Nurse Shark

[rldavisou]

I found a smokin' good deal on a 280 gal full system. Only problem is that it has a 2' Nurse Shark (!?) in it that has to go with the tank. I'm not willing to keep a possible man eater, let alone the fact that it would require a house-sized tank soon. Do zoos or aquariums buy sharks from individuals?

Or would someone who can care for the shark properly be willing to take it off my hands if I buy the system?

 

[TheSaltwaterGuy]

Public aquariums don't take private aquarist's sharks too often.

Ask around here, www.sharkraycentral.com. I'm sure someone there has room for it.

Good luck.

 

[1ucky]

Re: Nurse Shark

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12820766#post12820766 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rldavisou
I found a smokin' good deal on a 280 gal full system. Only problem is that it has a 2' Nurse Shark (!?) in it that has to go with the tank. I'm not willing to keep a possible man eater, let alone the fact that it would require a house-sized tank soon. Do zoos or aquariums buy sharks from individuals?

Or would someone who can care for the shark properly be willing to take it off my hands if I buy the system?

I think I saw this tank advertised on Craigslist today? It comes with a 2 foot Nurse Shark.

 

[rldavisou]

yup, saw it on craigslist

 

[LauraCline]

You should be able to sell it even though they get huge. They aren't maneaters though, lol.

 

[reefergeorge]

Where are you located? The aquarium by me never turns down fish. You may be able to give it away to one, but I seriously doubt they will buy it.

 

[Ricunger]

Post him in the selling threads. im sure someone will buy it.

 

[TheSaltwaterGuy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12823642#post12823642 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ricunger
Post him in the selling threads. im sure someone will buy it.

But the problem is, most people don't have the space for it.

 

[rldavisou]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12823649#post12823649 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TheSaltwaterGuy
But the problem is, most people don't have the space for it.

My point exactly. I would sell it because I don't have space for it, but I don't want to sell to someone in the same position.

 

[TheSaltwaterGuy]

Have you asked anyone on Shark & Ray Central yet?

 

[billsreef]

Not many private aquarists have tanks any where near big enough for a shark that easily grows 6-8 feet, sometimes larger. While most public aquariums typically say no to such things, sometimes you get lucky and do find one. So it's worth calling around to see if any will take it as a donation, best case scenario one says yes, worse case scenario you bomb out, but you tried

 

[badbrady06]

its sad but doesn't really matter. you take it gets big and dies on you. you don't it gets big and dies on them or someone else. see if someone will take it and get the tank. get a couple coral cats.

 

[krj-1168]

While - Nurse Sharks are great sharks. They aren't man-eaters. The only recorded attacks are cases of provoked attacks - and no one has ever died from being attacked by a Nurse shark.

In captivity - it's often said that Nurse has a personality similar to a dog, or maybe a pet pig. They are a very hardy species of shark. The big problem with this species - it's adult size (8-10'), and can weigh up to 300lbs.

Still there are private shark aquarists that are capable of keeping a Nurse shark. But they usually have a swimming pool size shark pond - that's at least 27-30' in Diameter.

At 2 ft long - it should take 8 years to reach maturity(7-7.5') if you don't over feed it.

The Really Bad side - not many public Aquariums or private Aquarists would be very willing to take a Nurse shark off your hands. And if you do fine someone - you'll likely have to give it away.

 

[rldavisou]

So how long will it survive, healthy, in a 280 if it's already 2'?

 

[krj-1168]

Well depends on the exact dimensions of the 280 gallon.

But generally speaking - I would say not very much longer. At 24" long - it will need either a pond that's at least 6.5' in diameter or a 480 gallon tank (8'L x 4'W x 2'H) to live in for the next year.