Visit our resident nurse shark, Thelma, and watch her swim around her habitat from above or underwater! You can also encounter epaulette sharks in the Sea Cavern.
Where to See
Resident Nurse Shark
Thelma
- Sex
- Female
- Length
- Nearly 7 feet
A private collector took Thelma out of the wild as a young pup and later learned that nurse sharks continue to grow regardless of their tank size. When she had outgrown her tank, the collector could no longer care for her and brought Thelma to Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
We have given Thelma a forever home here at CMA where she has plenty of room to move about. Thelma has learned to voluntarily participate in her own medical management program through target-pole training. You can get an underwater view of Thelma with other marine fish by Shipwreck Alley or watch her from above at Shark Pass.
Shark Species
Nurse Sharks
- Status
- Data Deficient
- Average Size
- 130 lbs
- Location
- Caribbean, American west coast
- Threats
- Line fishing, commercial fishing
- Defining Characteristic
- Slow-moving bottom dweller
- Reach lengths of up to 14 feet
Epaulette Sharks
- Status
- Data Deficient
- Lifespan
- 20-25 years
- Location
- Australia and New Guinea
- Threats
- Commercial fishing
- Have evolved to use pectoral fins to ‘walk’ and be out of water for up to 2 hours traveling between tidal pools
Did You Know…
