- Diet consists of bony fish, rays, cephalopods, small sharks, octopus, squids, and crustaceans.
- The silvertip shark is an apex predator, meaning it is at the top of the food chain and has very few natural predators of its own.
- Has been observed swimming among other feeding sharks and darting into the group to swipe food.
- Pups feed on small fish.
- Voracious feeders.
What do silvertip sharks eat?
They also eat squid, octopus, eagle rays and small sharks. The Silvertip shark has been observed swimming along the edge of a group of other species of feeding sharks, swiftly darting into the group to swipe food. Aesthetic Identification: The Silvertip shark appears blue-gray from above, with a bronze shine, paling to white underneath.
What is the maximum size of a silvertip shark?
It attains a maximum length of 3 m (10 ft). An aggressive, powerful apex predator, the silvertip shark feeds on a wide variety of bony fishes, as well as eagle rays, smaller sharks, and cephalopods.
How to take care of a silver shark at home?
Comfortable temperature conditions are maintained in the range from 22 to 28 degrees. At home, it is set using special conditioning and heaters. Silver Sharks in nature eat a variety of things in their natural habitat. The normal growth of the shark is ensured by an enriched diet consisting of dry and live food.
Do silvertip sharks fight each other?
Individual silvertip sharks behave very aggressively towards one another, and many are heavily scarred. They are also reported to dominate Galapagos sharks ( C. galapagensis) and blacktip sharks ( C. limbatus) of equal size when competing for food.
What do silver tip sharks eat?
Diet / Feeding. Diet consists of bony fish, rays, cephalopods, small sharks, octopus, squids, and crustaceans. The silvertip shark is an apex predator, meaning it is at the top of the food chain and has very few natural predators of its own.
What do you feed shark fish?
Most sharks are omnivorous in captivity and will thrive on a varied diet that includes Aqueon Tropical Flakes, Color Flakes, Spirulina Flakes, Tropical Granules, Algae Rounds, Bottom Feeder Tablets and Shrimp Pellets. Frozen and live foods can also be fed as treats to improve growth and color.
Are Silvertip Sharks aggressive?
The silvertip shark should be treated with caution, as it is potentially dangerous to humans. It is considered potentially dangerous due to its large size, abundance around offshore reefs. According to the International Shark Attack File, this species has been responsible for one unprovoked attack.
What fish can live with silver sharks?
Therefore, here are my best bala shark tank mates and who to avoid.Tinfoil Barbs (Barbus schwanefeldi)Boesemani Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia boesemani)Emerald Rainbowfish (Glossolepis wanamensis)Clown Loaches (Chromobotia macracanthus)Angelfish (Pterophyllum sp.)Black Ghost Knifefish (Apteronotus albifrons)More items...•
Are sharks happy in an aquarium?
Sharks Don't Last in Captivity The animals reportedly died within days, after running into the walls of the enclosure. Recently, a great white shark died after just three days in a Japanese aquarium. These incidents aren't isolated: Sharks don't thrive in tanks.
What do I feed my pet shark?
You should feed your shark two or three times a week and use a variety of different foods. Sharks like meaty foods, including shrimp, squid, crabs, tilapia, and other whitefish. Sharks are known to be messy eaters but will usually finish off every last bite of a good-sized meal.
Do lemon sharks like humans?
Since these sharks are gentle animals and generally non-aggressive towards humans, they are very popular shark divers. There has never been a recorded fatality due to a Lemon Shark bite and most bites are the result of the shark being spooked.
Where do silver tip sharks live?
Silvertip sharks, Carcharhinus albimarginatus, are found over or adjacent to continental and insular (island) shelves and offshore banks. They are thought to prefer offshore islands, coral reefs and banks to depths of 800 m.
Can sharks be blue?
Blue sharks are recognizable for their exceptionally slender body and bright blue coloration. They are dark blue on the back, bright blue on the sides, and white on the underside.
How long do silver shark fish live?
Bala Shark Facts & OverviewScientific name:Balantiocheilos melanopterusSize:Up to 14 inchesLife expectancy:Up to 10 yearsColor:Silver with gray or yellow and black finsDiet:Omnivore9 more rows•Feb 24, 2022
What size tank do Silver Sharks need?
The exact tank size that's best for Bala Sharks is somewhat debated in the aquarium community. The most common suggested range is between a 120 and 150 gallon tank, which is a rather large aquarium. Obviously, the more fish you have, the more room they will need.
Can you keep Silver Sharks with angelfish?
They can also be prone to having their fins nibbled, but the bala shark is not usually guilty of this kind of behavior. They thrive in the same water conditions as the shark and even the most common silver angelfish will look striking in your aquarium....1. Angelfish.Size:4-14 inchesTemperament:Semi-aggressive3 more rows•Jan 13, 2022
How do you take care of shark fish?
Temperature Requirement for Pet Shark They need a temperature of 60o F to survive. If you want to take care of your pet shark fish, you can use an aquarium heater to maintain a healthy temperature. Likewise, the water needs good filtration. So it's important to change 10% of the water every two weeks.
Can you keep a shark as a pet?
Is it legal to own a great white shark? No. Great white sharks are a protected species in the waters where they are found.
How do you keep sharks in your tank?
1:472:41Best Sharks for a Home Fish Tank | Aquarium Care - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo to wrap it up for salt. Order I would recommend one of this the bottom-dwelling cat sharks nurseMoreSo to wrap it up for salt. Order I would recommend one of this the bottom-dwelling cat sharks nurse sharks are really good when they're small but they get really large.
What do you need to take care of a shark?
Sharks require aquariums with rounded corners to prevent damage to their noses. Sharks also require pristine water with no heavy metal contamination. Shark tanks should contain a minimum of decorations to keep their inhabitants from injuring themselves.
What is a silver shark?
Silver Shark is the most commonly seen inhabitant of home aquariums. Silver shark is also known as Bala Shark, Shark Minnow, Tricolor Shark, etc. In appearance, the fish is very similar to a real shark, it has a high fin on the back, the general shape of a shark’s body, but in terms of behavior, it is harmless. Table of Contents [ hide]
How big of a container do you need for a silver shark?
A prerequisite is the presence of a spacious container of at least 200L and the length of which should be at least 1M.
Why are silver sharks called centenarians?
They are usually referred to centenarians because they are not bound with the average fish age of 10 years. The silver sharks are representatives of the cyprinids family. Compared to the overall size of the body, the eyes and mouth are disproportionately large. They have a large scale of silver-gray shades.
Why are silver sharks declining?
The reason for this is global environmental pollution and prohibited catch of these sharks for subsequent sale for decorative purposes.
How to recreate a strong and powerful current, as close as possible to the Bala shark’s natural habitat?
To recreate a strong and powerful current, as close as possible to the Bala shark’s natural habitat, you will need powerful models of filtration plants.
Why are shark fins invisible?
As for the pectoral fins, they are almost invisible because of their transparency. Light gray or yellowish tones distinguish the remaining fin parts of the body. Their edging is made in contrasting black. The peculiarity of the dorsal fins, located almost perpendicular to the body, led to similarity with real sharks.
When was the silver shark first discovered?
Silver Shark fish belongs to the order of cyprinids. It was first described in 1851 by the Dutch scientist Peter Blecker.
What is the silvertip shark?
The silvertip shark was originally described as Carcharias albimarginatus by German naturalist Eduard Rüppell, in the 1837 Fische des Rothen Meeres ( Fishes of the Red Sea ). The name was later changed to the currently valid Carcharhinus albimarginatus. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin albi meaning "white", and marginatus meaning "to enclose with a border", in reference to the distinct white fin margins. In 1960, a 103 cm (3.38 ft)-long immature male caught off Ras Muhammad in the Red Sea was designated as the type specimen. Based on similarities in morphology, tooth shape, and vertebral characters, Garrick (1982) proposed the grey reef shark as the closest relative of the silvertip shark. This interpretation was corroborated by Lavery (1992), based on allozyme data.
What is the name of the fish that follows the silvertip shark?
They sometimes follow marine mammals such as bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops sp.) in open water, and are themselves followed by pilot fish ( Naucrates ductor ). Like the grey reef shark, the silvertip shark sometimes perform a stereotypical threat display if pursued by divers, warning that it is prepared to attack.
How do silvertip sharks reproduce?
Like other requiem sharks, the silvertip shark is viviparous; once the embryos exhaust their supply of yolk, the depleted yolk sac develops into a placental connection through which the mother delivers nourishment. In the Southern Hemisphere, mating and parturition both occur in summer. Courtship involves the male biting the female to hold her for copulation; one female observed had the tip of her first dorsal fin bitten off from such activity. Females bear litters of one to 11 (usually five or six) young after a gestation period of about one year, on a biennial cycle. The newborns have been reported to measure 63–68 cm (25–27 in) and 73–81 cm (29–32 in) long by different authors, and are found in shallower water than adults. The growth rate is highly variable in the wild: Kato and Hernandez (1967) reported juvenile silvertip sharks grow an average of 3.8 cm (1.5 in), or 5.3% of their body length, per year, with some individuals growing as much as 20.8 cm (8.2 in), 30.1% of their body length) per year and others showing negative "growth". Males have been reported to be sexually mature at 1.6–1.8 m (5.2–5.9 ft) or 1.9–2.0 m (6.2–6.6 ft) long, and females at 1.6–2.0 m (5.2–6.6 ft) long.
How deep can a silvertip shark dive?
It is often encountered around offshore islands and coral reefs, and has been known to dive to a depth of 800 m (2,600 ft).
What shark has white fins?
The silvertip shark can be recognized by its white-edged fins.
How many teeth does a silvertip shark have?
The five pairs of gill slits are short. It has 12–14 tooth rows on each side of both jaws, with one or two small teeth at the symphysis (middle of the jaws).
Which shark is closest to silvertip shark?
Based on similarities in morphology, tooth shape, and vertebral characters, Garrick (1982) proposed the grey reef shark as the closest relative of the silvertip shark. This interpretation was corroborated by Lavery (1992), based on allozyme data.
What do silvertip sharks eat?
Diet: Silvertip sharks typically eat benthic and midwater fishes like wahoo, wrasses and tuna. They also eat squid, octopus, eagle rays and small sharks. The Silvertip shark has been observed swimming along the edge of a group of other species of feeding sharks, swiftly darting into the group to swipe food.
How deep can a silvertip shark dive?
The Silvertip shark ( Carcharhinus albimarginatus) is a large species of requiem shark, in the family Carcharhinidae. It can dive to depths of 2600 feet. Silvertip sharks are potentially dangerous to humans.
How many teeth does a silvertip shark have?
Teeth and Jaw: Both jaws of the Silvertip shark have between 12-14 teeth. The upper teeth are broad and serrated. The cusps are high and triangular and the crown feet have coarse serrations or low cusp-lets. The lower teeth have upright broad serrated cusps with transverse roots.
Is a silvertip shark a swimmer?
Speed: The Silvertip shark is a fast swimmer.
Where do silvertip sharks live?
A predator of warmer waters, the Silvertip Shark is found abundantly in the Indian and Pacific oceans. It prefers shallow waters and is thus in close proximity to coral reefs and island reefs. The shark also prefers coral reefs due to the abundant food sources. The Pacific Rim, southern European coastline, the Indian Ocean, south-China coastline and the Australian coastline are the known habitat for these sharks. They also have an affinity to the coral reefs and offshore islands, so people should be careful when venturing out into their habitat.
Why are silvertip sharks threatened?
The Silvertip Shark is reaching the stage of “vulnerable” form “near threatened” due to the fishing habits in the Indian Ocean, especially the coral reef islands. Countries like Myanmar, Philippines and Malaysia are known to fish for these sharks and they are finned at sea.
What sharks swim with the Rainbow Runner?
It’s common to see them swimming alongside the Silvertip Shark and rub against it to clean off parasites. Brave ones, aren’t they?
How big is a reef shark?
Quick Overview. This Shark is very aggressive and is large and bulky, usually growing to be 10 feet or almost 3 meter s long. It has the squarest nose amongst its cousins – the other reef sharks. These sharks are known to weigh about 170 kilograms or 375 pounds and the females typically weigh more than males. The silver white marks on the fins ...
How deep can a shark dive?
Additionally, this aggressive hunter can be found at depths of 30-40 meters and can dive up to 800 meters without a problem. Actually, these sharks can be found at all depths between 30 to 800 meters but they prefer the shallow and warm waters.
How big are shark pups?
The newborns are born in litters (normally 5 to 6 but can vary from 1 to 11) and are anywhere between 63 to 81 Centimeters or 25 to 32 inches long. The females are considered sexually mature once they grow to be about 2 meters long and in the case of males, it is 1.8 meters. The pups are known to swim with the mother shark in shallow waters before getting independent.
Why are sharks considered a threat to humans?
They also tend to stay in shallow water, so they are one of the more commonly seen shark species by humans. Due to its unpredictable behavior and aggressive hunting tactics , this shark is considered to be a higher threat to humans than most other sharks.
Scientific Description
Upon discovery, the German naturalist Eduard Rüppell described the silvertip shark originally in the 1837 publication Fische des Rothen Meeres (Fishes of the Red Sea) as Carcharias albimarginatus. Later, the genus name was changed to the currently valid Carcharhinus.
How to Identify a Silvertip Shark
Silvertip sharks appear streamlined and robust. They have a slightly long, broad snout. Their eyes are large and round. They have five pairs of short gill slits.
Habitat and Distribution of Silvertip Sharks
Silvertip sharks prefer habitats over continental and insular shelves. They mostly occur at depths between 98 to 2,625 feet (30 to 800 m), while occupying all levels of the water column. These sharks are common around coral reef banks, reef drop-offs, and isolated islands.
Typical Behavior of Silvertip Sharks
These sharks tend to move, though, in certain areas, they show home fidelity. There are reports of this species exhibiting territorial behaviors. Silvertip sharks are usually solitary or found in pairs. Small groups of adult females have been found in deep waters.
Feeding Behavior
The main food of silvertip sharks consists of bony fish which includes, mackerel, grouper, tuna, lantern fish, flying fish, soles, escolars, and wrasses. Others are eagle rays, octopuses, cephalopods, and smaller sharks which make up occasional diets of these species.
Life Cycle
Silvertip sharks display violent mating ritual which involves the male biting the female to make her submit to copulation. A female once observed, had the tip of her first dorsal fin bitten off from such violent courtship display. Mating and parturition in the southern hemisphere take place during summer.
Silvertip Sharks and Humans
This shark species are considered potentially dangerous to humans. They are curious and bold, especially when feeding. Often when divers enter the water at first, many Silvertips rush up from deep water to check the divers which can be quite frightening. And, they are likely to approach very close.
What do silvertip sharks eat?
An aggressive, powerful apex predator, the silvertip shark feeds on a wide variety of bony fishes, as well as eagle rays, smaller sharks, and cephalopods. This species dominates other requiem sharks of equal size when competing for food, and larger individuals are often heavily scarred from conflicts with others of its species. As with other members of its family, the silvertip shark is viviparous, with females giving birth to 1–11 pups in the summer. Silvertip sharks are regarded as potentially dangerous to humans, as they often approach divers quite closely. This slow-reproducing species is taken by commercial fisheries for its meat, fins, skin, cartilage, and jaws and teeth, which has apparently led to local population declines or extirpations. As a result, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed it as Near Threatened
Why do sharks have large eyes?
According to some sources, the large eyes are an indication of this species’ more nocturnal habits where the sharks are thought to depart the reef to go and hunt squid.
What are sharks' prey?
Prey – A variety of mid-water and bottom fishes, eagle rays, and octopi. Reproduction – These sharks are viviparous, with yolk-sac placenta and 1-11 pups per litter, but often 5-6, after about a 1 year gestation period. These sharks range from the surface to the bottom, but may not disperse widely between sites.
Where do sharks live?
They can also be found inside lagoons, near drop-offs and offshore, from the surface to depths of 1968.5 to 2624.7 ft [600 to 800 m] . These sharks are not oceanic.
How big is a shark?
When born, the shark is 2.1 to 2.2 ft [63 to 68 cm] in length. Males mature at a length of 5.2 to 5.9 ft [1.6 to1.8 m], while females mature at 5.2 to 6.5 ft [1.6 to1.9 m]. Their maximum length is approximately 9.8 ft [3 m].
Do sharks follow boats?
These sharks range from the surface to the bottom, but may not disperse widely between sites. They often follow boats. They are more aggressive and dominant than the Galapagos shark - Carcharhinus galapagensis and the Blacktip shark - Carcharhinus limbatus. Adults are often scarred.
What do silvertip sharks eat?
Prey of the silvertip shark include benthic and midwater fish such as wahoo, eagle rays, wrasses, and tunas as well as small sharks. This shark also feeds on octopuses and squid. The silvertip shark has been observed swimming along the edge of a group of other species of feeding sharks, taking food from them.
How dangerous are silvertip sharks?
Silvertip sharks are somewhat dangerous. According to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), there have been four unprovoked attacks by this species on humans, with no deaths. Arguably, humans are much more dangerous to the shark. Silvertips are caught by commercial and artisan fisheries across their range using longlines, gillnets, and trawls, both intentionally and as bycatch. Their fins are highly valued for shark-fin soup and are sold on the export market, along with their skin and cartilage. This species is vulnerable to overfishing (like almost all sharks) due to its slow reproductive rate. The IUCN has listed the silvertip shark as near threatened, and has noted that it may be approaching the criteria for vulnerable .
Do silvertip sharks give birth?
The silvertip shark is viviparous, meaning that they give live birth . Courtship is a little different in these sharks and they are known to hold each other. Bites are normal, so much so that a female Silvertip shark has been found without a part of the dorsal fin after mating. Mating occurs in the summer. During the gestation period that could extend to a year, the embryos feed from the yolk and once the yolk is exhausted, the yolk-sac modifies itself into a placental connection through which the newborns feed from the mother.
What is the silvertip shark?
The Silvertip Shark is subject ed to high bycatch levels in high seas fisheries and in artisanal longline, gillnet, and trawl fisheries throughout its range, with its meat and fins marketable. Surveys of fish markets in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea suggest that the Silvertip Shark has undergone large declines in those waters. There is evidence that Indonesian fisheries have considerably reduced the numbers of the Silvertip Shark within the Memorandum of Understanding [MOU] 1974 Box in the Timor Sea. Catches of sharks in this area declined throughout the early 1990s to the level that Indonesian shark fishing vessels have become relatively uncommon. In the Indian Ocean there was an estimated decline in the abundance of several reef shark species (including the Silvertip Shark) of over 90% in the period between 1970 and 2006 and around the US Pacific Islands common reef sharks have declined to 3-10% of baseline levels. This species’ site-specificity, patchy population, and life history characteristics indicate that remote populations that are not currently managed are highly susceptible to depletion from direct shark fisheries and illegal practices. This information, combined with actual and potential levels of exploitation throughout its range results in a global assessment of Vulnerable, based on suspected overall population decline of greater than 30% over three generations (66 years) inferred from survey data. This assessment should be revisited when reliable catch data become available. In Australia, catch and survey data from the Great Barrier Reef suggest that this species is fairly common. The Silky Shark has limited interaction with fisheries operating in tropical Queensland and the Northern Territory an therefore, the species is listed as Least Concern in the regional Australian assessment.
Where are silvertip sharks found?
The silvertip shark is wide ranging throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific but not completely cosmopolitan. It is noticeably absent from the Red Sea and the Hawaiian Islands, among other places.
How many sharks are there in Fakarava?
At the south pass of Fakarava, you are likely to see 400+ sharks on a good dive, of which maybe 5% are silvertips.
Where was Silvertip Bank in the 1990s?
Back in the mid 1990’s, I visited Silvertip Bank in Myanmar. Even back then, the reef had been almost completely destroyed by dynamite fishing. There were very few fishes to be seen but we still managed to chum in a pair of large silvertip sharks. The sharks were extremely aggressive, repeatedly bumping our small group of divers, long after the bait had been consumed. Considering how easy it is to see this species at relatively close quarters in Pacific Mexico, French Polynesia, and elsewhere, the use of bait is clearly not necessary to encounter this species.
Where to find silvertips in Costa Rica?
At Cocos Island in Costa Rica, silvertips are sporadically encountered on some deep wall dives. There used to be a particularly good spot for them at a cleaning station called Silverado but I have heard that they have moved off, and that particular dive site is now a better spot for tiger sharks (this needs confirmation).
Is silvertip easy to approach?
Relatively easy to approach at some locations where resident silvertips are conditioned to seeing divers. Extremely bold and potentially aggressive in baited situations.
Quick Stats
Origin History
Appearance and Differences
Behavioral Features
Silver Shark Tank Mates
Silver Shark Aquarium Rules
Feeding
- Silver Sharks in nature eat a variety of things in their natural habitat. The normal growth of the shark is ensured by an enriched dietconsisting of dry and live food. They are happy to eat chopped daphnia, artemia, mussels, and shrimp. One needs to be careful with a bloodworm since this is not well digested by these sharks. To ensure the full deve...
Overview
Biology and ecology
Though silvertip sharks are quite mobile, they exhibit fidelity to certain areas, with reports of territorial behavior. They are usually encountered alone or in pairs. Small groups of adult females have been seen in deep water. Individual silvertip sharks behave very aggressively towards one another, and many are heavily scarred. They are also reported to dominate Galapagos sharks (C. galapagensi…
Taxonomy and phylogeny
Distribution and habitat
Description
Human interactions
External links