NURSE SHARK

[TOM A.]

I was at my lfs an saw a two foot nurse shark for sale for $300 . It was in a 135 gal with a lot of live rock in it . It was upside down and breathing fast. There is another small shark in it to.Dont nurse sharks get to be over 200lbs in the wild. You would need a huge tank for that guy.

[fishyboi]

135 is way to small for a nurse shark. they should atleast take out the live rock to create more space for them

[ewurm]

An aquarium in a household is probably too small for a nurse shark.

[jrwagner]

135 is way to small, and the last time I checked they are not supposed to lay on their back half dead?

[krj-1168]

Yea, it does sound like the poor shark was going to die soon.

On it's back & breathing fast, are generally very bad signs.

But still - as a generally rule a Nurse Shark is a bad choice for a pet shark in your home aquarium.

Although they usually are very hardy sharks. They get very large - mature at about 7-8ft, and usually reach about 9-10ft in captivity. Also for a bottom-dwelling species they are fairly active(every notice nurses swimming around at a public aquarium).

The fact is to keep a nurse shark for it's entire life - you'll need a large shark pool(at least 6,000 gallons).

And because Nurse sharks are so cheap(if one can call a $300 fish cheap)- - it makes it the 2nd worst shark available for home aquariums, & to shark hobbists(actually Lemon sharks are worse - because they are require a much larger pool & have been known to attack people, - unprevoked).

I would have added Bull Sharks to the list - but Bull Sharks run about $6,000-8,000
a piece. So these are general out of the price range to most shark hobbists. Also most dealers that sale Bull Sharks, will only do so to very experienced profressional keepers or large public aquariums


Just, don't buy a nurse unless you have a huge shark pool !!!

[DeLgAdO]

Yea, it does sound like the poor shark was going to die soon.

On it's back & breathing fast, are generally very bad signs.

But still - as a generally rule a Nurse Shark is a bad choice for a pet shark in your home aquarium.

Although they usually are very hardy sharks. They get very large - mature at about 7-8ft, and usually reach about 9-10ft in captivity. Also for a bottom-dwelling species they are fairly active(every notice nurses swimming around at a public aquarium).

The fact is to keep a nurse shark for it's entire life - you'll need a large shark pool(at least 6,000 gallons).

And because Nurse sharks are so cheap(if one can call a $300 fish cheap)- - it makes it the 2nd worst shark available for home aquariums, & to shark hobbists(actually Lemon sharks are worse - because they are require a much larger pool & have been known to attack people, - unprevoked).

I would have added Bull Sharks to the list - but Bull Sharks run about $6,000-8,000
a piece. So these are general out of the price range to most shark hobbists. Also most dealers that sale Bull Sharks, will only do so to very experienced profressional keepers or large public aquariums


Just, don't buy a nurse unless you have a huge shark pool !!!

at least 6000????

your gunna needed a 100,000 aquarium to house those huge ass mofos

and they get more like 12-14 feet

[krj-1168]

Well, Delgado - your right about Nurses growing up to 14ft - but that's in the wild. And also it's the top 2-3% of all nurse sharks(which makes them very rarely seen). I've personal seen dozen of them(mostly in various Public Aquariums along the east coast - from Virginia to Florida), and none were larger than 10 ft. Plus most experts agree that 9-10 ft seems to be the species average.

The 6,000 gallons estimate for a minimum tank - was my bad. Although I most point out that this is still about 25% larger than Scott Micheal's estimate of just 4,800 gallons.

But if you used Scott's Tank estimate for Bottom-dwellers, and used the Nurse's maximum length. You would like end up with about 10,000 to 11,000 gallons.

And Yes, 100,000 gallons would be most ideal for these sharks - but then most shark hobbists don't have a pocketbook like Donald Trump ot Bill Gates.

Still the whole point is the Nurse is a very large shark, and require a Very, Very large pool or tank to house it. So don't even think about buying the little shark in your LFS, if you can't build a large swimming size pool or tank to keep it in as an adult.

By the way - a friendly piece of advice - If you like the looks of the nurse shark - your better to consider the Brownbanded Bamboo. Because these little guys will usually look like a small (3ft long) nurse when they're full grown. And you'll be about to keep them in a large(240 gallon +) aquarium for their entire lives.

[Plumber]

As far as I'm concerned, I consider that sort of thing abuse, and the proper authorities should be contacted.

[DeLgAdO]

By the way - a friendly piece of advice - If you like the looks of the nurse shark - your better to consider the Brownbanded Bamboo. Because these little guys will usually look like a small (3ft long) nurse when they're full grown. And you'll be about to keep them in a large(240 gallon +) aquarium for their entire lives.

OMG!!!!!!!! a 3ft fish in a 8x2x2??????

the minimum should be 500 gallons

im sorry but a 3ft fish in a 2ft wide tank just wont cut, regardless of how flexible the fish is.

Well, Delgado - your right about Nurses growing up to 14ft - but that's in the wild. And also it's the top 2-3% of all nurse sharks(which makes them very rarely seen). I've personal seen dozen of them(mostly in various Public Aquariums along the east coast - from Virginia to Florida), and none were larger than 10 ft. Plus most experts agree that 9-10 ft seems to be the species average.

The 6,000 gallons estimate for a minimum tank - was my bad. Although I most point out that this is still about 25% larger than Scott Micheal's estimate of just 4,800 gallons.

But if you used Scott's Tank estimate for Bottom-dwellers, and used the Nurse's maximum length. You would like end up with about 10,000 to 11,000 gallons.


agreed, that would be good for just one fish, but if your like most mfk hobbyiest

chances are you want to indroduce some friends to keep em company :naughty:

but i should ahve stated that, my bad. :)

[Elasmofreak]

Nurse sharks, XXL sharks like zebras, and very large requiem sharks should not be sold @ lfs unless they brought them in for a XXL display aquarium. Its sad really that some places offer such animals to general aquarists. The ignorance that goes on in this country in retarded! I dont know how they got it, because sharks arent allowed out of FL any longer (legally). Unless the collector has a licence, which sells to the store owner who also MUST have a licence, who sells to the aquarist who MUST also have a licence. Unless the store transhipped the shark in from the styx someplace... Something smells fishy:naughty:

[PeacockBass]

Well, Delgado - your right about Nurses growing up to 14ft - but that's in the wild. And also it's the top 2-3% of all nurse sharks(which makes them very rarely seen). I've personal seen dozen of them(mostly in various Public Aquariums along the east coast - from Virginia to Florida), and none were larger than 10 ft. Plus most experts agree that 9-10 ft seems to be the species average..


Why do fish grow larger in the wild? Rather than being fed everyday in a fishtank?

Can I get the information given to you by these experts?

Witnessing fish in a public aquarium really doesnt mean much, btw.

[Zoodiver]

If a fish doesn't grow to it's full "wild size", then you are doing something wrong.

Nurses will get 12 feet no problem. Tank size will be well over 10,000 gallons. I just got out of my 8,900 after some scrubbing. Thinking of putting a nurse from the other place I work in there (even at 7') is wrong.

Size at a public aquarium means nothing unless you have more info (like age). Our's are still growing quite well. We were actually talking about large bodied sharks in home tanks at the aquarium last week (spurred on my the K-Fed/Brittney sandtiger issue in the news lately).

[craig]

One of my lfs's has a three and a half foot nurse shark in a 1000 gallon tank. Her roomates are a large bumble bee grouper and a remora.

[TOM A.]

that shark is still in that tank ...... he swims in a tight fig. 8 pattern all day ..seems frustated

[krj-1168]

First off, when I said that a 240 gallon would be fine for a Brownbanded Bamboo. But I didn't say a standard 240 gallon(8x2x2). The truth is your standard aquariums aren't really good for most species of sharks for "home aquariums", because they are generally to narrow.

I made the suggestion about the Brownbanded - because the fact is it's simple a much better choice(than a Nurse) for a home aquarium shark.

Most sharks for "Home Aquaria", like Bamboos, Horns, & Catsharks really need tanks build like the clam tanks you find in some LFSs. That is fairly shallow but wide & long.
And a adult Brown banded needs at least a tank that is 3 ft wide & about 7ft long.

By the way Zoodiver - yes, Nurse sharks can 14ft long - but remember encountering 14 ft nurse shark - is like encountering a guy like that over 7ft tall(unless you go to NBA games on a regular basis). Generally 99% of the sharks(of any given species) your going to see won't ever reach the maximum size of the species.

Also Remember, a species average is general the average size of all available adult specimens of that species. So if you take a fairly common shark like the nurse - your may have hundreds of adult specimens. And even in the wild the nurse shark averages about 3m(10ft).

And yes, Zoodiver, your nurse should still keep grow for several more years - nurses don't full sexually mature(general sign of adulthood in all animals) until they reach 7.5ft
long.

Personally I think sharks like Lemons, Nurses, & Zebras - should be banded from ever being sold to LFS - this guys simple get way too large for even experienced shark hobbists to keep. Yes, I believe that these guys are best seen at public aquariums

Also most requiem sharks like Blacktip & Whitetip Reef sharks, as well as Leopards should be resticted - requiring to the shark hobbist to show they have experience(ie must get a license or permit- to own) with smaller free-swimming sharks.

Only the following free-swimming sharks should be available to most shark hobbists, without requiring a premit or license. But even these still require a large shark pool(at least 10-15 on diameter), to keep.

- Atlantic Smoothhound - 4 ft long - at least 1,700 gallons
- Brown Smoothhound - about 3 ft long - at least 1,200 gallons
- Grey Smoothhound - about 4 ft long - at least 1,700 gallons
- Dogfish - about 4 ft long - at least 1,700 gallons.

Note that smoothhounds are mostly free-swimmers - but also can rest on the bottom for brief periods.

- Atlantic Sharpnose - about 3.6 ft long - at least 2,100 gallons
- Bonnethead - about 4.5 ft long - at least 3,200 gallons

Both of these species are true free-swimmers (Ram Ventilators).

And when planning to keep any shark in your home - remember - Bigger is always Better.

[Elasmofreak]

First off, when I said that a 240 gallon would be fine for a Brownbanded Bamboo. But I didn't say a standard 240 gallon(8x2x2). The truth is your standard aquariums aren't really good for most species of sharks for "home aquariums", because they are generally to narrow.

I made the suggestion about the Brownbanded - because the fact is it's simple a much better choice(than a Nurse) for a home aquarium shark.

Most sharks for "Home Aquaria", like Bamboos, Horns, & Catsharks really need tanks build like the clam tanks you find in some LFSs. That is fairly shallow but wide & long.
And a adult Brown banded needs at least a tank that is 3 ft wide & about 7ft long.

By the way Zoodiver - yes, Nurse sharks can 14ft long - but remember encountering 14 ft nurse shark - is like encountering a guy like that over 7ft tall(unless you go to NBA games on a regular basis). Generally 99% of the sharks(of any given species) your going to see won't ever reach the maximum size of the species.

Also Remember, a species average is general the average size of all available adult specimens of that species. So if you take a fairly common shark like the nurse - your may have hundreds of adult specimens. And even in the wild the nurse shark averages about 3m(10ft).

And yes, Zoodiver, your nurse should still keep grow for several more years - nurses don't full sexually mature(general sign of adulthood in all animals) until they reach 7.5ft
long.

Personally I think sharks like Lemons, Nurses, & Zebras - should be banded from ever being sold to LFS - this guys simple get way too large for even experienced shark hobbists to keep. Yes, I believe that these guys are best seen at public aquariums

Also most requiem sharks like Blacktip & Whitetip Reef sharks, as well as Leopards should be resticted - requiring to the shark hobbist to show they have experience(ie must get a license or permit- to own) with smaller free-swimming sharks.

Only the following free-swimming sharks should be available to most shark hobbists, without requiring a premit or license. But even these still require a large shark pool(at least 10-15 on diameter), to keep.

- Atlantic Smoothhound - 4 ft long - at least 1,700 gallons
- Brown Smoothhound - about 3 ft long - at least 1,200 gallons
- Grey Smoothhound - about 4 ft long - at least 1,700 gallons
- Dogfish - about 4 ft long - at least 1,700 gallons.

Note that smoothhounds are mostly free-swimmers - but also can rest on the bottom for brief periods.

- Atlantic Sharpnose - about 3.6 ft long - at least 2,100 gallons
- Bonnethead - about 4.5 ft long - at least 3,200 gallons

Both of these species are true free-swimmers (Ram Ventilators).

And when planning to keep any shark in your home - remember - Bigger is always Better.

Bringin on the heat!! Man its like Shark Biology up in here!;)

[Elasmofreak]

Bringin on the heat!! Man its like Shark Biology up in here!;)

And there are some limitations on shark collections as i have mentioned before. Unfortunately not many on pacific species, only atlantic. Nurse sharks, and Leopard sharks are illegal to sell, unless you have a private collectors licence, and the buyer must have one also.

[krj-1168]

And there are some limitations on shark collections as i have mentioned before. Unfortunately not many on pacific species, only atlantic. Nurse sharks, and Leopard sharks are illegal to sell, unless you have a private collectors licence, and the buyer must have one also.


Really? - I don't know that Nurse sharks required a license to keep. I mean personally I think they should. They are a really huge fish.

I knew about the leopard - needs to be at least 36" long - because the pups are illegal to capture.

As for the private collectors of the atlantic species vs. pacific species of sharks.

While - not experience dealing with them.

But in talking to the local online fish dealers in the carolinas.

While certain species of sharks are resticted by size or number,like Blacktips, Sandbars, & sandtigers. But most of the smaller coastal sharks aren't resticted - like the Atlantic Sharpnose, Atlantic Smoothhound, Bonnetheads, or Dog fish.

[Zoodiver]

But most of the smaller coastal sharks aren't resticted - like the Atlantic Sharpnose, Atlantic Smoothhound, Bonnetheads, or Dog fish.

Actually ALL are regulated. It's controlled by each individual state, not by a national law. As someone who legally collects and transports these types of animal on a regular basis, I'm very familiar with the regulations. Where did your information come from?

Catching and releasing is one thing. Catching and cleaning (killing) is most often size limited. Catching and keeping live is illegal without proper permits.

[Elasmofreak]

Actually ALL are regulated. It's controlled by each individual state, not by a national law. As someone who legally collects and transports these types of animal on a regular basis, I'm very familiar with the regulations. Where did your information come from?

Catching and releasing is one thing. Catching and cleaning (killing) is most often size limited. Catching and keeping live is illegal without proper permits.

Exactly

[krj-1168]

Opps - My mistake - I was looking at catch size limits for those species.

Your right - Zoodiver, fish collectors of those species does require a license to do so.

[Justin_James]

I'm staying out of this one. Hahahaha. Opinions are like butt holes. Everyone has one. Hahahaha. Krj-1168, and elsmofreak got this one covered with some hardcore facts that I will back up.

[cleoncello]

way way small. i have a nurse and 2 bonnet sharks and I have them in a 14,000 gallon lagoon and there only 4 feet a piece. And I think 14,000 gallons is too small....wow...what a idiot.

[proaquatics]

ive seen 8 ft nurse in the wild and they need more like the 100,000 gal range.if not just let be in the wild

[krj-1168]

First off - Nurses are able to adapt to captivity better than most other species of sharks(especially requiems). Certainly as well as most benthic sharks -such as Bamboos, eppies & Horns.

While suggesting that a 100,000 gallons is a bare minimum for keeping a Nurse - maybe fine, and naturally very realistic - if you happen to own a small public Aquarium. But it's not very realistic figure for a private aquarist.

And while some aquarists can say that Nurse sharks - don't belong in the hand of any private aquarist. The reality is that Nurse sharks often end up in the hands of private aquarists.

The big problem I have - it that the species all too often end up in the hands of Inexperienced shark aquarists - which is a recipe for trouble. I really don't have a problem with Nurse Sharks being kept by very knowledge & experienced private aquarists. As I've heard of aquarists that have kept successfully - adult Nurses in 20,000-25,000 gallon shark lagoons. And even cases of breeding Nurses in a 30,000 gallon lagoon.

Ultimately it's impossible to exactly replicate the ocean (which is the ideal place for all species sharks). The best thing that any aquarist (public or private) can do is make sure all of the shark's needs are met in order to give it the best chance for survive in captivity.

[Zoodiver]

way way small. i have a nurse and 2 bonnet sharks and I have them in a 14,000 gallon lagoon and there only 4 feet a piece. And I think 14,000 gallons is too small....wow...what a idiot.

Welcome to the site!!!!

We want pics of said lagoon!!!!! (please) :headbang2:headbang2

[krj-1168]

way way small. i have a nurse and 2 bonnet sharks and I have them in a 14,000 gallon lagoon and there only 4 feet a piece. And I think 14,000 gallons is too small....wow...what a idiot.

Well - I wouldn't exactly say your an "idiot" - after all a 14,000 gallon lagoon is pretty impressive. And it's still much larger than the "often quoted" minimum tank sizes for either species(which is usually in the 2,500-5,000 gallon range).

But I personally agree that both Bonnetheads & Nurse Sharks require minimum tank sizes that are larger than 14,000 gallons, - especially for life.

[Brenden]

Ken, I think he was refering to the originator of this thread as being the "idiot".

[krj-1168]

Ken, I think he was refering to the originator of this thread as being the "idiot".

Hmmm... Don't think so. The originator of this thread talked about seeing a Nurse being kept by his LFS in a 135 gallon tank.

Which as we all know is kind of hot subject matter.

BTW - just noticed how old this thread is - so much that - My own view points(especially minimum tank sizes) have changed quite a bit since then. Which is actually a good thing ;)