Trying to breathe some life back into this...also if Matt wouldnt mind editing some of this stuff back into my original post?
General Starting Guidelines:
Inactive Benthics - Tank/pond length = 3 x shark's length, Tank/Pond Width = 1.5 x shark's length.
Walking Benthics - Tank/Pond length = 3.5 x shark's length, Tank/pond Width = 1.5 x shark's length.
Active Benthics - Tank/Pond length = 4 x shark's length, Tank/pond width = 1.5 x shark's length.
Note - Active Benthic formula is based off the formula used in "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist" by Robert Fenner.
Non-ORV Swimming - Tank/Pond Length = 5.5-6 x Shark's length, Tank/pond Width = 2.5-3 x Shark's Length.
Reef ORV Swimming - Tank/Pond Length = 7-7.5 x Shark's length, Tank/Pond Width = 3 x Shark's Length.
Coastal ORV Swimming - Tank/Pond Length = 8-9 x Shark's Length, Tank/Pond Width = 4 x Shark's Length.
Specie Specific Rules:
Atlantic Sharpnose Shark - Rhizoprionodon terraenovae , Maturity at about 2.5-2.8ft. Average Adult Size is about 3.2-3.5ft. Maximum Size is about 4ft.
Preferred Water Temperatures - 74-84F
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 240 sq.ft or 24ft x 11ft oval.
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 520 sq.ft. or 36ft x 16 ft oval.
Minimum Water Depth - 3ft for juveniles, 4ft + for adults.
Blacktip Reef Shark - Carcharhinus melanopterus , Maturity at about 3-3.6ft. Average Adult Size is about 4.9-5.4 ft. Maximum Size is about 5.9-6.5ft.
Preferred Water Temperature is about 74-82F.
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 254 sq.ft or 25ft x 11 ft oval
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 740 sq.ft. or 45ft x 18ft oval
Minimum Water Depth - 3 ft for juveniles, 5-6ft for adults.
Blacktip Shark - Carcharhinus limbatus , Maturity at about 4.5-6ft. Average Adult Size is about 6.4-7.5 ft. Maximum Size is about 8-9ft.
Preferred Water Temperature is about 74-84F.
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 950 sq.ft or 48ft x 22 ft oval
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 2,300 sq.ft. or 75ft x 34ft oval
Minimum Water Depth - 4 ft for juveniles, 8 ft for adults.
Bonnethead Shark - Sphyrna tiburo , Maturity at about 2.5-3ft. Average Adult Size is about 3.6-4.2ft. Maximum Size is about 5ft.
Preferred Water Temperatures - 74-84F
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 200 sq.ft or 22ft x 11ft oval.
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 500 sq.ft. or 35ft x 16 ft oval.
Minimum Water Depth - 2.5-3ft for juveniles, 4ft + for adults.
Common Nurse - Ginglymostoma cirratum , Maturity at about 7-7.8ft. Average Adult Size is about 8.5-9.2ft. Maximum Size is about 10+ft .
Preferred Water Temperature - about 74-84F
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 650sq.ft or 40ft x 18ft oval.
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 1,200+ sq.ft. or about 55ft x 25ft oval.
Minimum Water Depth - 2-3ft for juveniles, 5ft for adults.
Grey Smoothhound - Mustelus californicus , Maturity at about 2-2.4ft. Average Adult Size is about 3-3.3 ft. Maximum Size is about 4ft.
Preferred Water Temperatures - 59-68F
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 80 sq.ft or 15ft x 6ft oval.
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 240 sq.ft. or 24ft x 11 ft oval.
Minimum Water Depth - 2ft for juveniles, 3ft + for adults.
Whitetip Reef Shark - Triaenodon obesus , Maturity at about 3.3-3.6ft. Average Adult Size is about 5.0-5.6 ft. Maximum Size is about 6.4-7 ft.
Preferred Water Temperature is about 74-82F.
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 200 sq.ft or 22ft x 10 ft oval
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 650 sq.ft. or 40ft x 18ft oval
Minimum Water Depth - 3 ft for juveniles, 5ft+ for adults.
Arabian Bamboo Shark - Chiloscyllium arabicum , Maturity at about 1.5-1.8ft. Average Adult Size is about 2.1-2.25ft. Maximum Size is about 2.5ft.
Preferred Water Temperatures - 74-82F
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 14-15 sq.ft or 6ft x 2.5ft oval.
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 28-32 sq.ft. or 8ft x 4 ft oval.
Minimum Water Depth - 2ft for juveniles, 2ft + for adults.
Brown-banded Bamboo Shark - Chiloscyllium punctatum , Maturity at about 2.1-2.4ft. Average Adult Size is about 2.9-3.2 ft. Maximum Size is about 3.5ft.
Preferred Water Temperature is about 74-82F.
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 25-28 sq.ft or 8ft x 3.5 ft oval
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 64-70 sq.ft. or 12ft x 6ft oval
Minimum Water Depth - 2 ft for juveniles, 2+ft for adults.
California Horn Shark - Heterodontus francisci , Maturity at about 1.8-2.4ft. Average Adult Size is about 2.8-3.2ft. Maximum Size is about 4ft.
Preferred Water Temperatures - 64-75F
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 29-32 sq.ft or 9 ft x 3.5ft oval.
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 85-90 sq.ft. or 16ft x 6 ft oval.
Minimum Water Depth - 2ft for juveniles, 2ft + for adults.
Chain Catshark - Scyliorhinus retifer , Maturity at about 1.1-1.3ft. Average Adult Size is about 1.4-1.6ft. Maximum Size is about 2ft.
Preferred Water Temperatures - 48-62F
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 9-10 sq.ft or 5ft x 2ft oval.
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 22-24 sq.ft. or 8ft x 3 ft oval.
Minimum Water Depth - 1.5ft for juveniles, 2ft for adults.
Common Epaulette Shark - Hemiscyllium ocellatum , Maturity at about 2-2.3ft. Average Adult Size is about 2.9-3.2 ft. Maximum Size is about 3.5ft.
Preferred Water Temperature is about 74-82F.
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 25-28 sq.ft or 8ft x 3.5 ft oval
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 64-70 sq.ft. or 12ft x 6ft oval
Minimum Water Depth - 2 ft for juveniles, 2 ft for adults.
Coral Catshark - Atelomycterus marmoratus , Maturity at about 1.6-1.8ft. Average Adult Size is about 2ft. Maximum Size is about 2.25ft.
Preferred Water Temperatures - 74-84F
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 19-21 sq.ft or 7ft x 3ft oval.
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 29-32 sq.ft. or 9ft x 3.5 ft oval.
Minimum Water Depth - 2ft for juveniles, 2ft + for adults.
Dusky Smoothhound Shark - Mustelus canis , Maturity at about 2.6-3.3ft. Average Adult Size is about 3.8-4.2ft. Maximum Size is about 5ft .
Preferred Water Temperature - about 59-72F
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 130sq.ft or 18ft x 8ft oval.
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 350 sq.ft. or about 30ft x 13ft oval.
Minimum Water Depth - 2-2.5ft for juveniles, 3.5+ft for adults.
Northern Wobbegong - Orectobolus wardi , Maturity at about 1.5-1.75ft. Average Adult Size is about 2.1-2.3 ft. Maximum Size is about 2.6-2.9ft.
Preferred Water Temperatures - 72-82F
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 12 sq.ft or 5ft x 2.5ft oval.
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 28-32 sq.ft. or 8ft x 4 ft oval.
Minimum Water Depth - 2ft for juveniles, 2ft + for adults.
Ornate Wobbegong - Orectobolus ornatus , Maturity at about 2.2-2.6ft. Average Adult Size is about 3.1-3.4 ft. Maximum Size is about 3.8-4ft.
Preferred Water Temperatures - 63-77F
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 28-32 sq.ft or 8ft x 4ft oval.
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 64-70 sq.ft. or 12ft x 6ft oval.
Minimum Water Depth - 2ft for juveniles, 2ft + for adults.
Papuan Epaulette Shark - Hemiscyllium hallstromi , Maturity at about 1.5-1.8ft. Average Adult Size is about 2.1-2.3 ft. Maximum Size is about 2.5-2.6ft.
Preferred Water Temperature is about 74-82F.
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 14-15 sq.ft or 6ft x 2.5 ft oval
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 32-36 sq.ft. or 9ft x 4ft oval
Minimum Water Depth - 2 ft for juveniles, 2 ft for adults.
Port Jackson's Shark - Heterodontus portusjacksoni , Maturity at about 2.6-3.2ft. Average Adult Size is about 3.6-4.2ft. Maximum Size is about 5.5ft.
Preferred Water Temperatures - 56-70F
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 60-64 sq.ft or 13ft x 5ft oval.
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 164-176 sq.ft. or 22ft x 8 ft oval.
Minimum Water Depth - 2ft for juveniles, 2.5ft + for adults.
White-spotted Bamboo Shark - Chiloscyllium plagiosum , Maturity at about 1.7-2.1ft. Average Adult Size is about 2.4-2.6 ft. Maximum Size is about 3ft.
Preferred Water Temperature is about 74-82F.
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 19-21 sq.ft or 7ft x 3 ft oval
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 45-50 sq.ft. or 11ft x 4.5ft oval
Minimum Water Depth - 2 ft for juveniles, 2+ft for adults.
Bull Shark - Carcharhinus leucas , Maturity at about 6.5-7.5ft. Average Adult Size is about 8.2-9.2ft. Maximum Size is about 13ft .
Preferred Water Temperature - about 74-84F
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 1,300sq.ft or 60ft x 24ft oval.
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 3,500 sq.ft. or about 96ft x 40ft oval.
Minimum Water Depth - 3-6ft for juveniles, 12ft for adults.
Lemon Shark - Negaprion brevirostris , Maturity at about 7-8ft. Average Adult Size is about 8.5-9.5ft. Maximum Size is about 11-12ft .
Preferred Water Temperature - about 74-84F
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - about 970sq.ft or 49ft x 22ft oval.
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 2,300 sq.ft. or about 75ft x 34ft oval.
Minimum Water Depth - 3-6ft for juveniles, 10ft for adults.