Keeping large sharks in public aquariums presents significant welfare challenges. Sand tiger sharks have been the most successfully maintained large shark species, providing welfare lessons.
Sand tiger sharks in adequately sized exhibits show behavioral indicators of reasonable welfare, but minimum exhibit dimensions are often insufficient for the swimming range this species covers in the wild. Repetitive circular swimming patterns indicate behavioral restriction and are common in undersized exhibits. Feeding management must balance natural prey drives with cohabitation safety for exhibit partners. The species tolerance for captivity — unlike white sharks who deteriorate rapidly — allows meaningful assessment of welfare over time. Aquariums that maintain sand tigers contribute to research into shark conservation biology while demonstrating the high standard of environmental management large sharks require.