Thought I’d share some updates on SEALIFE Melbourne Aquarium from the last couple years
The fish/invertebrate row in the Rainforest has been re-done to have several frog exhibits displaying native Australian frogs (Blue Mountains Tree Frog, Peron’s Tree Frog, Spotted Grass Frog, Green and Golden Bell Frog, Southern Brown Tree Frog and Pobblebonk) in addition to some of the existing tanks for Yabby, Long-arm Shrimp, Riffe Shrimp and Pacific Blue Eye. This is in addition to their other three frog species on display in Rainforest (Red Tree Frog, Dainty Tree Frog, Green Tree Frog)
The last reef tank in Seahorse Pier was re-done to become an exhibit for Shorthead Seahorse, however, the aquarium has phased out Leafy Seadragons, both Sea Dragon exhibits hold Weedy Sea Dragon. The Sparsely Spotted Stingaree formerly exhibited in this area seems to have passed (I haven’t seen in on my last five visits over twelve months).
A Mosaic Leatherjacket is on display in the pier pylons tank. Cuttlefish have been on and off display over several visits.
Coral Atoll had an approximately seven month period of closure in 2022, it has since re-opened, several of the morays from the predator exhibit have been moved here, there’s also Epaulette Sharks, Brown-banded Bamboo Sharks, a Speckled Carpetshark and many varieties of reef fish.
The Oceanarium after over a year of closure has finally re-opened as Night on the Reef, several species have been added/removed as the tank takes on a more tropical theme. Three Sea Turtles are on display there, two Green x Loggerhead hybrids and one Green Sea Turtle. Other notable fish include Potato Cod, Queensland Groper, Red Emperor, Sabre Squirrelfish, Blotched Fantail Ray, Giant Guitarfish, Whitetip Reef Shark, Tawny Nurse Shark, Whitespotted Eagle Ray and Zebra Shark. A large portion of the former inhabitants including the Speartooth Shark have been transferred to SEALIFE Sydney.
Into the Deep’s inhabitants have changed, the Maori Octopus has been moved out to the first tank in the mangroves section (used to Pallid and Sydney Octopus before then) and it’s tank is some Cowfish and Sea Urchins. The tank next to it has the Tassled Anglerfish mentioned earlier in the thread but it also now houses two Warty Prowfish, a very interesting species. The reef tank opposite the Lungfish tank is now the Tasmanian Giant Crab exhibit. There are a couple new fish species in the Clownfish, anemone tank such as a juvenile Blunthead Wrasse and a Red-Lined Wrasse. There are now Eastern Hulafish on display in the second mangroves tank.
Ocean Invaders frequently rotates species, when I was there last they had Blue Blubber, Upside Down, Moon, Whitespotted and Lions Mane Jellyfish, at one stage during the last year or so they had Mauve Stingers.
The tank near the exit of the Oceanarium is still boarded up and Flatback Turtles nowhere to be seen
If anyone local can say if she's still present, or where she may be/if she's passed away, I would love any news. Apologies for asking again in this thread, I just am always trying to keep track of such a rare shark.
But that’s great that they did for you, though a very sad answer. I would love to know exactly what happened to them. With that info, it certainly seems that 2025 (or prior, depending on when this truly occurred) is the end of speartooths in human care…a sad time for all shark enthusiasts that couldn’t make it before. I hope perhaps Melbourne or someone else tries again, if only to further study such a rare and fascinating animal. Given that some of the ones they had were reportedly there nearly two decades (in 2009 they were brought in as pups), I think it’s reasonable to say that much like other inshore carcharhinids, they more than tolerate captivity.