N.J. aquarium welcomes rare species in time for 'Shark Week'

Camden's Adventure Aquarium recently welcomed two rare species of sharks to Ocean Realm. Watch video

Bruce, the Great White shark and leader of the Shark-Friendly Sharks support group in the Disney-Pixar classic, "Finding Nemo," once said, "Fish are friends, not food."

While that motto reigns true in Ocean Realm at Camden's Adventure Aquarium, the fish are still fun to chase, according to the newest and youngest members of the tank gang there -- two scalloped hammerhead sharks.

Adventure Aquarium kicked off Shark Week by officially introducing these two threatened creatures.

Senior Biologist of Fish and Invertebrates Nicole Gioia -- the lead biologist in charge of the 760,000-gallon Ocean Realm -- said the male and female arrived several months ago from Hawaii.

"When we got them, they were both about a foot long," Gioia said. "We had to rent a truck to pick them up from the Newark Liberty International Airport."

Scalloped hammerheads have a very high metabolism, and are one of the varieties that must keep swimming -- just like Dory said, also in "Finding Nemo."

The hammerheads were delivered in a tank that was approximately 8 feet in diameter, she said.

The pair are now between four and four-and-a-half feet long, and are becoming quite at home in Ocean Realm.

"I saw them chasing the fish one day and thought, 'Aww, they're growing up," Gioia said.

Scalloped hammerheads are an endangered species, so having two that are so young is an honor for the aquarium.

"Scalloped hammerheads are a schooling fish, which is why they are endangered," Gioia said. "Because fishermen can get a lot of them at one time."

And hammerhead fins are in higher demand than those of other breeds of shark, she said.

But these two little sharks have no worries about losing their fins, because they have found their forever home.

"We pole feed them three times a week, but they eat everyday," Gioia said. "They eat a lot. They're pretty beefy."

On days when they aren't fed individually by placing food on a pole and lowering it into the water for them to grab, the two hammerheads join in on the broadcast feeding.

"We throw food all around the tank for all of the animals," Gioia said. "And they are picky about eating the same thing every day."

So, even though they are young, the hammerheads are quite particular.

One of their tank mates is the only one of his kind in captivity in the country.

Waldo, the great hammerhead, who has lived in Ocean Realm since September 2011.

"The great hammerhead is the dominant shark in the tank, and he let's everyone know it," Gioia said.

She compared the relationship between Waldo and the two younger hammerheads to that of a senior in high school -- Waldo -- and two eighth-graders.

"He's aware of them, but...," she laughed.

The biggest difference between the great and scalloped hammerheads -- other than their current size -- is the front of their cephalofoil -- or hammer -- which resemble a scallop.

"They also use their sense of smell a lot because they can't see directly in front of themselves," Gioia said.

When you visit Ocean Realm, be sure to check near the top third of the tank as they like to stay higher in the water.

In addition to these two new Adventure Aquarium residents, Shark Week continues through July 3 with behind the scenes tours, shark trivia, and dance parties with Gill, the aquarium's shark mascot.

For more information, visit adventureaquarium.com.