All fish / Scyliorhinidae

Coral Catshark

Atelomycterus marmoratus

Also known as coral cat shark, marbled catshark, marble cat shark, coral catshark, white-spotted catshark, ฉลามกบ, yu tokek, サンゴトラザメ, hiu tokek, 斑点鲨, 珊瑚猫鲨, 豹纹鲨

A slender, small shark with a dark grey to black body covered in white spots and dark blotches, and two dorsal fins set well back. It hides in rockwork by day and is kept by advanced reef and predator keepers as one of the smaller shark species suited to big home systems.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

60 cm

Temperature

22 to 27 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

1500 litres

Keep as

Singly or as a pair in a very large system

Diet

Carnivore: shrimp, squid, clams, fish pieces and crustaceans

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Indo-West Pacific: Pakistan and India to Southeast Asia, Indonesia and the Philippines

Breeding

It lays egg cases that are attached to structures, with young hatching after a few months. Public aquariums and some dedicated hobbyists have bred it, but it needs a very large tank.

Good to know

Reaches around 70 cm, needs a wide floor area with no sharp decor, and will eat small fish and crustaceans. Avoid copper medications, which sharks tolerate poorly.