Black Tip Reef Sharks

[Aquatica Services Pattaya]

hi guys
trying to get some info on Black Tips behavior towards additional new Sharks being added....
Currently in our display we have 3 adult Black Tips (4-5') and 2 Sand Sharks.
We are thinking about adding maybe 1 or 2 more Black Tips (juvenile) to the display......
Not much info available online about this.....
Trying to see if there are some Public Aquarium members roaming this forums for some insight.....
Thanks guys
Dirk from
Aquatica Services in Pattaya

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

hi guys
trying to get some info on Black Tips behavior towards additional new Sharks being added....
Currently in our display we have 3 adult Black Tips (4-5') and 2 Sand Sharks.
We are thinking about adding maybe 1 or 2 more Black Tips (juvenile) to the display......
Not much info available online about this.....
Trying to see if there are some Public Aquarium members roaming this forums for some insight.....
Thanks guys
Dirk from
Aquatica Services in Pattaya

I’m retired from public aquariums. I’ve kept black tips for 30+ years, but I’ve not tried mixing different sized ones before.

What species are the “sand sharks”?
What size is your display?
What size are the juveniles you can get?

Jay

 

[Aquatica Services Pattaya]

I’m retired from public aquariums. I’ve kept black tips for 30+ years, but I’ve not tried mixing different sized ones before.

What species are the “sand sharks”?
What size is your display?
What size are the juveniles you can get?

Jay

Hi Jay
- the sand sharks are Tawny Nurse Sharks I think.
- Display is about 15800gl measuring L25ft x H8.6ft x W10ft
- can get as small as 10-12" baby black tips here...
nowhere or no one seem to have exact thoughts...

 

[fishguy242]

hi,welcome to the reef...
Would love to see pics of display !!

No experience here, but do think a 12"er could/would become a snack for a 4-5' black tip, just by their nature
together in a "small to them" setting, JMO...

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hi Jay
- the sand sharks are Tawny Nurse Sharks I think.
- Display is about 15800gl measuring L25ft x H8.6ft x W10ft
- can get as small as 10-12" baby black tips here...
nowhere or no one seem to have exact thoughts...

Correct, nobody is going to be able to give you 100% accurate advice on fish compatibility - there is just too many variables, including individual differences in temperament.

In my opinion, I would not mix blacktips that are more than two times different in size, one third would be safer. If you look at various public aquariums that have black tips, they are almost always close to the same size.

Even being the same size can result in issues. Are you familiar with how these sharks rinse out their spiral valves by eversion? When these sharks get fish bones and scales in their intestines, they push their intestines inside out, into the tank. They then quickly retract them. However, if there is another shark nearby when they do that, it can result in that shark biting the intestines. Then, the intestines get retracted and the first shark looks fine - but then later dies from peritonitis.

Jay

 

[Aquatica Services Pattaya]

hi,welcome to the reef...
Would love to see pics of display !!

No experience here, but do think a 12"er could/would become a snack for a 4-5' black tip, just by their nature
together in a "small to them" setting, JMO...

 

[FoolishWizard]

Following just out of pure curiosity…

 

[Slocke]

I asked my friends at the local public aquarium. They didn't have any silver bullets and just had general advice. That every shark is different and adding sharks isn't different to adding other potentially aggressive fish. Watch carefully and have a back up plan. If you want you can PM and I can send questions on but I doubt they'll have any better advice then Jay.

 

[1112-425XL]

Along for the ride!

 

[Aquatica Services Pattaya]

did my video ever load on here?

 

[fishguy242]

did my video ever load on here?

Sorry , no it did not.

 

[Aquatica Services Pattaya]

Sorry , no it did not.

lets try again...

 

[Aquatica Services Pattaya]

little dark but hop you guys get an idea.....
we were called in to get this display back to proper standards....
currently it had been neglected for the longest time through Corona and a sale to new management......
stay tuned

 

[Reefbuds]

No advice from here but can't wait to see what it looks like after you get finished with it

 

[Aspect]

Have not personally kept Black tips or any obligate ventilators, but from past knowledge I have seen before that ocean sharks such as blacktips will not hesitate to snack on smaller sharks if hungry. I wouldn't take that risk personally.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

lets try again...

Personally, I would consider that tank at its limit for blacktips, I would not add any more of them, you need to leave some room for current growth.

Jay

 

[Aquatica Services Pattaya]

Have not personally kept Black tips or any obligate ventilators, but from past knowledge I have seen before that ocean sharks such as blacktips will not hesitate to snack on smaller sharks if hungry. I wouldn't take that risk personally.

believe them to be 5-6 years old so doubt there will be anymore additional growth

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

believe them to be 5-6 years old so doubt there will be anymore additional growth

Yours will grow a bit larger and add considerably more girth. We have four 8 year old captive raised blacktips that are continuing to grow. They're in a 90,000 gallon tank.

Jay