Baby shark boom at Daydream

Daydream Island Resort and Spa is in the midst of a baby boom with a record number of bamboo sharks born in the island’s Living Reef lagoon.

A total of 44 bamboo sharks have been born in the aquarium over the past two months with another four still to hatch.

The island has also welcomed its very first epaulette shark born in the lagoon.

“That’s double the best bamboo shark breeding season we’ve had in the past – a record,” Daydream Island Living Reef manager John Gaskell said.

“We also have our first baby epaulette shark born on Daydream Island and a second still to hatch in the coming weeks. We are extremely proud and excited to see the birth of so many baby sharks in the Living Reef.”

The bamboo shark lays transparent eggs that look like oblong cocoons. The eggs take about 14 weeks to hatch, and when born, the pups are about 15 centimetres in length and will grow up to a metre.

Mr Gaskell said a milder winter last year and improved care techniques by Living Reef staff had led to Daydream’s bumper bamboo shark breeding season.

“With our baby epaulette shark, the parents Mr and Mr Freckles have both just become mature so this is the first time we’ve seen a fertilised egg on Daydream,” he said.

The Living Reef is one of the world's largest man-made living coral reef lagoons. It is home to more than 140 species of colourful marine fish, 82 species of coral and 15 species of invertebrates such as starfish, sea cucumbers and crabs.

Comprising a north and south lagoon and holding more than 1.5 million litres of water, the Living Reef lets visitors learn about and get up close to the fascinating inhabitants of the Great Barrier Reef.

The baby shark boom comes as Daydream has made improvements to the Living Reef. They include the upgrade of the north lagoon with a new submersible pump, increasing water flow, filtration and clarity of water, an upgrade to the south lagoon filtration and the addition of new corals to both lagoons.

“We have improved the filtration and pumping system to produce about another 50% total volume of water going into the north lagoon,” Mr Gaskell said. “It’s made a big difference in the flow and salinity and temperature changes and will help ensure the health of the lagoon.”

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