Wow, water_baby - you do have a super cool job.
Dealing with a Great White on a daily basis.
It's a shark lovers dream job.
Dealing with a Great White on a daily basis.
It's a shark lovers dream job.
Sharks that should be banned from public sale
- Thread starter krj-1168
- Start date
Yes, but who do have inspect these facilties? Are they qualified? Look at USDA permits, great idea, but they don't do a thing to help the quality of life of those animals. Education is what is needed to change the way the hobby views sharks in captivity, not laws. Also, when is the last time you've seen a store offer anything under $100.00 that was not one of the smaller species. From time to time I see Zebra sharks offered for under $100.00. Even nurse sharks are over that. Heck, and you can likely keep a full grown nurse in a 4,500 gallon. They really don't move around much in captivity. Sounds like half of everyone on this forum just spouts off misinformation aquired on the net. Not trying to sound harsh, but reading over this forum the past few days, that's what I've come to.
Zoodiver;527299; said:
First off - I never claimed to be a professional shark keeper or to have an M.S. or PhD in marine biology. I 'm just a self-educated guy with a passionate love for sharks. While Ive done alot of research in the past couple years on sharks - especially about the various species available to be kept in home aquaria - including mega-tanks.
My first experience in handle a live shark was in grade school(about 25 yrs ago), when my grandparents would go fishing at Topsail Beach, NC. I often saw and sometimes got to handle the little "sand" sharks (I would years later find out that - it's actually called the Atlantic Sharpnose).
Personally I kept a Brown-banded Bamboo & a Coral cat, in the past - both years before Scott Michael's book came out. After I lost the Coral cat - I gave up the idea of keeping a shark - for a while. Scott Michael's book has renewed my interest in keeping a shark.
Since getting Scott Michael's Book - I've talked to several online dealers (including some very knowledgeable ones), and people who have actually owned different species of sharks.
While Scott - gives very sound advice on basic shark husbandary in his book. I since learned thru my research) that his estimates for minimum tank size for the smaller species(i.e. bamboos,Eppies,Horns, & catsharks) are at least 25-50% too low, and on the larger species(like the Blacktip, & Whitetip Reef) - his estimates really should be at least doubled, possible more - in the cases of the Lemon & Nurse.
_____________________________________________________
The "Zebra" sharks that you see in online distributors or LFS - aren't true Zebra sharks. Every true Zebra shark I've seen for sale - general runs over $600 even for pups. What you're seeing is likely another species of Bamboo shark.
As for a full grown nurse being kept in a 4,500 gallon tank/pool. Not even close - a 4,600 gallon pool is about 15' diameter x 3.5' deep. For a 8-10 ft long nurse it's a bit small. Kind of like putting a German Shepard in a 10' x 10' dog pen. It may work fine as a holding area for brief periods, but extremely cruel - if it kept in there for more than a few days.
While it's true - there is some that may spout off misinformation(either due to lack of knowledge, or public experience), on most public forms. There's also alot more good sound information that comes out of boards like this one - than there is misinformation. True - you have some novices here- but you also have professionals.
[QUOTEPersonally I kept a Brown-banded Bamboo & a Coral cat, in the past - both years before Scott Michael's book came out. After I lost the Coral cat - I gave up the idea of keeping a shark - for a while. Scott Michael's book has renewed my interest in keeping a shark.
Since getting Scott Michael's Book - I've talked to several online dealers (including some very knowledgeable ones), and people who have actually owned different species of sharks.
While Scott - gives very sound advice on basic shark husbandary in his book. I since learned thru my research) that his estimates for minimum tank size for the smaller species(i.e. bamboos,Eppies,Horns, & catsharks) are at least 25-50% too low, and on the larger species(like the Blacktip, & Whitetip Reef) - his estimates really should be at least doubled, possible more - in the cases of the Lemon & Nurse.
][/QUOTE]
Who is this Scott Michael's character and why are you obsessed with him? Are you Scott Michael's and just trying to plug your book?
Since getting Scott Michael's Book - I've talked to several online dealers (including some very knowledgeable ones), and people who have actually owned different species of sharks.
While Scott - gives very sound advice on basic shark husbandary in his book. I since learned thru my research) that his estimates for minimum tank size for the smaller species(i.e. bamboos,Eppies,Horns, & catsharks) are at least 25-50% too low, and on the larger species(like the Blacktip, & Whitetip Reef) - his estimates really should be at least doubled, possible more - in the cases of the Lemon & Nurse.
][/QUOTE]
Who is this Scott Michael's character and why are you obsessed with him? Are you Scott Michael's and just trying to plug your book?
First - I'm not obsessed with him - but I do really love his book.
Second - No, I'm Not - Scott Michael. I have nowhere near his experience with sharks.
Third the book hardly needs to be plugged - since it's been out for about 5 years, and can be found in most major book stores, ebay, amazon, and even most major LFSs.
He's the author of the only book about keeping sharks & rays in home aquaria - Aquarium Sharks & Rays.
As for the guy -himself. Scott W. Michael is a well-known underwater photographer & marine biologist researcher - who specializies in sharks and rays.
Look at seapics.com under sharks or rays - and your likely to find several of his photos
The book covers things like pond construction, filtration, sand, salt, Elasmobranch Biology, diseases, parasites, reproduction, & species profiles.
As I've said before - Basically, the book is Shark/Ray Husbandary 101 for home aquaria.
And it really should be required reading for anyone interested in keeping a shark in their home.
It's much better to spend $25-45 on a book, that will give you good info on what you will need to keep a shark. Then it is to buy a shark on impulse - only to watch it die in a few weeks later.
krj-1168;529184; said:
That's not true. There are many published works on the subject.
Justyn - As for "who"....there are governing bodies that the 'pros' have to deal with. USDA doesn't regulate fish at all. But they do an pretty good job with mammal stuff. A gov't run agency would be nice. But I agree people will still do stupid things for the most part, and no system will work 100%.
I for one will not ramble on about something I read on the web or in a book. Most of anything you'll hear from me comes from direct experience or working directly with someone who has been there/done that.
And there is no way to keep an adult nurse in a 4,500 gallon.
Okay, Zoodiver- what other books are there out there, for the general public?
I haven't be able to find any others for on Amazon, Ebay or in major Book Store chains.
Titles, Authors, and publication dates - Please.
Okay - Well that was a Big let down.
Note - a single chapter about keeping sharks in a think book about marine fish, or marine life - is not the same as a single good book about keeping sharks.
A good single chapter on any subject is equal to a good magazine article. In which, you usually(99.9% of the time) get useful, basic info.
I want proof of other whole books on keeping Sharks/rays in home aquaria. Not single chapters or magazine articles. I already know there are dozens of articles on keeping sharks.
Post the list - Please.
