Should Leopard sharks be kept in captivity?

M

MikeIsHere

In Memoriam
As a simple debate/question. We know they grow to at least 4 sometimes even 5 ft. I ask because I was watching Tanked (tv series) And they had not only a blacktip reef shark in a 500 gallon but also a Nurse shark..if i'm not mistaken and I don't think I am because i'm somewhat of a shark fanatic don't Nurses often exceed 9 ft in length? They custom built it rounded so at least they got that part right.

What are your opinions folks on RC about the types of sharks that should be kept in captivity and those that are kept and should remain in the open sea?
 
I mean were talking about pretty big sharks here..
Leopard_Shark204.jpg
 
No. 99.9% of aquarist don't have the proper systems to support these animals. I believe there're size catch requiments now.
 
If you can build an appropriately sized aquarium/filtration for the shark and provide it with "most" of its natural ecology and enough stimuli than you should be able to keep it for its natural lifespan. Most reef and pelagic animals don't often live their entire lifespan because its a dangerous world out there, and we humans often forget that because we have removed ourselves from the food web/chain and put ourselves atop it. We are the utmost apex predator. In the ocean sharks are arguably the apex predators within their ecosystems. However the smaller sharks, even the six, seven, eight foot obligate ram ventilators at public aquariums still often live longer in captivity, where they are safe from commercial fisheries, shark-finning, trawlers, spearfishers, bigger sharks, white sharks and all forms of pathogens and parasites that in aquaria, they will receive treatment for.
IMO.
 
griseum said:
If you can build an appropriately sized aquarium/filtration for the shark and provide it with "most" of its natural ecology and enough stimuli than you should be able to keep it for its natural lifespan. Most reef and pelagic animals don't often live their entire lifespan because its a dangerous world out there, and we humans often forget that because we have removed ourselves from the food web/chain and put ourselves atop it. We are the utmost apex predator. In the ocean sharks are arguably the apex predators within their ecosystems. However the smaller sharks, even the six, seven, eight foot obligate ram ventilators at public aquariums still often live longer in captivity, where they are safe from commercial fisheries, shark-finning, trawlers, spearfishers, bigger sharks, white sharks and all forms of pathogens and parasites that in aquaria, they will receive treatment for.
IMO.
Click to expand...

Very interesting input, I suppose we do eliminate a ton of the negatives that would as you said naturally occur in open water. However wouldn't one need around 10,000 gallons as a minimum like a 24 foot tank to even consider a leopard or nurse shark?
 
For life, 24 feet by 10 feet by whatever depth greater than 3-4 feet would comfortable house a Leopard shark for life. Mind you, Leopard sharks can breathe while resting for innumerable amounts of time. They do not need to swim to breathe, so, they are not considered ram ventilators. Black Tip Reefs however, are Ram ventilators and need to constantly stay in motion. Nurse sharks are just really lazy, not ram ventilators but they grow very long and wide. Ive read 12-14 feet in some places. Now that's most likely in the wild, and most likely record breaking Maximum size numbers. Ive seen Ginglymostoma spp. in local Public Aquaria at atleast 8 feet though.

Now that's not the minimum size pond/pool/aquarium that could house it at the start of my post here, but I don't like the term Minimum Tank Requirement because no fish should be kept in the minimum size aquarium capable of sustaining its life. That's like a doctor being asked what is the minimum amount of food and space a human needs to survive. Now the doctor may be about to come up with some low caloric number for food intake and a prison cell for shelter and safety from the elements. But will you be happy? Will you be getting enough exercise in your prison cell? Will you reproduce? and remember there is no toilet in this prison cell of yours but you are regularly going to the bath room somewhere in this very small space.
ETC, ETC, ETC,.... (And yes I hate those fish to human analogies too and I really just made one up)

Minimum tank sizes are not suitable. You should never use one of these minimum tank sizes to house your animals. You should use them as a guide and double that size to actually keep your pets. If you're keeping more than one factor that in too. A group of them, even biggggger.

There are those of us that are dedicated shark keepers, that go above and beyond to keep our animals in the highest health and well-being. Ive gone to the grocery and spent more money on fresh seafood for my sharks than on all other food for me!!
 
Honestly, I think that there isn't much difference between keeping any animal in captivity, and I also think that although humans are removing animals from their natural habitat that supports the life of the animal but humans do also have positive effects on the animal.

I think that anyone who spends x amount on a nurse shark/leopard shark should/will also spend x amount on proper care for the animal and the price/ availability of the animal would be restricted to large public aquariums and other large private aquariums.

I know that the staff of companies like Tanked etc. also have the services and contacts to rehome these large animals, once they get too large, to very large homes that allow these animals to live the rest of their lives.

The whole topic is very controversial and we could never come to an agreement, but I'm sure everyone agrees that no animal should be housed in unethical environments and owners should be obliged to only own animals that they can provide homes for the animal that will keep the inhabitant happy and will provide its needs.
 
All the animals that we keep in our reefs have an infinite amount of space to roam in the wild so who is to say that a 30 gallon aquarium can house say a clownfish?
 
Anybody ever keep one? Or smooth hounds or 6 gills? Leopards do much better in large home tanks (when small) than the other 2. They turn before bumping their nose, the others rub them raw.
 
Your leopard better be at least 36 inches or your house could be smaller than the sharks.
It is a violation of the Lacey act and California state law. FWS does not mess around when it comes to these or other protected sharks.
 
i would never chose or support keeping such a high trophic level fish. biomass. populations of tertiary or quaternary species can have enough trouble as it is in the wild sustaining themselves, albeit if you had a totally sustainable system with breeding populations lower on the food chain like a national aquarium and the shark was a "rescue" otherwise you would be contributing to overfishing and creating further undue stress on natural ecosystems trying to feed your friend. think about how much food you eat, your dog eats, etc. it is estimated that it costs 16,000$~ to raise a midsized dog through it's entire life. yea, i'll keep a shark.. in the ocean.

sorry.. that's my rant. i hate that show, tanked. and that annoying francis. he seems appropriately like the outcast.
 
griseum said:
If you can build an appropriately sized aquarium/filtration for the shark and provide it with "most" of its natural ecology and enough stimuli than you should be able to keep it for its natural lifespan. Most reef and pelagic animals don't often live their entire lifespan because its a dangerous world out there, and we humans often forget that because we have removed ourselves from the food web/chain and put ourselves atop it. We are the utmost apex predator. In the ocean sharks are arguably the apex predators within their ecosystems. However the smaller sharks, even the six, seven, eight foot obligate ram ventilators at public aquariums still often live longer in captivity, where they are safe from commercial fisheries, shark-finning, trawlers, spearfishers, bigger sharks, white sharks and all forms of pathogens and parasites that in aquaria, they will receive treatment for.
IMO.
Click to expand...

I agree and disagree. I would say we are not apex predators, but we limited our involvement within most food webs. I don't know, that's where I stand, but it's tough to say because technology enables us to kill nearly any organism we desire. I'm sure many scientists would say otherwise, but I still don't believe we are full on invincible predators. You have to consider the intricacies, like the crazy life forms in our reefs, that all food webs have. I.e. ticks, flys, bacteria, parasites. We have, however, beat down just about all of our limiting factors that play into our carrying capacity, like when captivate species as you said. Industrial revolution catalyzed our previously limited resources and developments in modern medicine help us stave off easily contagious pathogens. And still you are very right. For some reason I just don't think technology, even as we invented it, should count for us as predators. I want to consider the human being as he is born as what is weighed. either way, ramble ramble ramble
 
griseum said:
we humans often forget that because we have removed ourselves from the food web/chain and put ourselves atop it. We are the utmost apex predator. In the ocean sharks are arguably the apex predators within their ecosystems.
Click to expand...

Very well put. I agree.

griseum said:
I don't like the term Minimum Tank Requirement because no fish should be kept in the minimum size aquarium capable of sustaining its life. That's like a doctor being asked what is the minimum amount of food and space a human needs to survive. Now the doctor may be about to come up with some low caloric number for food intake and a prison cell for shelter and safety from the elements. But will you be happy? Will you be getting enough exercise in your prison cell? Will you reproduce? and remember there is no toilet in this prison cell of yours but you are regularly going to the bath room somewhere in this very small space.
ETC, ETC, ETC,.... (And yes I hate those fish to human analogies too and I really just made one up)

Minimum tank sizes are not suitable. You should never use one of these minimum tank sizes to house your animals. You should use them as a guide and double that size to actually keep your pets. If you're keeping more than one factor that in too. A group of them, even biggggger.

There are those of us that are dedicated shark keepers, that go above and beyond to keep our animals in the highest health and well-being. Ive gone to the grocery and spent more money on fresh seafood for my sharks than on all other food for me!!
Click to expand...

There is so much inside of this post that everyone should acknowledge. As for you as a keeper, you continue to amaze us. Maybe another video would do for now ;) Thank you for all the info you give to the community. I actually enjoyed the analogy :) :)

alprazo said:
Your leopard better be at least 36 inches or your house could be smaller than the sharks.
It is a violation of the Lacey act and California state law. FWS does not mess around when it comes to these or other protected sharks.
Click to expand...

The most important post would be this. Thank you alprazo! :)

Mranderson said:
I would say we are not apex predators
Click to expand...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qT4mSoZsbzM
 
I thought Leopard sharks were now being imported from Japan? There is also a type of nurse shark that stays rather small (in the 24"-36" range)I believe.
 
The Japanese Leopard is AKA the Banded Hound Shark. They have become readily available in the past two years.
 
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