Nurse shark
Breeding under professional care minimizes the pressure of exploratory fishing on many species of fish. In this way, it prevents the disappearance of these species in the environment, aiming at sustainability. Conditioning promotes proximity between the animal and the handler, facilitating veterinary and handling procedures.
Sand sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum) are found in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. They have solitary habits and are sometimes seen in small groups hunting together. They are more active at night and have a very varied diet (crustaceans, echinoderms, molluscs, bony fish, rays and smaller sharks). They can measure up to 4.3 meters and live for around 25 years. They are ovoviviparous and their reproductive behavior is common to all shark species, with males using their mouths to hold females for copulation. According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, there is little data to estimate the danger of extinction of the species, due to its decline, fishing is being banned. Sharks of this species are common in aquariums for research, at AquaRio we use a conditioning technique called Tonic Immobility, which has the function of conducting responses to the animal after stimuli, such as feeding. This technique promotes proximity to the caretaker, facilitating the administration of medications and vitamins. In this tank we also find our nurse sharks, that usually stay on the bottom of the tank. In AquaRio we use a conditioning technique called Tonic Immobility, which has the function of conducting responses to the animal after stimuli, such as feeding. This technique promotes proximity to the keepers, facilitating the administration of medications and vitamins.
Nurse shark - Ginglymostoma cirratum
It is a species found in the Atlantic Ocean. It lives in a marine and estuarine environment associated with reefs, at depths between 0 and 130 m. They are sharks with solitary habits and are sometimes seen in small groups hunting together. They are more active at night and have a very varied diet, from crustaceans, echinoderms, mollusks, bony fish, rays and even smaller sharks. They can measure up to 4.3 m and live for about 25 years. They are ovoviviparous and their reproductive behavior is common to all species of sharks, with males using their mouths to hold females for copulation. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), there is deficient data to estimate the species’ extinction risk, but due to its population decline, fishing is being prohibited. However, according to the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), this species is in the “Vulnerable” threat category. Nurse sharks are common in aquariums for research and conservation. At AquaRio we use a conditioning technique called “Tonic Immobility”, which has the function of inducing responses to the animal, allowing for better conditioning of the animal for any type of treatment needed, such as the application of medication and transport, in addition to bringing the animal closer to the animal’s carrier.