Shark-breeding in Zoos / Aquariums

vogelcommando

vogelcommando

Well-Known Member
10+ year member
Several of the smaller shark-species are bred quite well in captivity but others only rarely or not at all. In this thread we can publish shark-breeding results and maybe even make a list of all species bred sofar in captivity.
To start with an intresting experiment from the USA were scientists have been succesfull in artificial insimination of Whitespotted bamboo sharks :

Scientists bring to life nearly 100 baby sharks through artificial insemination
 
vogelcommando said:
Several of the smaller shark-species are bred quite well in captivity but others only rarely or not at all. In this thread we can publish shark-breeding results and maybe even make a list of all species bred sofar in captivity.
To start with an intresting experiment from the USA were scientists have been succesfull in artificial insimination of Whitespotted bamboo sharks :

Scientists bring to life nearly 100 baby sharks through artificial insemination
Click to expand...
Ok well you should start off with basic species like Swell Sharks and Epaulette Sharks, whose eggs are displayed in aquariums. I have seen two Zebra/Australian Leopard pups so they do breed in captivity. I would assume California Leopard sharks breed because of how many SeaWorld SD has and I know the Aquarium of the pacific was finishing testing to see if their sharks could breed before quarantine hit. I have heard of Largetooth Sawfish being moved for breeding purposes.
 
Epaulette Sharks and other bamboo sharks breed fairly regularly, and wobbegongs have been been bred also. Short-tail Nurse Sharks have been successfully bred by ORA. Zebra Sharks breed occasionally, even asexually, as was the case when the Zebra Sharks at Reef HQ and Cairns Aquarium laid eggs without the presence of a male, most of which were infertile but some did hatch. Port Jackson Sharks have been bred occasionally, and often aquariums put the infertile or already hatched eggs in touch tanks. A single Blacktip Reef Shark pup was born at Legoland Windsor, not the first born in captivity but it was the first to survive infancy. Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium has bred Salamander Sharks is apparently trying to start a breeding program for Whale Sharks, but they have had no success so far.
 
Are most Sand Tigers caught, because there are a lot in captivity and I can’t imagine all of them would be wild caught. Once again SeaWorld SD and Orlando have quite a few so they have to be breeding them.
 
Westcoastperson said:
Are most Sand Tigers caught, because there are a lot in captivity and I can’t imagine all of them would be wild caught. Once again SeaWorld SD and Orlando have quite a few so they have to be breeding them.
Click to expand...
I would imagine so. Basically all marine fish (with a handful of exceptions) are wild caught.
 
This scientific paper published in 2017 shows the breeding success of all elasmobranch (shark, ray and sawfish) species in captivity in Europe. In total, 102 different species are kept across Europe and of these 47.1% of them have reproduced in European aquariums.

The link to the paper is included here:
file:///C:/Users/Owner/Downloads/313-Article%20Text-1833-1-10-20171031%20(1).pdf
 
DesertRhino150 said:
This scientific paper published in 2017 shows the breeding success of all elasmobranch (shark, ray and sawfish) species in captivity in Europe. In total, 102 different species are kept across Europe and of these 47.1% of them have reproduced in European aquariums.

The link to the paper is included here:
file:///C:/Users/Owner/Downloads/313-Article%20Text-1833-1-10-20171031%20(1).pdf
Click to expand...
47.1%? That's quite a bit higher than I would have thought. Also, that link is a link to where it's located on your computer, nobody else can access it. If you know a website the paper is on, you can post the web address, that should work.
 
DaLilFishie said:
47.1%? That's quite a bit higher than I would have thought. Also, that link is a link to where it's located on your computer, nobody else can access it. If you know a website the paper is on, you can post the web address, that should work.
Click to expand...

Sorry about the mistake with the link. It is from this website, and is the PDF entitled 'Sustainable species management of the elasmobranch populations within European aquariums: a conservation challenge'.

Vol. 5 No. 4 (2017) | Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research
 
DesertRhino150 said:
Sorry about the mistake with the link. It is from this website, and is the PDF entitled 'Sustainable species management of the elasmobranch populations within European aquariums: a conservation challenge'.

Vol. 5 No. 4 (2017) | Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research
Click to expand...
Ok so going through all the breeding species on this list sharks breeding in Europe that we haven't already mentioned are White-Tip Reef Shark, Angelshark, Spiny Dogfish, and Nursehound. Also three species of Cat Chark.
 
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Zebra sharks
In 2015 The Deep became the first aquarium in the UK to successfully breed and rear Zebra sharks. Of the six pups born, the four males have been transferred to Lisbon Oceanarium in Portugal and the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo in Israel. The two remaining females stayed here at The Deep.

The Deep also successfully hatched three Zebra shark eggs, provided by Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, USA. All hatching as males, the decision was made to keep one male within the aquarium and transfer the other two, one to Blue Planet in Cheshire and the other to National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth. The successful hatching and rearing of these sharks, has offered the opportunity to inject brand new bloodlines into the European Breeding Programme for Zebra Sharks, increasing the genetic diversity of this species within European aquariums.

Epaulette shark
The Deep manages the species Monitoring Programme for the Epaulette shark. Epaulette sharks reproduce by laying eggs, which they then attach to rocks and seaweed for incubation. At The Deep, these are removed to be incubated behind the scenes where development can be closely monitored.

The Deep has successfully housed and bred these sharks for a number of years and has been able to assist other aquariums seeking this species for display through aquarium bred populations
 
Apparently Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium has bred Tiger Shark:
World’s first! Tiger shark born in the aquarium.Exhibited now at the Shark Research Lab tank.

Not really captive breeding but still quite interesting, Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium has successfully raised a Moller's Lantern Shark fetus in an artificial womb. A pregnant shark was collected but subsequently died, and the fetus was moved to an artificial womb and raised to birth. It doesn't say what happened to the pup, it doesn't seem to have been put on display at the aquarium.
A world’s first! Successful rearing and artificial birth through artificial uterus apparatus of a Mollers lantern shark, a luminescent deep-sea shark!

In addition, the Churaumi Fish Encyclopedia also lists Tawny Nurse Shark, Japanese Sawshark, Sicklefin Lemon Shark, Sandbar Shark and Zebra Shark as having been bred at the aquarium.
 
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