Whitespotted Bamboo Shark

The Whitespotted Bamboo Shark is one of the most commonly kept shark species in the marine aquarium hobby, popular for its relatively manageable size and docile temperament. Adults display an attractive pattern of dark brown banding and scattered white spots over a tan to grayish-brown body. Juveniles are particularly striking, with bold dark bands alternating with light bands and prominent white spots, though these markings tend to fade somewhat with age. Reaching a maximum length of approximately 38 inches, it is one of the smaller sharks suitable for dedicated home aquarists.

In the wild, the Whitespotted Bamboo Shark inhabits shallow coral reefs, tide pools, and sandy bottoms throughout the Indo-Pacific. It is a nocturnal, bottom-dwelling species that spends daylight hours resting in caves and crevices, emerging at night to hunt for small fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. It moves with a characteristic slow, undulating motion, using its muscular pectoral fins to crawl along the bottom. This species is oviparous, laying flattened egg cases that are often attached to coral or rock structures, with embryos developing over a period of approximately 100 to 120 days.

Keeping a Whitespotted Bamboo Shark requires a serious commitment to providing appropriate housing. A minimum tank of 300 gallons is recommended, with a long, wide footprint preferred over a tall, narrow design. The substrate must be fine sand to protect the shark's delicate ventral surface, and powerful filtration with a heavy-duty protein skimmer is essential to handle the substantial bioload. While this shark is peaceful and will not bother fish too large to eat, it will consume any crustacean, small fish, or invertebrate within reach. Its egg-laying reproductive strategy makes it one of the more feasible sharks for captive breeding.