Parameters
- Scientific name
- Carcharhinus melanopterus
- Habitat system
- Aquarium
- Biomes
- Estuarine / Mangrove / Reef
- Continents / oceans
- Indian Ocean / Pacific Ocean
- Content pack
- Base Game
- Conservation status
- Vulnerable
- Class
- Chondrichthyes
Overview
Identify the reef shark precisely
The official record is Blacktip Reef Shark, Carcharhinus melanopterus, classified as Aquarium. Estuarine, Mangrove and Reef are its recorded biomes, with Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean continent tags. The publisher explicitly distinguishes it from the blacktip shark, Carcharhinus limbatus.
What the official description adds
The official overview places this species in Indo-Pacific reefs and coastal waters. That provides a reef-design context without establishing game tank dimensions, salinity limits, water temperature or how many sharks should occupy a tank. Do not use values from a similarly named shark as a substitute. Read the official species entry.
Commission a reef aquarium without guessing shark rules
- Choose Blacktip Reef Shark by its scientific identity before copying a shark plan. A Blacktip Shark reference concerns a different species, while Great Hammerhead is a separate Deluxe record.
- Create the aquarium shell, its staff gate and the connected care route while the service edge remains visible. Configure salinity through the filter network and temperature through the aquarium gate using the exact resident's requirements.
- Check the aquarium's reported usable water volume before finishing the reef facade or adding a tunnel. A floor-area result in m² and an aquarium-volume result in m³ answer different questions.
- Inspect windows, water cleanliness and barrier maintenance separately once the viewing gallery is in place. A poor view can concern the window or foreground scenery without proving that the swimming-space requirement is wrong.
Keep the tank diagnosis specific
| Concern | Check | Design response |
|---|---|---|
| A similarly named shark is selected | Scientific identity: Carcharhinus melanopterus | Return to this exact record rather than substituting C. limbatus |
| A larger exterior still leaves a space concern | Current usable water volume for the intended population | Revise the functional tank before enlarging its decorative building |
| The reef frontage obscures animals | Guest viewpoint, foreground reef scenery and window condition | Improve the view without assuming a welfare or aggression diagnosis |
| A mixed reef is proposed | Pair-specific game evidence plus shared water conditions | Keep compatibility unknown even when Reef tags overlap |
Comparison and cohabitation
Use the database comparison to distinguish this species from Indo-Pacific Leopard Shark or Great Hammerhead. Names, scientific identity and content pack should match the animal you intend to adopt. Shared Reef tags must not be promoted into a positive compatibility verdict; the pair remains unverified without interspecies evidence.
Source boundary and next step
The current sources do not publish this shark's volume coefficient, permitted group, depth or companion list. Those cells stay unknown. Use the aquarium checks to distinguish water, service and presentation controls.
These are species-led planning checks using publisher classifications verified 13 October 2026, not a hands-on care test. Return to the animal database for the dated source fields and to the compatibility guide for the separate pair-evidence decision.