Briarmoor
Fish Crazy
We had house guests last week from "across the pond" and I took them to the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga. It was a big hit.
We got to touch rays and sharks and sturgeon. I think the sand sharks were worn out from being touched by kids all day as they were piled up under a board walk resting.
The puffer fanatics would have been in love as there are just some of the biggest fish in these tanks, including a very large puffer swimming amongst sharks and tuna. The filtration must just be incredible in these tanks. There was a diver in one tank scrubbing and a blue marine fish was nipping his blue flipper finned foot! Hilarious. Guess he was in its territory or something. It followed and nipped his foot the whole time we watched. I was surprised he didn't step on it. I don't think he knew it was there.
The sea dragons were like nothing real, some looked like plants. One flew in on the airline my husband works for when the exhibit was first set up and it was insured for $2 million. Had its own seat on the plane and its own courier.
I don't have cichlids, but there is a giant display of hundreds of gallons of different types of cichlids. I recognized convicts and wondered why a few cichlids stayed at the bottom when all the rest ran for the surface (probably something fell in the water for them to eat). I watched for awhile and saw little things in the water. FRY!
In that huge community of cichlids. And not one fish was getting near the parents. They carefully guarded those babies. I also noticed another cichlid species with fry but couldn't identify it. Cichlid folks would have loved this exhibit.
I payed close attention to the Australian Rainbows and decided I want every one! I know it's not a novel idea to want a species tank of rainbows, but I think it would be lovely.
I should have written down fish names since I have forgotten many of them I wanted to post about. If anyone gets a chance to visit, it is just an awesome way to spend a few hours. We got tickets for the aquarium, Imax theater, and Discovery Museum (their kids) and whole thing was $28.50, real bargain.
P.
We got to touch rays and sharks and sturgeon. I think the sand sharks were worn out from being touched by kids all day as they were piled up under a board walk resting.
The puffer fanatics would have been in love as there are just some of the biggest fish in these tanks, including a very large puffer swimming amongst sharks and tuna. The filtration must just be incredible in these tanks. There was a diver in one tank scrubbing and a blue marine fish was nipping his blue flipper finned foot! Hilarious. Guess he was in its territory or something. It followed and nipped his foot the whole time we watched. I was surprised he didn't step on it. I don't think he knew it was there.
The sea dragons were like nothing real, some looked like plants. One flew in on the airline my husband works for when the exhibit was first set up and it was insured for $2 million. Had its own seat on the plane and its own courier.
I don't have cichlids, but there is a giant display of hundreds of gallons of different types of cichlids. I recognized convicts and wondered why a few cichlids stayed at the bottom when all the rest ran for the surface (probably something fell in the water for them to eat). I watched for awhile and saw little things in the water. FRY!
In that huge community of cichlids. And not one fish was getting near the parents. They carefully guarded those babies. I also noticed another cichlid species with fry but couldn't identify it. Cichlid folks would have loved this exhibit.I payed close attention to the Australian Rainbows and decided I want every one!
I know it's not a novel idea to want a species tank of rainbows, but I think it would be lovely.I should have written down fish names since I have forgotten many of them I wanted to post about. If anyone gets a chance to visit, it is just an awesome way to spend a few hours. We got tickets for the aquarium, Imax theater, and Discovery Museum (their kids) and whole thing was $28.50, real bargain.
P.
