Nurse Shark
Ginglymostoma cirratum
The nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) is a sluggish, epibenthic carpet shark native to the coastal Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Recognized by its long barbels, hinged mouth, and rounded dorsal fins, this nocturnal predator rests on the sea floor during the day and hunts small fish and invertebrates at night.
Température de l’eau
24 - 28 °C
Valeur du pH
8.1 - 8.4
Type d'eau
Marin
Niveau dans le bac
Fond
Taille adulte
430 cm
Volume minimal du bac
>= 500 L
Groupe minimal
>= 1
KH
7 - 12 dKH
Description de l'espèce
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Widely distributed in the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Eastern Pacific. Inhabits shallow coral reefs, mangrove channels and sandy plains. It is a sedentary benthic predator.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Nurse Shark. Corpulent and massive elasmobranch that grows slowly to cyclopean proportions: over 4 meters (13 feet) and 300 kg of weight. Tiny terminal mouth placed under a pair of sensory barbels ("mustaches"), used to flush out crustaceans.
Social Behavior: Indolent, placid and nocturnal. In nature, during the day they mass together in close groups, sleeping piled on top of each other under the reef caves. At night they actively patrol the seabed, generating powerful coughs to suck up hidden prey.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Uniform yellowish-brown color (young present small dark spots destined to disappear). Very rough skin, covered with dermal denticles similar to sandpaper. Males develop long claspers (cylindrical reproductive organs) between the pelvic fins.
Soins, reproduction et cohabitation
Aquarium Setup: EXCLUSIVELY FOR PUBLIC AQUARIUMS. Absolutely impossible and illegal to keep in home tanks (although pups are cruelly sold in the American aquarium market). Requires circular concrete pools of 100,000 liters (25,000 gallons) and up.
Diet and Feeding: Carnivore (durophagous). Feeds by sucking the prey with a force equal to an industrial vacuum cleaner. In public aquariums it consumes kilos of whole squid, lobsters, octopus and thick fish fillets. They have a formidable appetite.
Water Quality: Being waste machines, they require mammoth foam fractionation systems (Industrial skimmers) and powerful Ozone and UV disinfection systems. Tropical marine water: 24-28°C (75-82°F), SG 1.020-1.025. A drop in oxygen is quickly fatal for animals this big.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: In public aquariums it is placed in the "Predator" ocean tanks. Cohabits with blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus), giant groupers and stingrays. Will swallow anything slow or injured that comes into contact with its snout.
Aquarium Breeding: Ovoviviparous. Captive breeding is extremely rare due to the immense tanks required to complete the mating ritual (in which the male violently bites the female to immobilize her). Pups are born live and fully formed at about 30 cm (12 inches) in length.
Risks and Diseases: The risk is linked to the compulsive purchase of this creature by private individuals who condemn them to hardship and bone deformities in tiny cubic tanks. The jaws of the nurse shark do not cut, but crush: a defensive bite disintegrates the bones of a hand.
Origine et répartition géographiques
Widely distributed in the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Eastern Pacific. Inhabits shallow coral reefs, mangrove channels and sandy plains. It is a sedentary benthic predator.
Origine
Océans tropicaux et récifsAmérique du NordAsie de l'Est
Profil de poisson
- Tempérament
- Semi-aggressive
- It is generally docile. It can bite defensively if provoked. It is an active nocturnal hunter.
- Régime alimentaire
- Omnivore
- It is a large carnivore. Feed fresh or frozen seafood. Vitamin supplements are absolutely necessary.
- Espérance de vie
- 25-30 years
- Taille adulte
- 430 cm
- Ratio des sexes
- Flexible
- It is kept solitarily. Public aquariums keep one male with females. They tolerate their own kind.
- Fréquence d'alimentation
- Twice daily
- It requires less frequent feeding. Feed two to three times weekly. Overfeeding causes severe water degradation.
- Charge biologique
- Extreme
- This predator produces an immense bioload. Industrial-sized filtration is mandatory. Frequent large water changes are required.
- Courant
- Moderate
- Ginglymostoma cirratum needs steady, moderate circulation distributed across the aquarium rather than a narrow, forceful jet. EXCLUSIVELY FOR PUBLIC AQUARIUMS. Absolutely impossible and illegal to keep in home tanks (although pups are cruelly sold in the American aquarium market). This preserves useful water exchange while retaining calmer shelter for rest and feeding.
- Risque de saut
- Yes
- It is a powerful animal. It can breach the surface. A heavily reinforced lid is required.
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- It gives birth to live young. Captive breeding requires massive facilities. Mating involves aggressive biting behavior.
- Compatibilité et compagnons
- Species only
- It will eat smaller fish. Keep it in species-only setups. It is unsuitable for standard reefs.
- Niveau dans le bac
- Bottom
- It is strictly a bottom-dweller. A massive floor space is essential. Provide large caves for hiding.
Modèles et paramètres scientifiques
FishBase
Fenêtre sur les données scientifiques officielles de l’espèce
FishBase v25.04Données synchronisées le : 15/06/2026
- Niveau trophique
- 4,2 ± 0,2 se
- Résilience
- Faible (4,5 - 14 ans)
- Singularité phylogénétique (PD50)
- 0.8125
- Relation bayésienne longueur-poids
- a = 0.00417, b = 3.08
- VulnérabilitéVulnérabilité très élevée (90 / 100)
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