There are more than 500 shark species available; however, we can pet only a handful. Due to sharks’ dangerous nature and activities, experts generally don’t recommend pet sharks. But, if someone is experienced enough with handling aquatic animals, petting sharks isn’t an impossible task. So, you might be wondering, how much does a shark cost in 2024?
With the right set of skills and determination, you can pet a shark by fulfilling all its needs.
Determination might not be the sole factor in deciding whether you can pet a shark or not. Money is also one of the most significant factors in determining it.
You should only pet an animal if you think you will be able to manage the finances required for that animal. The same goes for the case of sharks. We must pet a shark if we have the financial resources to nurture it and give it the best lifestyle possible. Otherwise, the shark should stay in its aquatic habitat with its other friends.
How Much Does a Baby Shark Cost?
The cost of baby sharks varies depending on the different species. Rare species might be more valuable than those which can be found everywhere. Additionally, the cost also depends upon where we buy the shark from. Premium stores might charge much more for the same species of sharks as compared to smaller stores.
The most common baby shark could cost around 50-100 dollars. While on the other hand, rare species of sharks may cost hundreds of dollars. Owning and nurturing a pet shark is an expensive hobby. If you want to own a rare species of shark, adopting it might cost you hundreds of dollars.
If we’re specifically talking about sharks required for aquariums and small fish tanks, then they might cost less. Home aquarium baby sharks have a minimum cost of $5. The cost may increase if the shark gets older.
What are some inexpensive Baby Sharks to Own?
If you’re on a budget, you might be looking for sharks at a reasonable cost. Thus, you must be trying to find a shark that comes within your budget. The following are some baby sharks that are inexpensive to own:
Dogfish sharks
These sharks are small, bottom-dwelling sharks. They are found in almost all coastal areas. Hence they are inexpensive.
Horn Sharks
These are small, bottom-dwelling sharks that live in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The average price of a horn shark is $250-$3501.
Epaulette Sharks
They are small, bottom-dwelling sharks native to the shallow waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. They can be commonly found; hence they are inexpensive to own. The average price of an epaulette shark is around $500 according to some online sources234. However, prices may vary depending on the size, availability, and location of the seller.
Remember that these species are relatively “inexpensive,” but they still require a lot of special care if you want to own them. It is an unwise decision if you pet these animals, thinking that handling and maintaining them would be easy. These sharks require a lot of time investment and specialized care. Furthermore, considering the implications of capturing wild animals should also be considered.
Pet Sharks for Home Aquariums
We cannot fit all the oceanic animals into our aquariums. Therefore, we must bring pets into aquariums most suitable for the environment. Here is a list of common shark species appropriate for home aquariums.
1. Bamboo Sharks
These small sharks love to dwell in the bottom and shallow waters of Oceans. However, these sharks can be kept in aquariums of small sizes. You can keep them peacefully, even in a 55-gallon tank. Bamboo sharks are very common and can be found between $50-$100. However, the price may vary depending on the species, size, and availability of the shark.
2. Coral Catshark
They are small sharks that normally live in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. They can be kept in aquariums for around 75 gallons. These sharks primarily eat small invertebrates and crustaceans. You know, you can get yourself a Coral Cat Shark for about $300. But here’s the interesting part: You can actually buy a single egg! Yep, just one egg will set you back around $45 to $50. It’s kind of unusual, right? Sharks usually aren’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think about buying eggs.
3. Bala Sharks
Bala Sharks might look a little intimidating, but they could turn out to be the perfect addition to your aquarium. They are considered to be gentle sharks. They are relatively peaceful when they live with other species of fish. Surprisingly, Bala sharks are highly respectful towards other fish.
They are not too difficult to pet. Although, they require specific water conditions but their friendly nature make them good pets. Remember that these sharks only prefer a pH balance between 6.6 and 8.
The average price of a bala shark is $7 to $10. However, prices may vary depending on the size, health, and age of the fish.
4. Red Tail Shark
They have been one of the most renowned fish species in the world. They are found in freshwater lakes and swamps. Unfortunately, they are a critically endangered species as of right now.
These sharks can sometimes be aggressive, therefore think before putting them with other species in the aquarium. The best way to minimize the aggressive behavior of the red tail shark, you provide it with a lot of space.
Red tail sharks are pretty easy to come by, whether you’re visiting a pet store or shopping online at aquarium stores. Typically, you can expect to pay around $3 to $7 for one of these fish. So, they’re quite affordable if you’re looking to add them to your aquarium.
5. Roseline Sharks
Roseline Sharks are an interesting species of fish that you might have not heard about before. They are covered in several bright colors, resulting in increasing the beauty of the fish. They are not aggressive at all as they are highly peaceful fish. Additionally, they do not even pay attention to the other fish swimming in the aquatic environment.
The average price of a Roseline Shark is $10-$30. However, the price may increase as the species is endangered.
6. Harlequin sharks
They are a great addition to your aquarium. They are a work of art. Although they do not like to be around sharks of similar species but you can put them with other freshwater fish. The shark loves solitude on such a deep level that it spends most of the time in hiding.
The Harlequin Shark costs somewhere around $5-10. However, you might find a higher price in countries where these sharks are difficult to access.
7. Rainbow Shark
Rainbow sharks are freshwater fish belonging to the Cyprinidae family, and they have a shark-like appearance with a triangular dorsal fin. These fish typically have a dark body with striking red or orange fins. They’re also known by various names, including redfin sharks, ruby sharks, or rainbow shark minnows. These fish are native to the rivers of Southeast Asia, which includes countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, and Myanmar.
Rainbow sharks are known for being territorial, but they can live either by themselves or with other peaceful top-dwelling fish in tropical community aquariums. They usually grow to be about 6 inches in length and exhibit some color variations between males and females.
The average price of a rainbow shark ranges from $4-$10 depending on the size, quality, and variety of the fish.
What’s the cost of The Great White Shark?
Great White Sharks are large predatory sharks found in coastal waters around the planet. They are huge, with an average length of around 15 feet. They are apex predators, which means that they are in the highest order of the food chain.
Great White Sharks are found in coastal waters all around the world. The most famous habitats of the Great White Sharks include the Mediterranean, Australia, South Africa, and the eastern coast of North America. They are migratory and often travel great distances throughout their lifetime. However, these sharks tend to prefer waters that are between 54-75°F temperature.
Great White Sharks are opportunistic hunters therefore, they will eat a variety of prey, including fish, seals, sea lions, and dolphins. Unfortunately, they are also notorious for scavenging dead marine animals. However, these sharks possess a great sense of smell that enables them to detect prey.
Additionally, great white sharks can detect a single drop of blood in a million drops of seawater. They have a strong sense of detection.
Buying The Great White Shark isn’t an easy task. It is illegal to catch, sell,l or own one in many countries as the sharks are well-protected. So, in many countries, if you are caught buying The Great White Shark, then you might get penalized.
However, if you want to run the extra mile and are willing to know the price of The Great White Shark, then we can tell you the answer. The approximate cost of one White Great Shark is around $1.8 Million.
How Much Does It Cost to Buy a Bull Shark?
They are an aggressive shark species that are found in coastal regions all around the world. Mostly, you will find them in warm and tropical regions. Most people consider Bull Sharks as one of the most dangerous shark species.
These sharks generally give a terrifying look.
Bull Sharks live in tropical to subtropical coastal waters throughout the globe.
Unlike most sharks, Bull sharks can survive in freshwater for a long time. However, the shark doesn’t swim deeper than 30m.
There’s no such thing as an accurate price for sharks. As already discussed, buying and selling sharks can be illegal in some areas; therefore, it is difficult to analyze the price of sharks. However, the minimum cost of an adult Bull Shark is $250. Multiple companies sell these sharks for this rate. Therefore, you might find the rate slightly higher or lower in your nearest shops.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The answer to the question of how much does it cost to pet a shark can vary quite a bit. If you’re thinking about owning a pet shark, the price can range anywhere from $50 to as much as $5,000.
On the other hand, if you’re interested in petting a shark at an aquarium or a diving site, it might cost you somewhere between $25 to $300. The exact amount you pay often depends on the type of shark and the specific location where you plan to interact with them.
Petting sharks is not an expensive hobby if you have a profound knowledge. It will be easier for you to select if you know the detailed features of all the pet sharks. Making the decision will not only be easier but figuring out how you will manage the pet will also be convenient.
We suggest you first decide your budget and your requirements before deciding to own a shark. If you do not want to put a lot of effort into nurturing the pets, we would suggest you pet another species of fish rather than sharks.
Almost all sharks require a lot of patience and diligence, hence avoid it if you have low patience.
On the contrary, if you feel that you have what it takes to pet sharks, list down your budget and requirements. Based on these factors, decide the most suitable shark for yourself. Owning a shark isn’t necessarily an expensive hobby however, it is not a hobby recommended for beginners.
If you are just starting to adopt pets, you must start by petting other species of fish first. Pettingsharksk without any experience is not just a bad idea for your safety but also, for the well-being and safety of the sharks.
