Whale Shark- Georgia Aquarium question

[fugupuff]

The sharks were suffering two fold. The tuna (and other heavy bodied fish) were beating the crap out of them. Second, they were rubbing there noses so much on the walls that they had an off sense of what was in front of them. If you get a good pic of the rostrum just prior to release, you'll see what I mean.

you are right, they didn't look in tip top shape despite what people were being told.

I guess that would just be my own fantasy of owning some great whites and watching them grow

Since they couldn't sense boundaries well, wonder if over time they'd learn, or some kind of tinting material could be used from the outside glass to make them see the boundry instead of feeling there is more to the other side of the acrylic.

On a lighter note, probably they wanted to sample some of the pesty little kids that were crowding the front of the tank, that were in my way

 

[fugupuff]

oh, one more question for the experts on there, thanks for taking the time to read and hope i'm not derailing too much.

have bull sharks been kept on any public displays and how is their survivability in captivity?
they're probably too predatory in terms of keeping in display, but I was just wondering if it has been done...

 

[Brenden]

The Miami Aquarium I believe it is, has a female Bull Shark on display right now.

 

[Scuba Kid]

I've seen an ocean sunfish in the wild.....truly amazing fish. This was only a young one though....maybe 4-5 feet. Really funny looking guys, quite fun to see.

 

[davo]

The sharks were suffering two fold. The tuna (and other heavy bodied fish) were beating the crap out of them. Second, they were rubbing there noses so much on the walls that they had an off sense of what was in front of them. If you get a good pic of the rostrum just prior to release, you'll see what I mean.

yes i remember the nose rub... it all comes flooding back to me. There is a thread on them somewhere... they didn't do as well as hoped. Glad it wasn't my memory going!

Bull sharks i think have been kept successfully in aquarium.

 

[krj-1168]

Yeah I remember about the Great White being banged up a bit. Still I think these 2 Great Whites could rightfully be call "successful attempts" - since they are the first 2 Great Whites to be kept in captivity for longer than a month.

Bull sharks i think have been kept successfully in aquarium.

Well you would think so - given the species is so highly adaptable in the wild. But the the fact is bull sharks in Public Aquariums are still pretty rare.

 

[Zoodiver]

Bulls weren't done well for a long time. Dallas World, Long Beach, Miami, Predator World (Branson) and a few others have them now. Dallas World had the largest collection for a long time, but lately haven't been doing well. They only have one on display now.

I've done a lot of work collecting and transporting them in the past. Bulls are my favorite by far. We collected in the Gulf of Mexico and some of the freshwater lagoons just inshore. I'd like to get some for this place this Summer. However, they aren't for most places to attempt.

 

[sharkdealer]

Miami only has Nurses on display (when I was there in April). That aquarium is pathetic. It sucks to pay all that money to get in somewhere only to find out you've got a better shark selection at home. I do remember many years ago back in the early 80's they had large bull and lemon sharks there. Most aquariums don't keep bulls because they like to eat other sharks and rays as well as other fish. They are also very territorial.

 

[davo]

Miami only has Nurses on display (when I was there in April). That aquarium is pathetic. It sucks to pay all that money to get in somewhere only to find out you've got a better shark selection at home.

LOL! I love MFK.

 

[krj-1168]

I think as Matt's already stated, the reason why many aquariums haven't been able to keep bulls. And it's not just because of their territorial behavior.

As for Nurses - I've seen nurse sharks at virtually every Public Aquarium I've been too. Personally I think many people underrate these wonderful sharks - just because they are Nurse sharks.