Egg Capsule, Chiloscyllium

My species/animal is a fish — Egg Capsule, Chiloscyllium (Chiloscyllium sp.) — a peaceful species that is reef-safe with caution, admired for its unique embryonic development inside distinctive “mermaid’s purse” egg capsules, elegant banded patterns as adults, and relatively manageable size compared to larger sharks.

Males typically develop claspers near their pelvic fins upon maturity and tend to be slimmer, while females/juveniles are generally larger and carry egg capsules attached to surfaces in the wild or aquarium. They reach about 30–40 inches in length and should be housed in aquariums of at least 300 gallons.

Provide a soft sandbed, plenty of live rock or caves for hiding spots, and open swimming areas, with stable water parameters (salinity ~1.020–1.025, temp ~72–79°F, pH ~8.1–8.4), and a secure lid since they are prone to jumping.

Diet should consist of meaty foods such as mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, small crustaceans, and marine-origin pellets, and with proper care this fish makes a standout addition to the aquarium — especially exciting when raising from the egg capsule stage.

International Aquatics Quarantine & Guarantee: All fish are checked by marine vets, given a formalin bath, and held for 14 days in copper-treated systems. We feed Selcon-soaked food with Kanaplex and Metroplex during quarantine. Unless marked, all livestock comes with our 15-Day Guarantee. You will receive a video of your fish eating before shipment. On request, we also send photos/videos after arrival at IA. Some species are import-to-order (3-10 business days). Many common species are already cleared or near the end of QT.

Several species will be import-to-order and may take anywhere from 3-10 business days to secure. Once your fish is secured, you will be notified, and the quarantine process will then begin.