Shark and Ray Care Profiles

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

That sounds like a much better idea to be honest! Also may I ask what species of sharks you've kept and if any of their care requirements are different to what's been listed? I will take out the smooth hounds to start...

The list looks pretty comprehensive. I didn't check all of the natural history info.

Here is a list of sharks from the list that I've worked with, plus some that weren't on the list:

Coral Catshark Atelomycterus marmoratus (bred them)
Swell Shark Cephaloscyllium ventriosum (gotten eggs)
Arabian Bamboo Chiloscyllium arabicum
Gray Bamboo Shark Chiloscyllium griseum
White-spotted Bamboo Shark Chiloscyllium plagiosum (bred them)
Brown-banded Bamboo Shark Chiloscyllium punctatum (bred them)
Epaulette Shark Hemiscyllium ocellatum (bred them)
Californian Horn Shark Heterodontus francisci (gotten eggs)
Mexican Horn Shark Heterodontus mexicanus
Gray Smooth hound Mustelus californicus
Dusky Smooth hound Mustelus canis or Florida smoothhound?
Chain Catshark Scyliorhinus retifer (bred them)
Cloudy Catshark Scyliorhinus torazame


Other species I’ve worked with:

Bonnethead shark (bred them multiple times)
Leopard shark
Nurse shark
Pacific blacktip reef shark
Pacific Zebra shark
Spotted wobbegong (never again! Mean and get huge)

 

[Carcharodon]

That’s a pretty spectacular elasmo-resume!

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

That’s a pretty spectacular elasmo-resume!

Thanks, but this is just from me working for a small public aquarium, larger aquariums may work with a lot more species.

 

[CaptainKiwi]

Thanks, but this is just from me working for a small public aquarium, larger aquariums may work with a lot more species.

I'll do a write up over the next couple of weeks (life is a little crazy right now...) - would it be ok if I sent it to you for review when complete?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I'll do a write up over the next couple of weeks (life is a little crazy right now...) - would it be ok if I sent it to you for review when complete?

Here’s just a thought;

what if you summarize the most valuable data for each species as a text paragraph, and then add my list of “other species” as examples of sharks that really cannot be kept in home aquariums. Then, you could append the entire sheet for those who want full information.

I just couldn’t really navigate the sheet on my phone, and even on my desktop, I had to fix header panes and delete columns I didn’t care about in order to try and see all the data at once.

 

[CaptainKiwi]

Here’s just a thought;

what if you summarize the most valuable data for each species as a text paragraph, and then add my list of “other species” as examples of sharks that really cannot be kept in home aquariums. Then, you could append the entire sheet for those who want full information.

I just couldn’t really navigate the sheet on my phone, and even on my desktop, I had to fix header panes and delete columns I didn’t care about in order to try and see all the data at once.

Sounds like a plan!

 

[CaptainKiwi]

Here’s just a thought;

what if you summarize the most valuable data for each species as a text paragraph, and then add my list of “other species” as examples of sharks that really cannot be kept in home aquariums. Then, you could append the entire sheet for those who want full information.

I just couldn’t really navigate the sheet on my phone, and even on my desktop, I had to fix header panes and delete columns I didn’t care about in order to try and see all the data at once.

I've just finished the first draft - am I ok to PM it your way?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I've just finished the first draft - am I ok to PM it your way?

Yes, please do - it may take me a few days to review it and get back to you though.....

 

[CaptainKiwi]

Yes, please do - it may take me a few days to review it and get back to you though.....

No issues! I just hope you dont judge my writing too much...

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

No issues! I just hope you dont judge my writing too much...

I had forgotten about this:

Here is another shark resource: here are free links to the two massive Elasmobranch husbandry manuals, as well as the online public aquarium journal Drum and Croaker.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/links-to-the-elasmobranch-husbandry-manual.750937/

 

[Carcharodon]

Aquarium Sharks and Rays by Michael Scott is a useful but somewhat dated resource as well. IIRC the space requirements are unrealistically small but it’s still worth a read for aspiring keepers.

 

[CaptainKiwi]

For anyone reading this thread, the article has been written and published:

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/sharks-and-their-captive-care.1156/

Also writing this to say specific thanks to @Jay Hemdal for his help!

 

[Fish Fan]

For anyone reading this thread, the article has been written and published:

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/sharks-and-their-captive-care.1156/

Also writing this to say specific thanks to @Jay Hemdal for his help!

I did see your article, thanks for posting that! I have wanted a shark all my life, and that's how I know I'll likely never have a tank large enough for one, but it was a good read just the same

 

[Carcharodon]

For anyone reading this thread, the article has been written and published:

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/sharks-and-their-captive-care.1156/

Also writing this to say specific thanks to @Jay Hemdal for his help!

Great article. My only recommendation would be not to use the max sizes from the Hemiscyllium genus review, as they’re simply samples. H. trispeculare specifically can get 90cm at the least (I’ve personally seen one close to 3 feet) and I’ve seen images and videos of similar sized specimens of other species. H. halmahera was around years ago and I could’ve sworn they were around that size too; New England Aquarium has/had them and you may be able to check there.

You might also note that even small Wobbegongs as well as short tail nurses can actually be dangerous; the latter in particular can apparently deliver a nasty bite.

 

[CaptainKiwi]

Great article. My only recommendation would be not to use the max sizes from the Hemiscyllium genus review, as they’re simply samples. H. trispeculare specifically can get 90cm at the least (I’ve personally seen one close to 3 feet) and I’ve seen images and videos of similar sized specimens of other species. H. halmahera was around years ago and I could’ve sworn they were around that size too; New England Aquarium has/had them and you may be able to check there.

You might also note that even small Wobbegongs as well as short tail nurses can actually be dangerous; the latter in particular can apparently deliver a nasty bite.

I have just emailed a multitude of zoos that have kept epaulettes (all the different sub species, including NEA and a couple where I am in the UK) to see if I can get some documented numbers on the sizing! I will try and pass on any information I get :)