Epaulette Shark
Hemiscyllium ocellatum
| Stock | Variations | Price | Quantity |
|---|
Every order ships with our standard 3-hour live arrival guarantee. Need more time? Add our 5-Day Guarantee at checkout.
Full guarantee terms →Ships Monday – Thursday for next-day arrival at your nearest FedEx Hold location — typically ready by 9 AM. We monitor every delivery.
Shipping details →
Monday – Friday 8 AM – 9 PM
Saturday 12 PM – 4 PM
Sunday 12 PM – 9 PM
Healthy, stable animals from vetted suppliers — inspected before packing, shipped overnight. Decades of experience built this model so we can deliver premium livestock at 30%+ less than you'd pay elsewhere.
| Care Level | Expert |
|---|---|
| Temperament | Semi-Aggressive |
| Reef Safe | No |
| Functional Benefit | Ornamental Only |
| Diet Type | Carnivore |
| Mininum Tank Size | 300 gallons+ |
| Max Size | 24 inches |
| Temperature | 72–78°F |
| pH Range | 8.1–8.4 |
| Specific Gravity | 1.022–1.025 |
The Epaulette Shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum) is a longtailed carpet shark from shallow reefs around Australia and New Guinea, recognized by the dark “eye-spot” behind each pectoral fin. In aquariums, it’s a bottom-dwelling “walking shark” that often moves by pushing along the substrate with its paired fins instead of swimming in open water.
What You’ll Observe:
- Resting under ledges and along the tank perimeter for long stretches, then becoming noticeably more active at dusk and overnight
- “Walking” over sand and around rockwork with steady, deliberate movements
- Investigating crevices and caves while patrolling the bottom
- Taking food from a feeding stick/tongs once it learns a routine
Provide a very large, wide-footprint system with open sand, stable caves, and rockwork that cannot shift under a heavy, cruising fish. Offer a varied rotation of marine meaty foods and use target-feeding to keep meals consistent and easy to monitor. With a calm day/night rhythm and strong oxygenation, it settles into a predictable, bottom-roaming routine.
Do they “walk” in home aquariums, or only in the wild?
Most will “walk” routinely in captivity, especially when moving across sand, turning around rockwork, or searching the bottom.
Why does it hide most of the day and come out later?
A day-rest / evening-activity pattern is common, with more movement at dusk and through the night.
What’s the easiest way to get consistent feeding behavior?
Many keepers have the best results by target-feeding in the same area and using tongs or a feeding stick so the shark learns a predictable cue.
Is it normal for one to skip meals for a while after a change?
Yes—temporary breaks in appetite are commonly reported, and many individuals resume feeding once the environment and routine feel consistent again.
Can it be housed with other benthic sharks long-term?
Some keepers do mix compatible species in very large systems, but long-term success usually depends on providing plenty of bottom space and separating food so each animal eats well.
Shipped with pure oxygen and temperature control so it arrives stress-free and ready to eat.
Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.
Recently viewed products
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.