WOW, thats very cool water baby. So you work at the aquarium do you? What is your job? It must be very exciting. 
Sharks that should be banned from public sale
- Thread starter krj-1168
- Start date
Yes I do. I had been interning here for a few years, as part of not only field experience, but also because in order to get my degree - it was mandatory to do at least one. Well I was hooked the first year, and came back two more times. Not to mention before that (and through all of the internships) I was a volunteer diver for exhibit maintenance and hosting feeding shows( underwater feeding the fish) - that rocks. Well through the years I grew a bond with a lot of the senior staff here, and they watched me grow. Well we always stayed in contact since my llast internship (last year), and when they heard that I was back up here (from moving to texas for 9 months), they had asked me to come back on. Well, I am still furthering my education (going for masters), so I was sort of timid to jump right into it (even though I really wanted to). We talked back and forth for weeks before I agreed to come on part time to help out since they had a lot scheduled for the summer months, and with all the exhibit changes, and not enough qualified staff. Right now I do a number of things, I still handle a lot of the maintenance of the exhibits (which includes diving into them and gettin' scrub happy to get the algae off the glass walls, and out of the sand), I stick mainly to the rear (or as you may call it behind-the-scenes), and I am involved in general husbandry of our larger predators. LOL it's funny because sometimes they will ask me to be in three places at once and I will have to remind them that we "agreed" I wasn't comming on full time yet, and that there IS only one of me. But yes, I love it. Of course there is your daily BS - - which is NEVER ENDING, but there is always something new and exciting, and challenging - which is what I thrive off of. I am not sure if California is where I want to stay though, as there are other places I really really want to go to, but for right now, the place, the people - and the job, are working out pretty well LOL.
--Em
--Em
Sounds very exciting - water_baby.
Please keep us up to date on how the great white's truely doing.
Please keep us up to date on how the great white's truely doing.
krj-1168;498716; said:Sounds very exciting - water_baby.
Please keep us up to date on how the great white's truely doing.
Absolutly. My true passion is sharks, and I will never stand quietly whenever there is an issue with those that I love. Though I have the utmost respect and admiration for MB as a whole, sometimes the politics get the upper hand over morals, and that makes me sick. Right now he is doing pretty well, still acclimating, but showing good progress. We had placed a bubble curtain alongside the bottom of the main viewing window. It got in the way of having a clear view, but the intent was to illuminate the glass so that the shark would quickly realize the boundaries of the exhibit. A simple measure, but has prooved relatively effective, and though it's kept on at night after closing, we turned it off this morning to see just how well the idea worked, and offer a more clear view for the public. He is being watched constantly, and hopefully it will remain off all of today and he will still be wary of the glass without the bubbles as a guider. We shall see. We hold live feeing shows for the outer bay exhibit, and once he starts to eat regularly, it is our hopes he will participate in these shows. If so, (though it won't hold the same raw power as a wild feeding), I am sure it will be something many won't want to miss. It has been so busy here, that I haven't had time to get some good shots of my own, but I attached one we released to the media so that all of you could see him. This weekend, on my off time I will take some more shots for all of you ok!! I will try to keep you all posted as to any progress/regressions.
--Em
i think so too. i agree this is a hobby but we should respect the ecological system out there =]
Well - it not so much about new laws, against keeping sharks. But what species should be restricted. There are certain species of that are available at LFSs (especiallly the larger stores) that really shouldn't be.
Species like the following.
- Nurse Shark - which can grow up to grow up to 14', and require a tank that's tens of thousands of gallons - not the 4,800 quote in Scott Michael's book.
- Blacktip Reef(the smallest of the Blacktips) - still grows to 6' in length, and is a very active free-swimmer. Requires a tank of at least 12,000 gallons - not the often quoted 6,000 gallons.
- Spotted Wobbegong - largest of the wobbegong family. Grows to about 10' in length - and requires at least 8,000 gallons.
-Ornate Wobbegong - is nearly as large as the Spotted - and requires the same amount of space.
- Lemon Shark - which grows to about 11.5', and is #10 on the most dangerous sharks list. Because of it's size - it requires a tank that's at least 45,000 gallons.
Species like the following.
- Nurse Shark - which can grow up to grow up to 14', and require a tank that's tens of thousands of gallons - not the 4,800 quote in Scott Michael's book.
- Blacktip Reef(the smallest of the Blacktips) - still grows to 6' in length, and is a very active free-swimmer. Requires a tank of at least 12,000 gallons - not the often quoted 6,000 gallons.
- Spotted Wobbegong - largest of the wobbegong family. Grows to about 10' in length - and requires at least 8,000 gallons.
-Ornate Wobbegong - is nearly as large as the Spotted - and requires the same amount of space.
- Lemon Shark - which grows to about 11.5', and is #10 on the most dangerous sharks list. Because of it's size - it requires a tank that's at least 45,000 gallons.
I have to agree that more laws should be passed/enforced. The general public (for the most part) do not have the knowledge nor the funding to keep most sharks. Most people buy them purely for the name "Shark" on impulse and do not have a clue what they are getting into and end up killing it or making it someone else's problem.
I say if you want to prove you have the space and money to do it, then open yourself up for periodic inspections by a governing body.
I say if you want to prove you have the space and money to do it, then open yourself up for periodic inspections by a governing body.
Well - certain states already have laws about keeping native species - usually the dangerous ones.
But you have to be very careful in asking your state law makers to make a new law restricting anything. Because sometimes they go overboard and make the laws too strict or reverse - in make laws that are basically meaningless.
I don't think all sharks should be banned - not in the least. Far from it. There are over 2 dozen "safe" species of sharks that are potentially available in the trade. These all require tanks - less than 4,000 gallons - and are basically considered harmless to people.
But the key is education. And one considering keeping a shark as a pet should do their research before attempting to keep one. But then that's really something every responsible pet own should do - anyway.
The groups are as follows -
Bamboos - about 5 known species in North American Fish trade.
Epaulettes - only 2 known in North America - 2 more known overseas
Wobbegong - 1 small species (the Japanese) known in the U.S. But the Ward's would be the ideal wobbie for home aquaria - if it was available.
Horns - 5 known species in North America - the Horn & PJs are fairly common, the Mexican, Japanese, & Zebra are rarely available.
Catsharks - 3 species are known in the pet trade - the Coral, marbled, & Swell sharks. but several more are seen in major public aquariums.
Carpet shark - only the Blue-gray Carpet is known in the pet fish trade - and it's fairly rare.
Smoothhounds - There are 3 species that are known in the U.S. - the Atlantic, the Gray, & the Brown. While the related Leopard - which is restricted in California - is also part of this family. However it really needs a tank over 5,000 gallons, to keep.
Dog fish - the Spiny Dog fish is known to be available.
requiem - only one species of requiem shark is regularly available in the U.S., can be kept in tanks under 5,000 gallons - the Atlantic Sharpnose. Although the Blacktip & Whitetip reef sharks are regularly available - both species require tanks well over 6,000 gallons. The Lemon shark is also available - but IMHO it requires a mega-tank(over 35,000 gallons) to even consider keeping.
Hammerhead - only one species of hammerhead is regularly available to the public - the Bonnethead, still it need at least a 3,500 gallon pool/tank to keep it.
But you have to be very careful in asking your state law makers to make a new law restricting anything. Because sometimes they go overboard and make the laws too strict or reverse - in make laws that are basically meaningless.
I don't think all sharks should be banned - not in the least. Far from it. There are over 2 dozen "safe" species of sharks that are potentially available in the trade. These all require tanks - less than 4,000 gallons - and are basically considered harmless to people.
But the key is education. And one considering keeping a shark as a pet should do their research before attempting to keep one. But then that's really something every responsible pet own should do - anyway.
The groups are as follows -
Bamboos - about 5 known species in North American Fish trade.
Epaulettes - only 2 known in North America - 2 more known overseas
Wobbegong - 1 small species (the Japanese) known in the U.S. But the Ward's would be the ideal wobbie for home aquaria - if it was available.
Horns - 5 known species in North America - the Horn & PJs are fairly common, the Mexican, Japanese, & Zebra are rarely available.
Catsharks - 3 species are known in the pet trade - the Coral, marbled, & Swell sharks. but several more are seen in major public aquariums.
Carpet shark - only the Blue-gray Carpet is known in the pet fish trade - and it's fairly rare.
Smoothhounds - There are 3 species that are known in the U.S. - the Atlantic, the Gray, & the Brown. While the related Leopard - which is restricted in California - is also part of this family. However it really needs a tank over 5,000 gallons, to keep.
Dog fish - the Spiny Dog fish is known to be available.
requiem - only one species of requiem shark is regularly available in the U.S., can be kept in tanks under 5,000 gallons - the Atlantic Sharpnose. Although the Blacktip & Whitetip reef sharks are regularly available - both species require tanks well over 6,000 gallons. The Lemon shark is also available - but IMHO it requires a mega-tank(over 35,000 gallons) to even consider keeping.
Hammerhead - only one species of hammerhead is regularly available to the public - the Bonnethead, still it need at least a 3,500 gallon pool/tank to keep it.
Hey Guys!! Sorry I have been out of commision for the last two weeks or so! All I can say is HOLY CRAP, I have been busy, we all have! I am about to go to bed, but I knew it had been a while since my last update, so I wanted to give ya one before I pass out haha.
Ok, so September 9th was my birthday, annnd since I am a nerd and all, and lack a social life as of late, I decided to go to work and spend my birthday in true loner fashion...... I know, slap me now haha. Welll...... BEST birthday present ever..... WE GOT HIM TO FEED!!! Awsome awsome!!
We had first seen him attempt a feeding on the 8th, when a soupfin took a bite out of a skate, and then the white came up from the rear (sent the soupin tearing away), and grabbed the skate in his mouth and tossed it around a bit breaking chunks off, and well, basically making a royal mess. There's no way to tell what he ate and what he just shredded, but it was nothing sufficient. The skate was small - 2 pounder maybe, and from the wonderfull chum the white created, it was a safe bet that he more or less just had some fun, rather than having dinner. Just like a child!
On Sep. 9th though, after we had exhausted nearly every idea we could think of to entice him to truly feed, out of nowhere he lunged at huge salmon chunks being offered during our feeding program. He tore into them, shaking his whole body left and right, and with each chunk captured - gulped it down effortlessly. I suppose the sample of skate the night before had awoken his hunger!
The next day he took down about a good six pounds - - still on the smaller portion side, but a sucess none the less. The visitors went absolutly mad, and I got a few bumps and bruises from the crowds, but all was well. It was actually quite commical to hear all of the "oo's" and "aww's" comming from the viewers. Not to metion frustrating (and the reason for some of my bruises) trying to keep people from using their flashes on their cameras - - like talking to a brick wall!! Grr. But anyways, newscrews localy, and from overseas (BBC) had been hanging out for a couple days and when the feedings took place, you can bet they were all over it. He got a little feisty with some of the other tankmates who showed interest in food he missed, but no one was hurt - - scared scaless - - but not hurt haha. Anyways, we are all stoked. He still seems calm, no erattic swimming patters, no un-normal gill fluctuations or body poses, and he is still navigating the exhibit quite well.
The only thing he had a problem with, was when we had to go under and do some maitenance...... oh man, haha he did not like us in there at all, and was trying to stay as far away from us, and our noise as possible. That was a little funny, but also important for all of you to know, as it further prooves that if he were (or any white for that matter) a "man-eater", I wouldn't be here typing this to you. But to be fair, I am a woman, so maybe he just has more respect for us! Hahaha, just kidding!! Seriously though, he was a little freaked out, nervous, and swimming like a crazy fool, but after 20 minutes or so he calmed back down and even got a little curious, circling above us, swimming around our life lines, and even diving low and checking us out. But he was still wary and never got closer than 6 or so feet from us - and when he got that close it was only for a second before our bubbles or movement sent him shooting back to observe from a distance.
He has been eating well now, still preferring our candy (as we call it), which is nothing more than boneless fillets of salmon - which seems to be his food of choice. But about a week back or so we offered him whole salmons with bones intact and after some playing, he did good and finished his dinner. He's not at station yet, but with his growing appetite, we are pretty sure that he will be soon, and after your normal lows and highs, his appetite should round out to a more predictable amount. In a few weeks - - depending on his eating patters, he is set to have a weigh in. It will probably towards the end of october, but could be sooner if he keeps up his piggy-style dinner habits. He has tasted the variety in life also, like chompin down some bonito and makeral, and now we're trying
tuna - - nooo not the yellow fin's kept with him!! LOL. But overall he is doing really well for a cpative, and I cant wait until we measure him again (via lasers), and then weigh the big boy. Anyways, I have so much more to say, but I am dead tired, and have a long day ahead of me tomorrow. No with the white, but with some of our other needy buddies! Oh, before I forget, i told you a while ago how we had to removed one of our turtles from the outer bay since she kept getting up close and personal with the white. Well we put her back in a few days ago, and for now at least, she is leaving him alone. We had a new shipment come in about a week ago, and they moved into what was her temp. hold tank, so she got evicted back to the outter bay. We want her to stay in there, as it's been her home for wuite a while, but that depends on the next couple weeks, and how well the two (white and her) play together! LOL we shall see huh! Anyways guys, I gotta run, my eyes are blurring. I took some photo's as promised, but after having matt preview them, LOL LOL it was pretty apparent I needed to resize them, so once I do, I will post them for ya ok! 'night y'all. Talk to you soon!!
-Emi
Ok, so September 9th was my birthday, annnd since I am a nerd and all, and lack a social life as of late, I decided to go to work and spend my birthday in true loner fashion...... I know, slap me now haha. Welll...... BEST birthday present ever..... WE GOT HIM TO FEED!!! Awsome awsome!!
We had first seen him attempt a feeding on the 8th, when a soupfin took a bite out of a skate, and then the white came up from the rear (sent the soupin tearing away), and grabbed the skate in his mouth and tossed it around a bit breaking chunks off, and well, basically making a royal mess. There's no way to tell what he ate and what he just shredded, but it was nothing sufficient. The skate was small - 2 pounder maybe, and from the wonderfull chum the white created, it was a safe bet that he more or less just had some fun, rather than having dinner. Just like a child!
On Sep. 9th though, after we had exhausted nearly every idea we could think of to entice him to truly feed, out of nowhere he lunged at huge salmon chunks being offered during our feeding program. He tore into them, shaking his whole body left and right, and with each chunk captured - gulped it down effortlessly. I suppose the sample of skate the night before had awoken his hunger!
The next day he took down about a good six pounds - - still on the smaller portion side, but a sucess none the less. The visitors went absolutly mad, and I got a few bumps and bruises from the crowds, but all was well. It was actually quite commical to hear all of the "oo's" and "aww's" comming from the viewers. Not to metion frustrating (and the reason for some of my bruises) trying to keep people from using their flashes on their cameras - - like talking to a brick wall!! Grr. But anyways, newscrews localy, and from overseas (BBC) had been hanging out for a couple days and when the feedings took place, you can bet they were all over it. He got a little feisty with some of the other tankmates who showed interest in food he missed, but no one was hurt - - scared scaless - - but not hurt haha. Anyways, we are all stoked. He still seems calm, no erattic swimming patters, no un-normal gill fluctuations or body poses, and he is still navigating the exhibit quite well.
The only thing he had a problem with, was when we had to go under and do some maitenance...... oh man, haha he did not like us in there at all, and was trying to stay as far away from us, and our noise as possible. That was a little funny, but also important for all of you to know, as it further prooves that if he were (or any white for that matter) a "man-eater", I wouldn't be here typing this to you. But to be fair, I am a woman, so maybe he just has more respect for us! Hahaha, just kidding!! Seriously though, he was a little freaked out, nervous, and swimming like a crazy fool, but after 20 minutes or so he calmed back down and even got a little curious, circling above us, swimming around our life lines, and even diving low and checking us out. But he was still wary and never got closer than 6 or so feet from us - and when he got that close it was only for a second before our bubbles or movement sent him shooting back to observe from a distance.
He has been eating well now, still preferring our candy (as we call it), which is nothing more than boneless fillets of salmon - which seems to be his food of choice. But about a week back or so we offered him whole salmons with bones intact and after some playing, he did good and finished his dinner. He's not at station yet, but with his growing appetite, we are pretty sure that he will be soon, and after your normal lows and highs, his appetite should round out to a more predictable amount. In a few weeks - - depending on his eating patters, he is set to have a weigh in. It will probably towards the end of october, but could be sooner if he keeps up his piggy-style dinner habits. He has tasted the variety in life also, like chompin down some bonito and makeral, and now we're trying
tuna - - nooo not the yellow fin's kept with him!! LOL. But overall he is doing really well for a cpative, and I cant wait until we measure him again (via lasers), and then weigh the big boy. Anyways, I have so much more to say, but I am dead tired, and have a long day ahead of me tomorrow. No with the white, but with some of our other needy buddies! Oh, before I forget, i told you a while ago how we had to removed one of our turtles from the outer bay since she kept getting up close and personal with the white. Well we put her back in a few days ago, and for now at least, she is leaving him alone. We had a new shipment come in about a week ago, and they moved into what was her temp. hold tank, so she got evicted back to the outter bay. We want her to stay in there, as it's been her home for wuite a while, but that depends on the next couple weeks, and how well the two (white and her) play together! LOL we shall see huh! Anyways guys, I gotta run, my eyes are blurring. I took some photo's as promised, but after having matt preview them, LOL LOL it was pretty apparent I needed to resize them, so once I do, I will post them for ya ok! 'night y'all. Talk to you soon!!
-Emi
