Short Tail Nurse Shark
- Thread starter Deano1956
- Start date
I would say that the eyes are smaller. No spots. And of cousre the shorter tall.
Pics of my short tails.
Pics of my short tails.
Short-tail Nurses differ from Common Nurses in the following ways.
1st - Short-tails have perportionally shorter tails - Common Nurses the tail is about 25% of the total length, in Short-tails the tail is less than 20% of the shark's total length.
2nd - Short-tails are darker in coloration compared to similar sized Common Nurses. Short-tails are generally a medium to dark brown color without any spots or markings. However Common Nurses are more of light brown in color with lighter bands and small black spots (under 24"). Common Nurses that are between 24-30" are generally just light brown in color without spots or bands.
3rd - The 1st & 2nd dorsal fins of Short-tails are roughly equal in size, while Common Nurse Sharks' 1st dorsal is larger than it's 2nd.
1st - Short-tails have perportionally shorter tails - Common Nurses the tail is about 25% of the total length, in Short-tails the tail is less than 20% of the shark's total length.
2nd - Short-tails are darker in coloration compared to similar sized Common Nurses. Short-tails are generally a medium to dark brown color without any spots or markings. However Common Nurses are more of light brown in color with lighter bands and small black spots (under 24"). Common Nurses that are between 24-30" are generally just light brown in color without spots or bands.
3rd - The 1st & 2nd dorsal fins of Short-tails are roughly equal in size, while Common Nurse Sharks' 1st dorsal is larger than it's 2nd.
Their not actually listed as Endangered - yet. The IUCN lists them a Vulnerable - because of their fairly small nature range - which is basically limited to the coastal waters of Tanzania, Kenya, & and the island of Madagascar.
Which is why limited importation is still possible for this species. If they were to be upgraded to Endangered - then the limited importation would stop. Hince the reason - these sharks need to be set up in breeding pairs or small breeding groups - so that private aquarists can have access to this species in the forseeable future.
Which is why limited importation is still possible for this species. If they were to be upgraded to Endangered - then the limited importation would stop. Hince the reason - these sharks need to be set up in breeding pairs or small breeding groups - so that private aquarists can have access to this species in the forseeable future.
Maybe about 8ft in diameter- roughly 750 gallons. I believe that's about the size that Crumbs(Chris) has for his Short-tails.
So in the long term - it's easier to keep a pair or trio of Short-tails than it is a single adult Atlantic Nurse. Short-tails require a lot less space, less water, and less food.
By comparison a single average(8-9' in length) adult Atlantic/Common Nurse would require a pond - that's at least 570-600sq.ft. (footprint), over 17,000 gallons to keep it for the rest of it's natural life(which could be another 20 years or so). And you could easily figure at least 400lbs of seafood (shrimp, crab & fish) per year.
So in the long term - it's easier to keep a pair or trio of Short-tails than it is a single adult Atlantic Nurse. Short-tails require a lot less space, less water, and less food.
By comparison a single average(8-9' in length) adult Atlantic/Common Nurse would require a pond - that's at least 570-600sq.ft. (footprint), over 17,000 gallons to keep it for the rest of it's natural life(which could be another 20 years or so). And you could easily figure at least 400lbs of seafood (shrimp, crab & fish) per year.
Makes me wounder which one I have now. I always thought I had a common nurse. But I look at the photo it looks more like a short.
