Assistant Curator Steve Blair, a shark expert, tries to feed a 4-foot tiger shark sushi-grade ahi tuna. The staff is puzzled by what to feed the shark, which often turns up its snout at the gourmet fare offered. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
A sand shark shows its impressive array of teeth in the Shark Lagoon at the Aquarium of the Pacific. Maybe that’s why the other sharks are keeping their distance. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Shark expert Steve Blair selects a cut of meat for the Aquarium of the Pacific’s prized -- and finicky -- tiger shark. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
An aquarist feeds crab to a shark ray at the Aquarium of the Pacific. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Aquarist Michelle Malme feeds a shark ray at the Aquarium of the Pacific. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Aquarist Kari Olson, left, curator of fish and invertebrates Sandy Trautwein, and shark expert and assistant curator Steve Blair hold, weigh and examine a 4-foot juvenile zebra shark at the Aquarium of the Pacific. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
A 4-foot zebra shark cruises the Shark Lagoon at the Aquarium of the Pacific. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
