Bull Shark

[krj-1168]

You always see movie villains with one at there secret base, and one day I will have one. How much do you guess it would cost?

If my memory is correct - in the Bond films the most often seen shark species is the Tiger Shark. And many Bond villians often have them in large tanks. Although the sharks themselves are actually only small adults or sub-adults.

But if you also think it about most Bond villians (especially in 60's to 80's) tend to be multi-millionaire megalomaniacs, bent on global destruction or global domination. So that's not exactly a good model for a private shark aquarists.

Keeping a Bull Shark or a Tiger Shark should only be left to the very experienced professionals. Since they definitely aren't suited of any private aquarist.

 

[FLESHY]

Bulls also travel up into freshwater.How would that be worked out?

Would not be important. They dont NEED to go into freshwater. They can for short periods of time. Usually to have their young. They have an advantage that way because as soon as the pups are born they are the top predator in that freshwater environment. As the pups get bigger they work their way back to saltwater. NO bull sharks can live in 100% freshwater permanently.

 

[FLESHY]

Actually - the Nurse Shark can get as large as the Bull shark. Yes, the largest confirmed report for Nurse Sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum) is about 11 to 12 ft long. But they rarely exceed 10 ft.

Actually the Nurse - is a superior choice when compared to most carcharhinids.

I think the nurse would make a much better pet, as they are fairly sedentary. From my diving/spearfishing experience in the gulf... its pretty rare to see bulls over 10ft long. Most of the sharks I see are in the 8-9ft range. But they are active swimmers when compared to nurses... and probably not best suited to aquarium life. A shark like that would not be dangerous...unless you were in the aquarium with it...and even then. Probably not that dangerous. I spear with bleeding/dead/dying fish on a stringer tied to my waist... and I wont say they dont approach me, but they are easily dissuaded with a firm prod with a sharp spear.

 

[cchhcc]

Instead of getting your own, how about getting rich and funding a public aquarium. You can have anything you like and have the pros around to handle it for you! : )

 

[krichardson]

Would not be important. They dont NEED to go into freshwater. They can for short periods of time. Usually to have their young. They have an advantage that way because as soon as the pups are born they are the top predator in that freshwater environment. As the pups get bigger they work their way back to saltwater. NO bull sharks can live in 100% freshwater permanently.

Dont get me wrong,I didnt say that they need to,nor did I say that they can live in freshwater permanently but since we are speaking hypothetically here I would think that that should be given some thought.They happen to have that ability to travel up into freshwater and I dont even know if public aquariums can replicate such an environment.

 

[krichardson]

::Just here to plug bamboo cat sharks::

You can hand-feed 'em! Scare the crap out of your friends!

Bamboo sharks are not catsharks despite the fact that they are sold as such in many stores.

 

[krj-1168]

Bamboo Sharks are members of the order Orectolobiforms (the Carpet Sharks) which also include Nurse Sharks, & Wobbegongs.

While real Catsharks are members of the order Carcharhiniforms (the Ground Sharks) - which also include Requiem Sharks, Smooth hounds, & Hammerheads.

 

[krichardson]

It seems that bamboos are kinda unappreciated and everyone seems to want the bigger sharks but adult bamboos are quite impressive.

 

[krj-1168]

It's not just the bamboo sharks - but nearly all benthic species tend to be underappreciated.

Partly because they don't have the "classic" shark appearance of carcharhinid sharks. And partly because they usually aren't as active as carcharhinds, hammerheads, and smoothhounds.

Truth is the many benthic species - tend to be the species that are best suited for captivity, be for the private aquarist or public aquariums for larger species such as Zebra & Nurse Sharks.

 

[BroncoJon78]

Yes you would need a rididculously huge tank(300,000g) at least. Yes bull sharks do go into fresh water, they prefer brackish. I have caught many bulls down here in the bay(Florida). They are agressive i have personally seen them come into a foot and a half of water to tear fish out from peoples hands bringing them to shore. If you do manage to do this one day don't fall in