Tank Size Recommendations

**turbo253** · 04-13-2011, 11:06 PM

So are you saying that your numbers work for nurse sharks or do they need to be revised a little?

**FLESHY** · 04-13-2011, 11:14 PM

Well, a ten foot shark, 40'x20' would work then.

**krj-1168** · 04-14-2011, 1:26 AM

I'm saying I wouldn't suggest anything pond/tank that is less than 40ft long x 20ft wide for keeping a single adult Common Nurse Shark.

But that doesn't mean that a private aquarist shouldn't go bigger if they can. And if you have more than 1 Nurse shark in that pond you should definitely have a bigger tank/pond.

**Zoodiver** · 04-14-2011, 8:51 AM

Originally Posted by turbo253;5048247;

So are you saying that your numbers work for nurse sharks or do they need to be revised a little?

I'm thinking it would be tight with how much I see them swimming. I see them a lot in the wild as well, and they are a lot more active that we realize (myself included). Until the past 2 years, I would have said common nurse spend 90% of their time resting, and don't move that much when they do swim. Now that I've seen them in larger areas and out in the environment, they take up a lot more space than that. My younger nurse spend more time sitting around than the adults do. The 2 year old in our 250,000 gallon is usually hanging out under a rock overhang.

**krj-1168** · 04-14-2011, 10:13 PM

Well - Matt take a look at this video of a large Nurse in a round tank at Gulf Marine Lab.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43xol...661E3E8412B1A8

It looks like a 7-8ft Nurse Shark in a 24ft diameter pool.

**Zoodiver** · 04-15-2011, 6:38 AM

I'd say that's about a 5 foot nurse. It's in something too small because there is not straight shot to swim - it's constantly turning. It's also too shallow. That shark can't come up off the bottom much without breaking the surface of the water.

**FLESHY** · 04-15-2011, 11:35 AM

Tangs are constantly turning in captivity as well.

Then again, I think most of them are housed in tanks that are too small.

The glide pattern is something that bothers me though. It is sad to see my shark in her small holding tank...sometimes she bumps her nose when she gets cruising...cant wait till this summer to have her 8-10' tank set up.

We should also be realistic though...if they fish can swim around, many people are going to house it in such a tank. It just looks wrong when the shark has to suddenly veer around.

**Zoodiver** · 04-15-2011, 1:20 PM

True, but most tangs in the wild are up against a reef, turning and poking in and out of holes/cracks/gaps all day. It's typical.

I see nurse sharks cursing the edges of the reef, or along drop offs when swimming. They're going in long straight lines. When they rest, you find them (often times) in groups, hanging out under out croppings, under bridges or anything with an over hand to protect them/shelter them from plain sight.

**FLESHY** · 04-15-2011, 4:55 PM

I have seen a decent amount of nurse sharks as a spearfisher in my day. I have never really seen any being active, and like you said, usually hanging out in small caves.

Sometimes nestled together...but very often in fairly shallow water, and associated with structure.

Granted, the ocean is a big place, and they can obviously always get out and swim in situations like that.