Is there a Valentine Out There?

11th February 2010

Categories: Press Releases - Latest

Staff at Blackpool Sea Life Centre are determined to find a mate for a lovelorn lady shark who hasn't had a suitable male friend for at least five years.

For all they know, Coraline the coral cat shark may never have had a boyfriend because she's only six years old and came to the Centre when aged just one.

Coraline has been laying eggs on a weekly basis for more than a year now, and her keepers have decided the time has come to play Cupid.

"We're issuing a Valentine's appeal to home aquarium enthusiasts across the UK and abroad in the hope of finding Coraline a suitable beau," said displays supervisor Carey Duckhouse.

"Coral cat sharks don't grow very big... Coraline is only 60 cms long...and they are carpet sharks, so-called because they lie motionless on the seabed for much of their lives, which makes them a popular species with home aquarists.

"A domestic aquarium tank is not really a suitable environment for any shark though, and we're hopeful someone will be happy to give their pet a more spacious home where it will receive the best of care."

If a suitable partner can be found Carey and her colleagues are confident the splash of tiny shark fins will not be long to follow.

"Coraline's egg-production is so prolific a healthy male would be hard pressed not to successfully fertilise some, if not all of them," said Carey.

"It goes without saying that were anyone to put their own male coral cat shark out to stud, they could come and visit the happy couple any time they wanted."

The tropical display tank that Coraline inhabits could well be labelled the ‘lonely hearts' tank, since three of its other occupants are single males...a Japanese hound shark, a brown banded bamboo shark and an epaulette shark.

"Once we've sorted out Coraline's love life, we may see what we can do for those guys too," added Carey.