{"product_id":"smooth-hound-shark","title":"Smooth Hound Shark","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Smooth Hound Shark, \u003cem\u003eMustelus californicus\u003c\/em\u003e, is a sleek, highly active shark with a streamlined gray to gray-brown upper body fading into a pale or white underside. Its elongated snout, graceful swimming style, and classic shark profile make it an impressive centerpiece for exceptionally large marine displays. Unlike bottom-resting bamboo and epaulette sharks, the Smooth Hound spends a significant amount of time actively cruising near the substrate and through open water.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNative to the eastern Pacific from California into Mexican waters and the Gulf of California, this species inhabits coastal continental shelves, shallow bays, and sandy or muddy environments. Its flattened, pavement-like teeth are adapted primarily for crushing crustaceans and other benthic prey rather than capturing large fish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Smooth Hound Shark is a specialized saltwater fish suitable only for advanced aquarists with extremely large, purpose-built systems. Its adult size, continuous swimming behavior, cool-water requirements, high oxygen demand, and need for an expansive footprint make it far more appropriate for large shark ponds and public-aquarium-style installations than conventional home reef aquariums.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eQuick Care Guide\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCare Level: Expert Only\u003cbr\u003eMinimum Tank Size: 3,000 gallons\u003cbr\u003eTemperament: Predatory\u003cbr\u003eDiet: Carnivore\u003cbr\u003eReef Safe: No\u003cbr\u003eRegion: Eastern Pacific – California to Mexico and the Gulf of California\u003cbr\u003eScientific Name: \u003cem\u003eMustelus californicus\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTank Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Smooth Hound Shark requires an exceptionally large aquarium or indoor marine pond designed around continuous swimming. Footprint is just as important as total water volume. Wide oval, rounded, or racetrack-style systems are preferable because they allow the shark to maintain a natural swimming pattern without repeatedly encountering tight corners.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProvide extensive unobstructed swimming space with a broad area of fine sand. Avoid coarse gravel, sharp rock, rough artificial decorations, and abrasive surfaces that can damage the shark's underside or fins. Any rockwork should be minimal, extremely stable, and positioned so it does not restrict swimming lanes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a temperate to subtropical species and should not be treated as a typical 78°F tropical reef shark. Chilling equipment may be necessary depending on ambient conditions. Excellent gas exchange, vigorous aeration, powerful biological filtration, protein skimming, and high dissolved oxygen are essential.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA secure cover or sufficiently high pond perimeter is important because smoothhounds are active swimmers and can jump from open systems when startled.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLong-term housing must be planned before acquisition. A juvenile may appear relatively small, but adults develop into large, constantly moving sharks requiring public-aquarium-scale swimming space.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eDiet and Feeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Smooth Hound Shark is a carnivore specialized primarily for feeding on bottom-dwelling crustaceans and other marine invertebrates. Its blunt crushing teeth are particularly well suited to crabs, shrimp, mollusks, and similar prey.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOffer a varied marine diet including shrimp, squid, clam, mussel, scallop, crab, and appropriately sized pieces of marine fish. Smaller individuals can also receive krill and other suitably sized marine crustaceans.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFoods should be fresh or properly frozen and varied rather than relying on one seafood item exclusively. Supplementation with an appropriate marine vitamin preparation can help prevent nutritional deficiencies when feeding prepared seafood diets long-term.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJuveniles generally benefit from smaller, more frequent meals, while established adults can receive appropriately portioned meals several times per week according to body condition. Avoid chronic overfeeding, which can negatively affect the shark while placing an unnecessary burden on water quality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRoutine use of freshwater feeder fish is unnecessary and should be avoided.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Tankmates\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Smooth Hound Shark is an active predator but is not generally known for the highly aggressive behavior associated with many larger predatory sharks. Its natural diet focuses heavily on crustaceans and other benthic animals, although small fish may also be eaten.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTankmates must be selected carefully. Small fish, shrimp, crabs, and other animals that can be captured or swallowed should be considered potential prey. Suitable companions must be large enough to avoid predation while also being peaceful enough not to harass the shark.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAvoid aggressive triggerfish, puffers, large angelfish, or other species that may nip at the shark's eyes, fins, or body. Slow-moving sharks can suffer serious injuries from persistent fin-nipping tankmates.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHousing multiple sharks requires substantially more swimming area than a single specimen and should only be attempted in systems specifically engineered for large elasmobranchs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eReef Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Smooth Hound Shark is not considered reef safe for a conventional reef aquarium. Although it is not primarily a coral-eating species, ornamental shrimp, crabs, mollusks, and small fish may be consumed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts large adult size and active swimming behavior also make delicate coral aquascapes impractical. Rockwork and corals can obstruct necessary swimming space or cause injuries if the shark collides with them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe species' preference for cooler, highly oxygenated water can also conflict with the requirements of many tropical reef organisms. A spacious shark-specific fish-only system with a large sandy bottom is the more appropriate long-term environment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWater Parameters\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTemperature: 60–72°F\u003cbr\u003eSpecific Gravity: 1.023–1.026\u003cbr\u003epH: 8.1–8.4\u003cbr\u003eAlkalinity: 8–12 dKH\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExcellent dissolved oxygen and temperature stability are especially important. Avoid allowing the aquarium to remain at typical warm tropical reef temperatures for extended periods, particularly when oxygen availability is limited.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon Considerations\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExtremely large system required:\u003c\/strong\u003e Adult Smooth Hound Sharks require thousands of gallons and an expansive swimming footprint rather than simply a deep aquarium.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTemperate species:\u003c\/strong\u003e This is not a typical tropical shark, and a properly sized chiller may be required to maintain appropriate long-term temperatures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHigh oxygen demand:\u003c\/strong\u003e Powerful circulation, aeration, and gas exchange are essential, particularly as water temperature increases.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoft substrate required:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fine sand and smooth surfaces help protect the underside, mouth, and fins from abrasions that can lead to secondary infections.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eActive swimming behavior:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rounded or very wide aquarium designs with long uninterrupted swimming paths are strongly preferred over conventional narrow rectangular tanks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"TSA Fish","offers":[{"title":"S","offer_id":52451772498218,"sku":"SHARKxHoundS","price":1399.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"SM","offer_id":52451772530986,"sku":"SHARKxHoundSM","price":1399.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"M","offer_id":52451772563754,"sku":"SHARKxHoundM","price":979.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"ML","offer_id":52451772596522,"sku":"SHARKxHoundML","price":979.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"LG","offer_id":52451772629290,"sku":"SHARKxHoundL","price":1399.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"XL","offer_id":52451772662058,"sku":"SHARKxHoundX","price":1399.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"XX","offer_id":52451772694826,"sku":"SHARKxHoundXX","price":1551.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0783\/0873\/7322\/files\/SmoothHoundShark_de13d17e-5aeb-4398-9efd-0bbab9cfa8ad.png?v=1788285168","url":"https:\/\/topshelfaquatics.com\/products\/smooth-hound-shark","provider":"Top Shelf Aquatics ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}