Are Black Tipped Reef Sharks Able To....

[ArauraDiscus]

sit on the bottom to sleep or do they have to sleep and swim at the same time. They have a black tipped reef shark in a 100 gallon tank at my LFS and I'm a little disturbed for it's health.

 

[kkyyllee]

i think all skarks have to swim constantly because there gills donot move so they have to keep water flowing over them to live

 

[ArauraDiscus]

well the thing with that is make sure there is no fish, after the flesh is gone prettymuch all bacteria and scavengers leave it alone seeings its bone, i say go for it if u can fit it into the tank without making it look tacky, however still clean it out thoroghly

Not nurse sharks. They have specialized spiracles that pump water over their gills allowing them to rest on the ocean floor. But I know great whites must keep in motion and sleep while swimming.

 

[andywg]

i think all skarks have to swim constantly because there gills donot move so they have to keep water flowing over them to live

Most of the sharks that are plausible to do in an aquarium are not ram-ventilated, that is they can push water over their gills without the need for constant locomotion.

Black tipped sharks do grow a bit large though, getting to a good 3-4 feet IIRC. This makes them unsuitable for anything but large SW ponds.

 

[Brenden]

As already stated there are a few species of sharks which are not ram-ventilaters and then of course there are species which are ram-ventilaters. Species such as the bethnic sharks Bamboos, Horns, Cats, Eppaulettes, and Smoothhounds do not need to swim to breath. However species such as the Blacktip Reef do need to keep swimming to breath and stay alive. No Blacktip Reef Shark, not even a pup should be held in a 100 gallon. Blacktip Reefs need systems of 15,000 gallons to thrive for life, I wouldn't put a Blacktip Reef Pup in anything smaller than 350 gallons, and even then I wouldn't keep it in the tank for longer than a 1 month QT period. Can you please get us pictures, as well as the name of this store?

Thanks, Brenden