tip with them or they will not be happy... Sounds like some of the problems I read here may be from loneliness....
The Silver-tipped Shark is a very attractive fish and fun to observe, but it gets fairly big!
Looking for a 6in+ sized cat, if you have one let us know
Although your post was long, long ago...I am desperately trying to find a suitable home for my 7", brackish raised, silver tipped shark (cat). If you still have room for a growing catfish (and reside in Southern California), please let me know. Thank you.
Tyler M. 619.307.9978
I have two white tip catfish sharks both are 10 to 11 inches and they're free unless you want to give me $10 dollars each
hey do you still have the 10 to 11 inc fish
hey do you still have the 10 to 11 inc fish
My brother in-law got two silver cat fish and one of them is just swimming up rite and his dorsal fin is redish and I think is blood ??? Not sure the other fishes are poking him and he just swims to the filter bubble's is he died ???
Hello, I realize this was awhile ago, the same thing happened to my sons Columbia’s Shark, Wayne. He went to feed him this morning and his first dorsal fin is all red and he’s floating upright. Breathing and everything seems okay but he’s not swimming. What was your outcome?
I got a silver tip shark about a month ago and I have it in a 5 gal tank. The fish mostly just sits in one corner of the tank and doesn't do much. why? is it because he's stressed or lonely? and how often do I need to clean/replace water in the tank. new at this fish thing.
It sounds like you fish is very unhappy, probably because the tank is way too small. If you check out the aquarium setup section for this fish, you'll get an idea of what to do to keep him not only healthy, but happy:)
Make sure you have the right amount of salt in your tank. They are brackish fish
Your tank is way too small,as the Silver Tip Shark-Catfish needs a 55-75 gallon minimum.
Lonely
Hey so I just got 3 of these guys over the weekend from Petsmart. I got Salt and everything and have them in a 20 gallon tank right now but am looking into a bigger tank. I was just wondering what kind of fish pair well with these guys. If I switch them over to Saltwater too early will they die? what size before I move them over? If I got a stingray would they get along? How long can they be in the 20 gallon? (2-3 inches at the moment)
They are fast growers, reaching up to about 14 inches in just 2 years. Only small juveniles are okay in fresh water and they will need a brackish water tank. You could start slowly adding a small amount of salt with your water changes now. For juveniles it is recommended to have a salinity of about 1.002 sg. with salt increasing as the fish ages. A salinity of 1.010 sg is recommended for adults.
Okay. I am thoughrohly confused now. I saw this fish at petco and the card said nothing about it being brackish or slightly poisonous. The petsmart site you guys show as selling this fish says it's related to minnows, not catfish like you do. And you say it is a scaleless fish even though the picture you have of it clearly is of a fish with scales. I just want to know if one will go well with bala sharks and a koi. Sheesh!
The point you make about confusion in the pet industry is a good one. The problem is compounded by the fact that different fish may have the same common names. That is why we always mention the genus-species. The fish at Petsmart has the same common name but is a different species. Animal-World is describing Ariopsis seemani while Petsmart is selling is something else... Im not sure what it is since I can't find it on their page. However, if you google Silver-tipped Shark you will find that a majority of write-ups describe it as a catfish. There are also actual sharks, a large species of requiem sharks with the same or similar name. The catfish on Animal-World may better be called a Columbian Shark Catfish, we will consider changing it. Sorry about the confusion.
I think the retailer has the fish mis-labeled - and thus their care info pertains to a totally different fish. You can tell the difference between a minnow species and a catfish species by looking at the fins on their back. This fish, the Silver-tip or Columbian Shark, has two fins on top, a large dorsal fin in front followed by an adipose fin just in front of the tail. Minnows are not sharks or catfish, but Cyprinids, and although some types of minnows may have barbels (just like this fish does) no Cyprinid will ever have the second fin on its back... the adipose fin will be absent.
As far as compatibility, the Bala Shark (which is a Cyprinid) is a good sized fish, and peaceful but skittish. It gets along with most fish, even smaller fish, just as long as they are too large to fit in its mouth. This Silver-tip is a catfish, and it too is peaceful with other fish as long as they are the same size or larger. Minnows would be fine with either of these two fish, as they too are peaceful... but watch the size when keeping them, especially with a catfish. If you add a fish that is tiny, it could become lunch.
They are actually full saltwater. Pretty much the entire hoby is wrong about these things they just dont care becouse they look nice in a fish tank.
Wanted to leave this video about these wonderful fisdh and the lack of knowlage that surounds them. The are full saltwater fish not brackish like they are mostly sold. Please watch before buying.
youtube.com/watch?v=AoQWIC2FOPM
That's a nice video, and unfortunately these are one of those fish species that has a lot of mis-information passed around about it. However, they are not truly a marine fish, nor or they a freshwater fish. They are actually brackish-water fish. They are sold as juveniles in a freshwater system, because that is their stage of life when they are collected for the hobby. Adults can be kept in a brackish tank or a full marine tank. They can be kept at a specific gravity of 1.010 minimum, but the best salinity is between 1.015 to 1.025 sg.
These fish are found in Pacific-draining river mouths and estuaries from the southern Gulf of California to northern Peru and they spend the majority of their lives in these brackish waters. The adults spawn in the coastal marine waters and then the male, holding the eggs in his mouth, migrates many miles upriver to freshwater before releasing them. The youngsters hatch out in the freshwater many miles inland, and then they migrate back to the brackish river mouths and estuaries.
You can learn more about them in Neale Monks book, Brackish Water Fishes: An Aquarist's Guide to Identification, Care & Husbandry.
My silver tip catfish has white bumps on his let side. Any ideas what it could be ? I have pics. thanks
Hard to say Matt, but lumps, bumps, and growths can also be a variety of things. The first thing to determine is if he eating and swimming around normally. Is so, it could just be that he has injured himself, but if not then you need to look for other symptoms. Often they are simply a bacterial infection, but also check for ich, fungus, or Columnaris, see the Fish Disease and Treatment page to help. Then if all those are all ruled out you have to look at things like encysted worms (i.e. nematodes), Lymphocystis - a viral infection, or even possibly tumors.
Can you write a page on Tandanus Tandanus,the Eel Tail Catfish?
I just bought a silver tipped shark at petco yesterday and now im really worried because I was told that they get about twenty four inches and that they will eat any fish thats smaller then him. I really love this shark but I dont want him to eat all my fish in the tank. He;s only about an inch or two now but should I return him??? I have swordtails, platties, mollies, yo-yo loach, rainbow shark, and tetras. I am doomed right? This fish will eat all my fish when it gets bigger right??? Please help me before it's too late for me to return the shark. Thanks Dave
My Silver Tip Does Fine With The Other Tank Mates In My 29 Gal. They Include Swordtails, Platties (3 Really Small Ones), Indian Ghost Fish (With Are Like Tetras) Danios, And Also Ive Had A Few Little Guppies In There. They Did Fine. And My Silver Tip Is About 5 Inches. =) For Everyone Els eI Havent Had Any Killings Yet So I Think They Would Do Fine With Smaller Fish. He Also Has A Few Other Same Size Fish He Swims With.
The biggest issue you may have is tank sive. They can out grow the tank depending on size. They are not very aggressive fish and do well most of the time with smaller fish.
I have 2silver tip and 4 tiger barb went missing my sharks r only 3 inches
Do you know what might cause my silver tipped shark to swim using only his tail fin? He won't use any of his other fins. I'm afraid he might eventually die. :-(
Silver tipped sharks are calm and non agrresive creatures your fish are fine
my friend said that he went swimming some where and saw Australian shark catfish that were about 1.75 metres long! im going to get some of the Australia species on the week end, there the easiest to find here because there native ( also these fish were seen in freshwater, they grow even bigger in salt!)
anyone got suggestions on what keep it with? im thinking maybe with my tandus tandus catfish, hopefully they will be good friends ( unlike what happened to my bristle nose catfish )
I think you'll have better luck with this combo, as they occupy different areas of the tank and don't look alike. Have fun!
Tandanus catfish don't look anywhere near what bristle nose look like, they look like silver tipped sharks but brown and have a tail.
an ell tail
I just bought 2 silver tipped shark.... My fish supplier would not sell only one... they HAVE to have another silver tip with them or they will not be happy... Sounds like some of the problems I read here may be from loneliness....