Nurse Shark

[Zoodiver]

I forget where I read that a Nurse needs 5000gal at. As far as how I recieved the leopard I had a friend who caught the shark from the wild. He thought he could raise the shark. After the shark ate half his tank he was going to kill it. I took it from him so he wouldn't kill it. I was going to let it go but talk to a friend who is a oceanographer who told me now that it has been in a home aquarium not to let it go that the shark would die.

There's a double kicker here - just so you are aware: It's illegal to keep them if caught under 36", and it's also against the law to release them.

Just for your own info, it probably won't die, but the idea of releasing means you could possibly be introducing captive diseases into the wild population. Also, you would be disrupting the normal process by adding an apex predator into an unknown area.

 

[water_baby83]

There's a double kicker here - just so you are aware: It's illegal to keep them if caught under 36", and it's also against the law to release them.

Just for your own info, it probably won't die, but the idea of releasing means you could possibly be introducing captive diseases into the wild population. Also, you would be disrupting the normal process by adding an apex predator into an unknown area.

They're pretty common in the so-cal and bay area locations, so it wouldn't be really an issue of introduction of non native species, but it would most definately be an issue of unauthorized reintroduction of an aquatic species into an open body of water. Not a good idea. Futhermore, if your friend caught this animal and it was less than 36 inches, they should have tossed it back, and can, believe it or not, be cited as well, even though you are now the "owner", were any violations to be brought against you. One main reason to always know your local laws when fishing.

Your best option at this point, not being able to release it back into the wild, and since taking it to an aquarium or pet shop is nothing I would ever recommend for a shark; would be to try to keep it, and provide for it accordingly. If not, let me know.

 

[krj-1168]

However - attempting to keep both a Nurse Shark & a Leopard Shark - is a pretty serious undertaking since they can't be kept in the same large pool/tank/lagoon.

Nurse sharks are a sub-tropical to tropical species that prefers water temps above 72F(22C). Leopard sharks are a temperate water species that prefers water temps below 70F(21 C).

 

[desolo]

wat

double wat

 

[Zoodiver]

That's not even a big nurse shark.

 

[water_baby83]

However - attempting to keep both a Nurse Shark & a Leopard Shark - is a pretty serious undertaking since they can't be kept in the same large pool/tank/lagoon.

Nurse sharks are a sub-tropical to tropical species that prefers water temps above 72F(22C). Leopard sharks are a temperate water species that prefers water temps below 70F(21 C).

Not always so with a grey nurse. Cirratum, yes.

 

[krj-1168]

BTW - I was referring to the Nurse Shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum).

It would be just crazy to attempt to keep a Grey Nurse/Sandtiger outside of Public Aquariums.

 

[desolo]

A nurse shark will be fine in 125 for life

so an 8 ft shark at 300 lbs will live in a 4 or 5 ft enclosure? really?

 

[Zoodiver]

I think he was joking.

 

[water_baby83]

BTW - I was referring to the Nurse Shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum).

It would be just crazy to attempt to keep a Grey Nurse/Sandtiger outside of Public Aquariums.

LOL I know Ken, was just making a clarification. And if you consider keeping a grey outiside of aquarium walls crazy, then I know some real whacko's lol. (But no, none of us have kept them permanently - That, would be a huge ordeal).