Question on relationship between remora and sharks  8/24/08
Hello
My name is Jey and I'm in 7 th grade. We are studying symbiosis. When I was searching through internet I found that the remora eats the sharks "leftovers" but that the remora does nothing for the shark. But I was told that the remora helps the shark . I would like to know if you can help me find in what way it helps the sharks because practically in all the sites I've read it says that the sharks receives nothing from the remora.
Thank you
Jey Rivera (Puerto Rico)
<I speculate that sharks do receive a modicum of benefit from symbiotic Echeneids... the attachment and moving about with their modified dorsal fin likely is useful in dislodging external parasites... and a further "guess" is that the Remoras may act as "look outs" for both food items for the shark, and alert them to the presence of predators. Bob Fenner>

Shark Question, beh.... env. dis.   8/3/07
Hi (yes, again!!!),
This is a question on shark behavior, and I'll give you the quick
background, though you are probably all too familiar with me. The tank is a 200 gallon, with approximately 100lbs of live rock, sand substrate 2 to 3" deep, filtered by a Fluval FX5 with bio media only and filter pads (cleaned at worst every two weeks), a Magnum Canister hang on for water flow and carbon, a Penn Plax 300 power filter for mechanical, extra carbon and bio filtration, and a large protein skimmer rated for 200 gallon tanks (hang on variety). 0 ppm on both ammonia and nitrites, <10 nitrates. PH is at 8.2. Salinity is at 1.022 right now.
<...>
The occupants are a banded cat shark at 8", a passer angel at 5", a yellow tang at 4" and a dogface puffer at 5" (oh, and the cleaner wrasse, yes the original cleaner wrasse that I was fussed at for buying by you guys weeks ago, point well taken and won't occur again).
We have just completed the ich treatment of quinine sulfate, at which time I did a 25% water change and began running carbon again to remove it. The passer developed Lymphocystis (sp), I'm assuming from the treatment of quinine and the extra duration of no water change during that period. The shark, prior to treatment, acted wonderfully, eating well, usually a cube of shark formula soaked in Zoe, cut into pieces. During the quinine treatment, he did not have much of an appetite, though this may have been due to water quality during the treatment.
Now, conditions have returned to above stated. The shark, during the day, spends his time in a cave under the rock, which he has always done. In the evening, he comes out when I feed the other fish, but his behavior is odd.
He actively swims up and down the tank glass, often time pushing his head above the water. He eats ok, but not with the aggression he used to have.
He will take a piece of the formula and eat it, then rest on the tank floor, then resume this frantic swimming. He will usually eat two pieces or so, then he will mouth the third but not eat it. After, say, ten minutes, we will go through the process again, and he will consume two more, mouth the third, etc. I'm more concerned with this erratic swimming behavior, as it seems frantic at times. It only occurs in the evenings after I've placed the food for the other fish in the tank. This has been going on for about a week now, I suppose. Monday I purchased about two dozen ghost shrimp and put them in the tank after rinsing them with fresh water. I've been doing this ever since the shark has hatched. They get consumed by something over the course of a couple of days, I'm thinking by the shark at night, as the puffer has a hard time catching them in the daytime. I only mention this because when I put them in, the shark came out and was slowly cruising around trying to eat them, and at that time his behavior seems normal.
So, to summarize, he sleeps normal during the day, swims frantically up and down the tank walls in the evening when he seems hungry, but seems to eat less shark formula and in smaller pieces, like it's harder to mouth them.
If you can make any guesses or have any thoughts, I'd love to hear them.
Sincerely,
Thomas Roach
<Likely the treatment and disease condition, coupled with the present too-low spg and likely nitrogenous material is mal-affecting the shark's appetite/behavior... Correct this animal's world and hopefully its behavior will improve. RMF>

Marbled Cat Shark - 10/13/06
Hi my name is Jonathan,
<<Hello Jonathan>>
I was doing some research about these sharks because mine has been acting up.  I've had it for a couple of days, I've been keeping up with the feeding etc...I've been feeding it human consumable shrimps.
<<Will need a more varied diet...squid, marine fish flesh, etc.  Along with vitamin supplementation>>
It even ate a couple of our small fishes in my tank.
<<Yes...a very predatory species>>
The tank is a 55 gallon tank 4'x2'x2'.
<<Much, much too small...a couple hundred gallons needed here...in the least>>
We just got it but we will upgrade soon.
<<Make it quick>>
I take it these are bottom dwellers however this shark has been swimming around a lot.
<<May be an environmental issue>>
It is a rectangle tank and I fear it scratching against the corners when it swims around.
<<A possibility in this "too small" environment>>
This shark looks well about 1' long and the previous owner says he had it for a couple of years.  Any suggestions?
<<Get this animal in to a suitably large and equipped system...and start reading here (http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sharksystems.htm) and continue reading among the associated links in blue at the top of the page>>
Thanks in advance.
<<Regards, EricR>>

Re: Sharks......Again - 09/24/06
Sorry to keep bothering you, Eric, but I have one more question for you and that will be it for a while, I promise!
<<No problem Chad>>
On Fishbase.org, how do I tell how much a certain species grows per year?  I know how to get to the "Growth" section but I can't tell what is what!  Need help....bad!
<<Hmm...this particular data looks to not be available in most cases.  You can try clicking on "Search for more references on growth:" and chasing the resulting links around.  You could also try to find/contact a public aquarium housing the species in question and see what their experience has been re growth rates>>
Thanks,
Chad
<<Regards, EricR>>
Believe me, I will!!!!!!!!! Seeya Eric!
Many thanks,
Chad
<<Cheers mate!  EricR>>

Re: Which Shark(s) for a 1,200 Gallon System? - 09/12/06
Just one final question. How much does a Brown-banded Bamboo Shark swim around at night?  Just as much as an active shark would during the day maybe?
<<Hmm, don't rightly know...would think much of their "hunting" would be done at night.  Take a look here (http://whozoo.org/Anlife2001/callmatt/CMM_Bandedcatshark2_JES.html) for some more info on these sharks>>
Hope I didn't take up too much of your time, I know you’re busy with all of the questions that you guys....and girls receive!
<<Mmm, and even more so when the ‘Bobster’ is away.  But no worries my friend...is what we do>>
Thank you very, very much,
Chad
<<You're very much welcome.  EricR>>

Strange (Shark) Discharge   4/7/06
Hi, Bob.  I have a 2-year old female Brownbanded bamboo shark I raised from an egg.  She is about 26 inches long which I understand is close to sexual maturity.
<Yes>
  Her diet is mostly a mix of shrimp and squid (both injected with liquid vitamins) which I sometimes supplement with live night crawlers.  It’s my impression her health is excellent.  Recently, every couple of weeks in the middle of the night when she is active, she has been discharging “packages”.  These things are brown and the size and shape of a peanut.  They have a skin like a grape and will pop when I apply pressure to them after I pick them up out of the water.  They are filled with a brown gunk.  Any idea what these might be?
     Dean C.
<Likely early attempts at reproduction... "takes two to tango"... Bob Fenner>