illuminum
Aquarium Advice Freak
I know this is a retarded question but I just had to ask...
Is there such a thing as a freshwater shark?
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Mr Burns
Aquarium Advice FINatic
i don't believe so, no...i think it's just a name. i have a redtail shark, but real sharks have a totally different anatomy (no scales and gill structure is a major one i think) as well as the requirement for saltwater. i could be wrong, but that's my understanding. i'm sure there's a lot more people here with more insight than i.
Fruitbat
Aquarium Advice Addict
There ARE true freshwater sharks but certainly not the kind you could keep in a home aquarium. The Lake Nicaragua Shark, which is probably identical to the Bull Shark (Carcharhinus leucas) is known to complete its life cycle entirely in fresh water. C. leucas can make the trip up the Rio San Juan that connects Lake Nicaragua to the Caribbean Sea, traversing the many rapids on that river.
Other salt-water sharks and their relatives will also move from estuaries into purely fresh water on occasion. The previously mentioned Bull Shark has penetrated up the Mississippi River for about 1000 miles and occasionally moves as much as some 2,600 miles up the Amazon. Numerous types of skates and rays also move from salt to fresh water. The Potamotrygonid stingrays are virtually all adapted to fresh water.
Other salt-water sharks and their relatives will also move from estuaries into purely fresh water on occasion. The previously mentioned Bull Shark has penetrated up the Mississippi River for about 1000 miles and occasionally moves as much as some 2,600 miles up the Amazon. Numerous types of skates and rays also move from salt to fresh water. The Potamotrygonid stingrays are virtually all adapted to fresh water.
RogerMcAllen
Aquarium Advice Addict
Fruitbat is correct. There are several catfish that are called sharks, but are not. The problem is that many of these fish are not suitible to the aquarium due to the maximum sizes they reach.
Thaiboxer
Aquarium Advice FINatic
You mean Bala sharks DON'T???
You just ruined the whole aquarium hobby for me!
You just ruined the whole aquarium hobby for me!
Bala sharks get plenty big for an aquarium 8O 
There are many sharks atht start life in slightly brackish water but eventually they end up in the sea. That is actually the case for many of the "sharks" they seel at LFS as well. Many are fine in fresh water when young but require movement to more brackish water when they age.
There are many sharks atht start life in slightly brackish water but eventually they end up in the sea. That is actually the case for many of the "sharks" they seel at LFS as well. Many are fine in fresh water when young but require movement to more brackish water when they age.
Thaiboxer
Aquarium Advice FINatic
I keep my tank slightly brackish anyways... may move away from that though. I really want some Clown Loaches, and the salt is bad for them...
I'd like to get some balas though! I've finally got a large enough tank.
I'd like to get some balas though! I've finally got a large enough tank.
RogerMcAllen
Aquarium Advice Addict
You have a several thousand gallon pond?
ferret
Aquarium Advice Addict
RogerMcAllen said:
One day, Roger, one day.
RogerMcAllen
Aquarium Advice Addict
I take back that pond thing, I was thinking ID shark instead of bala. Here are some great pics showing why noone should ever buy one for the home aquarium http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/pangasii/pangasiu/172_f.php
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