Great White Shark

Carcharodon carcharias

Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias) — Expert care, Aggressive, under Other. Minimum tank in the app: 26 US gal min; aim for 50–77°F and pH 7.5–8.5. Details below match the app.

Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias) in a planted freshwater aquarium
Care levelExpert
TemperamentAggressive
Min tank size26 US gal min
pH range7.5–8.5
Temperature50–77°F
Max size2.4 in (6.0 cm)
Captive lifespanNot applicable
SchoolingNo

Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.

Natural distribution

Worldwide oceans

We don’t shade a region on this simplified map—your text may be Europe-only, worldwide, listed as “Various,” captive-only, or outside the five areas used in the stocking calculator. That tool still scores whether your fish come from similar parts of the world.

Regional colours match the stocking calculator’s origin map.

Great White Shark Tank Setup

Plan for at least 26 US gal min of water—that is the minimum in our database for a workable setup, not a challenge to crowd fish. Aim to hold 50–77°F and pH 7.5–8.5 without daily drama. These fish use the All zone most, so put wood, plants, or open water there accordingly.

What Do Great White Sharks Eat?

We record diet as Carnivore (live foods). Offer a few food types that match—dry, frozen, or gel—and swap now and then. One flake every day for a year is how dull color and gut trouble creep in.

Great White Shark Tank Mates

Temperament in the data: Aggressive. Flagged as a fin nipper, so long flowing fins and slow targets are a poor match. Treat small tank mates as potential snacks once the fish grows. Absolutely not suitable for home aquariums. Will eat all tankmates, the tank, and possibly your house. Requires saltwater, an ocean-sized tank, and a very good lawyer. Plug your full stock list into the stocking calculator—single-species compatibility scores are hints, not a whole-tank verdict.

Are Great White Sharks Good for Beginners?

Not where we would send a brand-new keeper. Get a few wins under your belt with hardier fish first.

Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.

Log tests and reminders in App-aquatic—free, same data you see here.