Although the bamboo shark is a niche pet that we don’t recommend anyone keeps unless you have a huge aquarium tank that is suitable for the animal, more and more people are starting to keep them in their tanks.
Due to the massive tank size requirement of a bamboo shark, most people who keep them usually want to keep tank mates in the tank with the animal to help prevent the tank from looking so bare.
Thankfully, the massive tank size really does open up what you are able to keep in your tank with your bamboo shark making a wide range of different fish species suitable.
With so many people reaching out and asking about the various bamboo shark tank mates, we have decided to publish this article to try and help as many of our readers as possible.
There is no need to keep all of these possible tank mates in your tank and in many cases, you will usually only need one or two tank mates depending on what you choose for your tank.
The Best Bamboo Shark Tank Mates!
Here is our usually recommendations for bamboo shark tank mates:-
- Eels
- Groupers
- Snappers
- Hawkfish
- Hogfish
- Rabbitfish
- Lionfish
- Rays
- Large Angelfish
- Parrotfish
- Tang
Some of these options such as eels have a range of different types that need various water parameters so always double-check that the exact type of tank mate you choose to keep has plenty of cross-over with the water parameter requirements of your bamboo shark!
Eels
Eels are one of the best possible tank mates for your bamboo shark as they tend to stay hidden away during the day and come out to feed at night which is exactly when your bamboo shark will be most active.
Eels are also relatively easy to care for making them a good option if you are new to keeping saltwater fish.
One thing to be aware of with keeping eels is that they can be very aggressive eaters so you will need to make sure that you are feeding your bamboo shark enough food so that it does not get outcompeted for food by the eel.
Groupers
Groupers are another good choice for a tank mate for your bamboo shark as they stay relatively small compared to other fish in the grouper family making them a good choice for a smaller tank.
Groupers are also relatively easy to care for and are not as aggressive as some of the other fish on this list which makes them a good choice if you are new to keeping saltwater fish.
One thing to be aware of with keeping groupers is that they are known to be jumpers so you will need to make sure that your tank has a tight-fitting lid to prevent the fish from jumping out.
Some types of groupers can grow to huge sizes so you always need to double check the maximum possible size of the specific group you want to make sure your tank is large enough.
Snappers
Snappers can be another good tank mate choice for a bamboo shark as they stay relatively small compared to other fish in the Snapper family making them a good choice for a smaller tank or for something that can easily hide from your bamboo shark.
There are over 100 different types of snapper found all over the world with a range of colors, patterns, and sizes so you should easily be able to find one that will fit well with your tank.
Hawkfish
Hawkfish are a good choice for a tank mate for your bamboo shark as they are relatively small and peaceful making them an excellent option.
The problem is that hawkfish can be difficult to find in some areas while also having a higher price tag than many of the other options on this list so this may hold the hawkfish back.
Still, the unique red color pattern on some types of hawkfish really does catch the eye making it a great looking tank mate!
Hogfish
Hogfish are our personal favorite species on this list but they are very hard to find while also being expensive.
Their unique shape, color, and pattern really are striking though making them a key conversation starter for guests to your home who see your aquarium.
Hogfish really do need a large tank though and in some cases, they may actually need a larger aquarium than the smaller options for a bamboo shark so always check that your tank can support a hogfish prior to adding it to your tank!
Rabbitfish
There are around 25 different types of rabbitfish in the wild but some of them are protected due to their low numbers in the wild.
Due to this, you will have to check your local laws when considering a rabbitfish as a tank mate for your bamboo shark.
In addition to this, some rabbitfish are quite bland looking often putting people off keeping the species in their tanks too.
Lionfish
Lionfish are a great, unique looking fish with a unique shape, color, and pattern but their popularity within the fish keeping hobby has faded in recent years.
Still, they can make an excellent tank mate for your bamboo shrimp in the right tank setup.
The majority of people will usually want to go with a dwarf lionfish or the common lionfish with both of these being relatively cheap and easy to find in most areas.
You can often find lionfish for sale online that are far cheaper than you can find them in local fish stores though so shop around prior to ordering the fish!
Rays
Rays are a controversial species to use as a tank mate for a bamboo shark and some types of rays will fish with your bamboo shark if they are kept in the same tank.
We have also seen people report that their bamboo shark ended up getting injured after adding a ray to their tank too.
Due to this, we would usually discourage people from using a ray as a tank mate for their bamboo shark but some people do and in the right setup with the right type of ray, it can work well.
Large Angelfish
The larger angelfish species can work well as a tank mate for your bamboo shark but you really should be sticking to the larger angelfish species.
The smaller angelfish often end up just becoming a meal for your bamboo shark if you try to use them as a tank mate.
Still, there are plenty of types of angelfish available that are suitable offering a wide range of colors and patterns that you are able to use in your tank.
Parrotfish
We love parrotfish as they offer some unique, beautiful colors that can be difficult to find in other species of fish.
Some parrotfish can have unique patterns making their prices skyrocket but the more common, generic color and pattern combinations are usually cheap and easy to find.
Tang
The larger species of tang can work well as a tank mate for a bamboo shark but just like the angelfish, the smaller tang species will often end up being eaten by your bamboo shark.
There are a large number of tang for you to choose from those that offer a number of different color and pattern options for your tank.
