Visit our viral King Penguin Pesto!
Pesto's Growing Up!
Pesto FAQs:
Fledging usually takes 3-4 weeks as the brown downy feathers are lost to reveal the adult king penguin feathers.
Pesto will lose most of his feathers over October and November.
Once he is fully fledged his feathers will be waterproof, thanks to an oil gland at the base of their tail that is preened over all the adult feathers. We can expect him to start swimming with the other kings soon after.
Tango is a female and Hudson is a male, they are a heterosexual couple.
Tango is a younger bird born in 2019 and Hudson was born in 2009. There is quite a large age gap between the two! This is Tangos first time raising a chick, but Hudson has successfully fathered many.
Pesto’s biological mother is called Matilda, who was paired with his biological father Blake in the last breeding season.
His biological father Blake is an old bird and rearing chicks can put considerable strain on parent penguins’ bodies. The egg/chick was moved to a younger pair of birds for this reason as it was the best decision for Pesto to foster him to younger birds.
Honey is a different penguin who hatched a previous year.
King penguin chicks weights vary as they rapidly put on weight from hatching until around 10-12 months of ages. From there the fledging process begins where they lose the baby feathers and slim down. Each individual varies a lot can be anywhere from 18-25kg at their peak.
Pesto eats sand whiting, rainbow trout and salmon.
His best friend is his dad Hudson. Aunty Queenie also loves babysitting. Other young birds such as Honey and Sausage are very fascinated with Pesto.
Pesto is the bestO!
Since hatching earlier this year, Pesto has quickly captured hearts globally, not just for his adorable antics, but for his impressive size.
At just nine months old, Pesto tips the scales at a whopping 21kg, thanks to his hearty appetite of 25 fish a day. He’s officially the largest chick SEA LIFE Melbourne has ever seen, making him a huge hit with guests and fans around the world.
From tender moments with parents Hudson and Tango to his adorable waddles into the colony, Pesto has been a true crowd-pleaser.
Why is Pesto the penguin so big!?
Pesto's impressive weight is due to a number of factors.
Firstly, his biological dad, Blake, is our biggest and oldest penguin.
Secondly, he's had amazing parents raising him!
So, the combination of good genes and good parents explains his current weight, but he will lose a lot of this when he fledges (develops his adult feathers.)
Pesto Souvenirs!
Want to remember your visit to see Pesto, or are you a Pesto superfan who just needs more Pesto in their life?!
Purchase our official SEA LIFE Melbourne Range of Pesto goodies at our retail shop, or through our online store.
Want to visit Pesto up close?
With our Penguin Passport Experience, you can head onto the ice and get nearer to our beautiful King and Gentoo penguins.
Penguin Passport is the perfect activity for any Pesto super fan!
More Fun, For Less!
Upgrade and SAVE with the Melbourne Big Ticket - visit SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium PLUS Melbourne's LEGOLAND Discovery Centre. There's no need to rush with the Melbourne Big Ticket, you have a full 90 days to visit LEGOLAND Discover Centre after your day exploring SEA LIFE Melbourne. We think it's the best Melbourne attraction pass around! Experience both amazing attractions in one day and enjoy FREE transport via the Chadstone Tourist Shuttle .
