All fish / Ginglymostomatidae

Nurse Shark

Ginglymostoma cirratum

Also known as atlantic nurse shark, nurse shark, no, コモリザメ, 铰口鲨

The nurse shark is a slow, bottom-dwelling shark with a broad head, two fleshy barbels at the nostrils and a plain yellowish to grey-brown body. Juveniles sometimes show small dark spots. It is hardy and calm, which makes it a favourite in public aquariums, but it grows far too big for any home tank.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

250 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °C

pH

8 to 8.4

Smallest tank

100000 litres

Keep as

Singly, or in groups only in public aquarium systems

Diet

Carnivore: squid, fish, shrimp, clams and other seafood

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

20 to 25 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Atlantic from Rhode Island to southern Brazil, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and the eastern Pacific from Mexico to Peru; also West Africa

Breeding

It is ovoviviparous, with eggs hatching inside the mother and around 20 to 40 pups born alive after about six months. Breeding has happened in large public aquariums but is not realistic for private keepers.

Good to know

Adults commonly reach 2.5 to 3 metres and need enormous public-aquarium volumes, so small pups sold in shops will quickly outgrow home systems. It is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN and is protected or regulated in several countries.