All fish / Carcharhinidae

Whitetip Reef Shark

Triaenodon obesus

Also known as whitetip reef shark, white tip reef shark, reef whitetip shark, blunthead shark, ネムリブカ, hiu sirip putih karang, 灰三齿鲨

A slim grey reef shark with a short, blunt snout and bright white tips on the first dorsal fin and upper tail lobe. It often rests on the bottom or in caves during the day and hunts at night, which is why public aquariums can display it. It is calmer and more tolerant of confinement than many other requiem sharks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

150 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

40000 litres

Keep as

Singly or in small groups in very large public aquarium exhibits

Diet

Carnivore: whole fish, squid, octopus and crustaceans

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

16 to 25 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Indo-Pacific coral reefs, from the Red Sea and East Africa to Hawaii and Pacific Central America

Breeding

It gives birth to live young, usually one to five pups per litter after a pregnancy of about ten to thirteen months. A few public aquariums have bred it, but this is not possible in a home aquarium.

Good to know

Adults reach around 1.5 m or more and need huge, specialist systems, so this species does not suit home aquariums. The IUCN lists it as Endangered, and trade or collection may be restricted locally. Ignore unclear seller labels such as "No[70]"; they are not real names.