Fleshy - you really should research Blacktips online. Then you would know the answer to that question. I can literally point to a dozen respected websites, as well as several shark books that basically give the same information about the Blacktip's maturing and maximum sizes.
Tank Size Recommendations
- Thread starter FLESHY
- Start date
Fleshy - you really should research Blacktips online. Then you would know the answer to that question. I can literally point to a dozen respected websites, as well as several shark books that basically give the same information about the Blacktip's maturing and maximum sizes.
Okay to help move this thread along - I'm going to present several species at once, in this post. Basically including my suggestions for the minimum tank size at maturity and full adult (large adult). Also I will include optium water temperature range for each species.
Atlantic Sharpnose Shark - Rhizoprionodon terraenovae , Maturity at about 2.5-2.8ft. Average Adult Size is about 3.2-3.5ft. Maximum Size is about 4ft.
Preferred Water Temperatures - 74-84F
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 240 sq.ft or 24ft x 11ft oval.
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 520 sq.ft. or 36ft x 16 ft oval.
Minimum Water Depth - 3ft for juveniles, 4ft + for adults.
Blacktip Reef Shark - Carcharhinus melanopterus , Maturity at about 3-3.6ft. Average Adult Size is about 4.9-5.4 ft. Maximum Size is about 5.9-6.5ft.
Preferred Water Temperature is about 74-82F.
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 254 sq.ft or 25ft x 11 ft oval
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 740 sq.ft. or 45ft x 18ft oval
Minimum Water Depth - 3 ft for juveniles, 5-6ft for adults.
Blacktip Shark - Carcharhinus limbatus , Maturity at about 4.5-6ft. Average Adult Size is about 6.4-7.5 ft. Maximum Size is about 8-9ft.
Preferred Water Temperature is about 74-84F.
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 950 sq.ft or 48ft x 22 ft oval
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 2,300 sq.ft. or 75ft x 34ft oval
Minimum Water Depth - 4 ft for juveniles, 8 ft for adults.
Bonnethead Shark - Sphyrna tiburo , Maturity at about 2.5-3ft. Average Adult Size is about 3.6-4.2ft. Maximum Size is about 5ft.
Preferred Water Temperatures - 74-84F
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 200 sq.ft or 22ft x 11ft oval.
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 500 sq.ft. or 35ft x 16 ft oval.
Minimum Water Depth - 2.5-3ft for juveniles, 4ft + for adults.
Common Nurse - Ginglymostoma cirratum , Maturity at about 7-7.8ft. Average Adult Size is about 8.5-9.2ft. Maximum Size is about 10+ft .
Preferred Water Temperature - about 74-84F
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 650sq.ft or 40ft x 18ft oval.
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 1,200+ sq.ft. or about 55ft x 25ft oval.
Minimum Water Depth - 2-3ft for juveniles, 5ft for adults.
Grey Smoothhound - Mustelus californicus , Maturity at about 2-2.4ft. Average Adult Size is about 3-3.3 ft. Maximum Size is about 4ft.
Preferred Water Temperatures - 59-68F
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 80 sq.ft or 15ft x 6ft oval.
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 240 sq.ft. or 24ft x 11 ft oval.
Minimum Water Depth - 2ft for juveniles, 3ft + for adults.
Whitetip Reef Shark - Triaenodon obesus , Maturity at about 3.3-3.6ft. Average Adult Size is about 5.0-5.6 ft. Maximum Size is about 6.4-7 ft.
Preferred Water Temperature is about 74-82F.
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 200 sq.ft or 22ft x 10 ft oval
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 650 sq.ft. or 40ft x 18ft oval
Minimum Water Depth - 3 ft for juveniles, 5ft+ for adults.
Atlantic Sharpnose Shark - Rhizoprionodon terraenovae , Maturity at about 2.5-2.8ft. Average Adult Size is about 3.2-3.5ft. Maximum Size is about 4ft.
Preferred Water Temperatures - 74-84F
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 240 sq.ft or 24ft x 11ft oval.
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 520 sq.ft. or 36ft x 16 ft oval.
Minimum Water Depth - 3ft for juveniles, 4ft + for adults.
Blacktip Reef Shark - Carcharhinus melanopterus , Maturity at about 3-3.6ft. Average Adult Size is about 4.9-5.4 ft. Maximum Size is about 5.9-6.5ft.
Preferred Water Temperature is about 74-82F.
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 254 sq.ft or 25ft x 11 ft oval
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 740 sq.ft. or 45ft x 18ft oval
Minimum Water Depth - 3 ft for juveniles, 5-6ft for adults.
Blacktip Shark - Carcharhinus limbatus , Maturity at about 4.5-6ft. Average Adult Size is about 6.4-7.5 ft. Maximum Size is about 8-9ft.
Preferred Water Temperature is about 74-84F.
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 950 sq.ft or 48ft x 22 ft oval
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 2,300 sq.ft. or 75ft x 34ft oval
Minimum Water Depth - 4 ft for juveniles, 8 ft for adults.
Bonnethead Shark - Sphyrna tiburo , Maturity at about 2.5-3ft. Average Adult Size is about 3.6-4.2ft. Maximum Size is about 5ft.
Preferred Water Temperatures - 74-84F
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 200 sq.ft or 22ft x 11ft oval.
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 500 sq.ft. or 35ft x 16 ft oval.
Minimum Water Depth - 2.5-3ft for juveniles, 4ft + for adults.
Common Nurse - Ginglymostoma cirratum , Maturity at about 7-7.8ft. Average Adult Size is about 8.5-9.2ft. Maximum Size is about 10+ft .
Preferred Water Temperature - about 74-84F
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 650sq.ft or 40ft x 18ft oval.
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 1,200+ sq.ft. or about 55ft x 25ft oval.
Minimum Water Depth - 2-3ft for juveniles, 5ft for adults.
Grey Smoothhound - Mustelus californicus , Maturity at about 2-2.4ft. Average Adult Size is about 3-3.3 ft. Maximum Size is about 4ft.
Preferred Water Temperatures - 59-68F
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 80 sq.ft or 15ft x 6ft oval.
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 240 sq.ft. or 24ft x 11 ft oval.
Minimum Water Depth - 2ft for juveniles, 3ft + for adults.
Whitetip Reef Shark - Triaenodon obesus , Maturity at about 3.3-3.6ft. Average Adult Size is about 5.0-5.6 ft. Maximum Size is about 6.4-7 ft.
Preferred Water Temperature is about 74-82F.
Minimum Tank Size til Mature - 200 sq.ft or 22ft x 10 ft oval
Minimum Tank Size for Full Adult - 650 sq.ft. or 40ft x 18ft oval
Minimum Water Depth - 3 ft for juveniles, 5ft+ for adults.
You bring me a nine foot limbatus, and Ill bite my own foot off.
In addition, seeing as how the record BTR only weighed 30#, I have a hard time seeing that fish being 6.5ft long.
Tanks should always be bigger than smaller, and I cant really say anything about your tank sizes. They will obviously work.
I just dont think that we should be providing this sort of information to hobbyists when their limbatus in captivity is never going to dream of touching nine feet.
In addition, seeing as how the record BTR only weighed 30#, I have a hard time seeing that fish being 6.5ft long.
Tanks should always be bigger than smaller, and I cant really say anything about your tank sizes. They will obviously work.
I just dont think that we should be providing this sort of information to hobbyists when their limbatus in captivity is never going to dream of touching nine feet.
I have to say that I don't think Kens black tip numbers are right for an 8 foot black tip. I think he was being way to generous on what a knuckle head hobbyist could get away with. I think Kens numbers would work for a 5 to 6 footer if it was brought up from a pup. I also feel that most hobbyist wouldn't be able to even get a black tip to their front door without the help of people that specialize in the transport of these animals. And lastly since most public aquariums have trouble keeping these sharks alive I highly doubt that most hobbyist could keep one alive for more than a couple of weeks let alone till its full size. I think a tank size for a 8 footer should be more like 100x60. Remember we are talking about a shark that behaves much like a spinner shark and breaches the water doing backfips on a regular basis. This is a super high strung shark that need LOTS of room.
Fleshy - you really need to Do The Research.
The Shedd Aquarium reports that 6ft BTRs weight about 100lbs(not 30)
And there are several sites like Fishbase.org & the Florida Museum of Natural History that state that BTR can reach 200cm (about 6.5ft).
As for the Blacktip (C.limbatus) reaching 9ft. I have no doubt - since in 2003 a 8ft 1inch, 190lbs Blacktip was caught in Texas*. *See the Texas saltwater Fishing Records . And the world record for Blacktip Shark (C.limbatus) was caught in Kenya, it was about 9ft long, and weighed about 270lbs. Remember I stated that Blacktips in the northeastern Atlantic tend to be smaller than in other parts of the world.
BTW - Josh - I agree that Blacktips (C.limbatus) aren't suited for private aquarists. As for my tank size suggestion - I'll just say that's the reason it's called a minimum tank size.
