Growth stunted shark on aquabid?.
- Thread starter Eupterus
- Start date
Well - if it's actually 10 years old - then it's on the small size(growth stunted). Since the shark is about 4' long(total length), that would mean it's only grown about 3.5-4" per year. Which is at the bottom end of Nurse sharks in the Wild.
Yes, Nurses seem to grow slowly - but that's really because it takes them so long to reach maturity. In the wild - it may take them about 15-20 yrs to reach the mature size of about 7-7.5 ft (average abotu 4-5" per year). In captivity - Nurses tend to grow a bit faster(more regular feedings & constant water temps), usually about 6-9" per year.
But I also agree - the Nurse shark isn't really suited for private ownership. Although they are one of hardiest species of sharks to keep. The real problem is people often buy them as small 1-2" pups - and fail to realize that this species really need a working long term plan to keep it for it's entire life.
IMPO - they may actually be worse for the private aquarist to attempt to keep than Blacktip reefs. Here's why.
- Nurses have life span at least twice as long as a Blacktip reefs - Nurses are known to live over 35 yrs, while Blacktip Reefs barely reach 15 yrs.
-They get much larger & heavier - at 9-10' and nearly 300 lbs for the Nurse, vs. about 6' and 100lbs for the Blacktip reef.
- Require more food annually per adult shark - about 300-400lbs (Nurse) vs. about 200-250lbs (BTR)
- Require a tank with a larger minimum footprint & gallonage- Nurses are very active for a benthic shark - they need at least 1,000 Sq.ft & 35,000 gallons(Nurse) vs at least 650-700 sq. ft & at least 22,000-24,000 gallons (BTR).
Yes, Nurses seem to grow slowly - but that's really because it takes them so long to reach maturity. In the wild - it may take them about 15-20 yrs to reach the mature size of about 7-7.5 ft (average abotu 4-5" per year). In captivity - Nurses tend to grow a bit faster(more regular feedings & constant water temps), usually about 6-9" per year.
But I also agree - the Nurse shark isn't really suited for private ownership. Although they are one of hardiest species of sharks to keep. The real problem is people often buy them as small 1-2" pups - and fail to realize that this species really need a working long term plan to keep it for it's entire life.
IMPO - they may actually be worse for the private aquarist to attempt to keep than Blacktip reefs. Here's why.
- Nurses have life span at least twice as long as a Blacktip reefs - Nurses are known to live over 35 yrs, while Blacktip Reefs barely reach 15 yrs.
-They get much larger & heavier - at 9-10' and nearly 300 lbs for the Nurse, vs. about 6' and 100lbs for the Blacktip reef.
- Require more food annually per adult shark - about 300-400lbs (Nurse) vs. about 200-250lbs (BTR)
- Require a tank with a larger minimum footprint & gallonage- Nurses are very active for a benthic shark - they need at least 1,000 Sq.ft & 35,000 gallons(Nurse) vs at least 650-700 sq. ft & at least 22,000-24,000 gallons (BTR).
Which sounds like a normal growth rate of Nurses raised in Captivity.
So that nurse - "if it's actually 10 yrs old" would be considered growth stunted.
Or is it all a lie - in an attempt to sell the shark - by making potential customers think it won't get much bigger. Remember he says that - it shouldn't get much larger. Which of course isn't true.
yeah - IMO - there's a lot that "fishy" about that ad on Aquabid. And I'm not just talking the Shark.
Also it's worth noting - a 4ft shark in a 600 gallon tank - very bad sign.
Also it's worth noting - a 4ft shark in a 600 gallon tank - very bad sign.
OK the image link wouldn't open for me right now
, so since I can't see it, I'm limited, but could it be a short-tailed? If measurements are accurate, it's more likely that, than a Grey, Tawny, etc. I will try the picture-link again later. But note- I would doubt its age, and people who try to get rid of any shark are very quick to say "nope it's done growin, don't worry".. Usually complete BS.
, so since I can't see it, I'm limited, but could it be a short-tailed? If measurements are accurate, it's more likely that, than a Grey, Tawny, etc. I will try the picture-link again later. But note- I would doubt its age, and people who try to get rid of any shark are very quick to say "nope it's done growin, don't worry".. Usually complete BS.It's not a Grey, Tawny or short-tail. It's a nice fat Ginglymostoma cirratum. Seen enough of them to know it on site - even in photos.
http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.cgi?sw&1195881009
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/nurseshark/nurseshark.htm
Speaking of - I've actually heard of people claiming that they have a Short-tailed nurse (as told by their LFS) when in fact - what they have is a juvenile common Nurse (Ginglymostoma cirratum). Which is a really scary thought.