All fish / Orectolobidae

Ornate Wobbegong

Orectolobus ornatus

Also known as ornate wobbegong, gulf wobbegong, banded wobbegong, wobbegong shark, carpet shark, ornate carpet shark, オオセ, 饰妆鬚鲨

This is a flattened carpet shark covered in brown, gold and dark saddles and blotches. Fleshy lobes around its mouth help it blend into reef and rock. It is kept mostly by public aquaria for its striking camouflage and its habit of lying still for long periods.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

200 cm

Temperature

18 to 24 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

15000 litres

Keep as

Keep singly unless the system is very large

Diet

Carnivore: whole fish, squid, prawns and other meaty seafood, often fed with tongs

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

20 to 25 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Eastern and south-eastern Australia; records from Indonesia and Papua New Guinea are uncertain

Breeding

It gives birth to live young, which develop from eggs inside the mother, with litters of around 20 pups. Captive breeding is rare and only happens in large public aquaria.

Good to know

Adults reach about 2 to 3 m and will eat any tankmate that fits in their mouth, so it is unsuitable for almost all home aquariums. It can give a painful bite if handled. Juveniles are easily confused with the spotted wobbegong and Banded Wobbegong (Orectolobus halei), which grow just as large.