At the Shark Reef Aquarium inside the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, a team of aquarists cares for over 3,400 animals, including 15 species of sharks. Lead aquarist Becky O'Brien describes her role as a 'shark dietitian,' feeding the predators a gourmet mix of mackerel, herring, blue runner and sardines. The aquarium goes through more than 300 pounds (136 kilograms) of fish each week, with the sharks fed three times a week.
'They eat, I would say, better than the tourists on the Strip,' O'Brien said, referring to the high-quality seafood served. The fish are stuffed with vitamins, hidden to prevent the sharks from spitting them out—a tactic akin to giving a dog medicine in peanut butter. The sharks are also trained to touch targets for food, allowing staff to monitor their health.
O'Brien noted that sharks may refuse food if ill or during mating season, which runs from March to June. The aquarium partners with organisations to transport zebra shark eggs to Indonesia for rewilding, as the species is endangered due to overfishing and habitat loss.
General curator Jack Jewell highlighted that many sharks at the aquarium live beyond their wild lifespan. One sand tiger shark is estimated to be 33–36 years old, about 10 years older than typical wild specimens. 'As they get older, they have a harder time catching prey,' Jewell said, comparing the staff's work to food delivery for the sharks.
Visitors can watch the sharks, sea turtles and other fish swim around a decorative shipwreck in the 1.3 million-gallon tank. The aquarium has attracted over 21 million visitors since opening in 2000.
