Marbled Cat Shark

Family: ScyliorhinidaeAtelomycterus macleayiPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

   The Marbled Cat Shark is considered a "true catshark" with a long slender body and a narrow head. It is a bottom feeder that is found in Northern Australia.

   The adult size of 24 inches (60 cm) makes this shark the smallest we have encountered!

   The Marbled Cat Shark is considered a good aquarium choice. It is hardy and easy to take care of, though it will need a roomy marine aquarium to accommodate it when it reaches it's adult size.

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Marine Aquarium

Maintenance difficulty:    The Marbled Cat Shark is easy to keep if you have a large enough aquarium.

Maintenance:    Feed all kinds of large meaty foods like small pieces of fish, squid, shrimp, and live goldfish. Best to feed small amounts several times a day.

Habitat: Natural geographic location:    Marbled Cat Shark are found near Northern Australia.

Foods:   Natural foods include gastropod and bivalve molluscs with smaller amounts of crabs, shrimp, and small fish.

Social Behaviors:    This fish can be kept with other fish and is usually no problem even with smaller fish that could be eaten. They usually only try to eat fish that are either dying or distressed.

Sex: Sexual differences:     The medial edges of the male's pelvic fins are modified to form claspers. The claspers are tubelike organs designed to deliver sperm into the female's reproductive tract. As the males grow older the claspers become more pronounced. The females do not have these.

Light: Recommended light levels:    No special requirements.

Breeding/Reproduction:    Oviparous egglayer. The young are about 10 cm (4 inches) in length when they hatch.

Temperature:    No special requirements.

Length/Diameter of fish:    Marbled Cat Shark adults can grow to 24 inches (60 cm).

Minimum Tank Length/Size:    A minimum 100 gallon aquarium is recommended.

Water Movement: Weak, Moderate, Strong    Not particular.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom    Spends time at the bottom of the aquarium.

Availability:    This fish is occasionally available.

Lastest Animal Stories on Marbled Cat Shark View all 15 Animal Stories on Marbled Cat Shark Add Your Animal Story

bamboo shark - 2013-04-01 can i put a juviniel bamboo shark in a 125 gallon tank tell i get money and get a 200 gallon Jeremy Roche - 2013-04-01 Yes you can but not too long! Reply

Ryan - 2008-04-11 As far as sharks go, this is one of the best suited for captivity. It stays really small, 42 inches in the wild but in the aquarium it is much smaller, around 20 inches though this is highly dependent on the amount of feedings you give them. They can be kept succesfully in a 55 gallon aquarium but a 75 would be much better. If you want to grow him out bigger though you will need at least a 125 gallon. One other thing is that the babies are nocturnal and if you have a heavily decorated aquarium you run a rather high risk of your shark getting caught and drowning. The best way around this is to add decorations a little at a time and slowly get the shark used to bright lighting. Troy - 2013-01-22 I have a baby bannded cat shark right now in my 75, he's about a year old now and just over a foot long. He moves around great in there but is getting aggressive now here's what I was thinking. Instead of upgrading now which I can't afford to do at the time, is to trade him in for a baby marble. But what I want to clarify is that this guy (the marble) will only grow half the size of the bannded I have is this true? I have been looking around and I'm finding that most sites say that marbles become the same size maybe just a few inches shorter then that of its cousin the bannded. If this is so a marble would be a lot happier in there then the baby bannded. Reply

michael parise - 2004-07-18 I have this shark. It was very shy for about 2 months when I first introduced it to my aquarium. But he finally came around and now he is all over the tank, loves to eat, and is great to view under black lights at night. What a hunter at night when you put in some feeder fish, great show. Michael parise 04/18/04 Reply

chris - 2011-01-12 Can I put a marbled cat shark in a 125 gallon aquarium? 72x24x17 tall? Reply

Uros - 2010-05-26 Hi! I am from Europe and I am wondering where can I get one of this sharks? I saw that you can buy them only in USA... Reply

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