Types of Home Aquarium Sharks

Home aquarium sharks are often small sharks that don't grow to be very large, as sharks need a large amount of water in which to swim to be healthy and survive. So you either need a very large tank for a big shark or a smaller shark for a common-sized aquarium. The latter usually works better.

  1. Bala Shark

    • The Bala Shark is a very small fish which only grows to be about a foot long. They have very large eyes and are silver in color with black trim along their fins. They should be kept in a school of six or more, as that is what makes the species feel the most comfortable. This shark is also only a shark by name as it is a member of the carp family but is known far and wide as a freshwater shark. The Bala Shark lives best in water that is between 72 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

    Red Tailed Shark

    • Red Tailed Sharks are small fish with black bodies and red tails. They grow to be about 6 inches in length and live in freshwater. They're very aggressive and territorial. Red Tailed Sharks are not technically sharks but are related more to the minnow. However, these freshwater fish are perfect for smaller home aquariums as they don't need a large amount of water for swimming. This is important to ensure your sharks survive and can swim around freely.

    Horn Shark

    • A Horn Shark is a smaller saltwater shark which is actually a shark, yet small enough to live comfortably in a larger-sized home salt water aquarium. These sharks, like most saltwater sharks, are rather difficult to take care of and require real expertise in aquarium maintenance and pH levels. The Horn Shark will eat virtually any crustacean or mollusk in the aquarium and will grow up to 16 inches long. These sharks often have a difficult time acclimating to new tanks and saltwater environments. They should be fed shrimp, small fish and scallops.