Hammer Head Sharks

[CHOMPERS]

I have been mulling over a thought with a friend of mine. We were in the Florida Keys last week and caught some bonnet head sharks (a type of hammer head) here is a link about them: http://www.fishsanibel.com/fish/sphyrnidae.htm
I caught a female that was pregnant with five babies and six eggs/embryos. The babies were four inches long and the adults two to three feet long. We have been thinking of going back with shark gear now that we found the bay that they are in.

Before we do it, we need to know what kind of interest there is in them. We already have two trips planned for elsewhere, so another trip to the keys would have to be paid for by shark funds. I was not planning on setting up my saltwater system until next summer, but if there is enough interest in them If you want one but do not have the set up ready either, but can get it within a year, let me know that too.

 

[davo]

what are the legailities of owning hammerheads. i thought there was a size thing or something

 

[guppy]

I don't believe there is a size restriction on that species in Florida but they do require thata Federal commercial permit be possessed to sell one, also possession limit is one shark.

 

[davo]

o maybe it was just the one per person type thing. maybe it was leopard sharks or another sp. i was thinking about

 

[messiner]

they can get 5 foot, ive seen them at that size. they are not a "hammerhead" shark. bonnetheads and hammerheads are 2 totally different sharks.

 

[Honda12]

IMO I think those kind of sharks should stay in the ocean. All the ones that need to constanly swim (forgot the name).

 

[davo]

IMO I think those kind of sharks should stay in the ocean. All the ones that need to constanly swim (forgot the name).

i know what you mean its like manta rays, and they think that they are born and never stop swimming ever in their lives!

 

[sandtiger]

they can get 5 foot, ive seen them at that size. they are not a "hammerhead" shark. bonnetheads and hammerheads are 2 totally different sharks.

They are hammerhead sharks, they belong to the same family (Sphyrnidae) and the same genus (Sphyrna).

These are one of those species I would leave in the ocean, the only sharks I would ever own are the smaller species like some of the various catsharks.

 

[kody1192]

i say unless your gonna be gettin a tank well over 2,000 gallons get a type of shark you can buy like bamboo black tip(get large) or cant remeber the one that this guys sellin looks like a black tip(without the balk tip) but only gets like half the size. certian animals shouldnt be in the pet trade

 

[Datnoid101]

I heard that keeping a hammerhead is quite difficult. Their heads are very fragile and will probably die if the tank is too small. Even while transporting them, If they keeping bumping their head they will die. A couple people down here tried.