My fantasy aquarium (haven't decided on a name yet) that I've been working on for a while. Not all the exhibits are finished yet, so I'll post them as I finish them. If you have suggestions for improvement, feel free to let me know.
My Fantasy Aquarium
- Thread starter DaLilFishie
- Start date
Deep Sea
Displays of species found at depths of 200 metres or more. For the comfort of the animals, there are two sets of doors leading to the exhibit to minimise light, tank lighting is minimal or red light, and flash photography is strictly forbidden. The exhibit is circular, with tanks ringing a large central cylindrical tank. Most tanks are sparsely decorated with small rocks and a fine, silt-like substrate to mimic the deep sea environment, but some tanks that house species that prefer rocky habitats contain large piles of rocks. Signage at the entry (which doubles as an exit) explains how deep-sea creatures withstand the immense water pressure, and adaptations to living in an environment with immense pressure, no light and little food. Due to the relatively uniform conditions in the deep sea, all 20 tanks in the exhibit are all part of the same system, with large chillers to keep the water at a constant 2 degrees Celsius. Due to the difficulty of collecting deep-sea species, and the naturally brief life of some specimens, it is often not possible to collect the same species reliably, so the list of species displayed within this exhibit is constantly changing.
Tank 1 – Blacktip Snailfish, Sagami Lobster, Spearnose Seabat, Sea Pig
Tank 2 – Flapjack Octopus, Ebinania brephocephala, Botan Shrimp, Salmon Snailfish
Tank 3 – Japanese Sawshark, Spotted Ratfish, Largehead Hairtail
Tank 4 – Japanese Giant Spider Crab, Splendid Alfonsino, Japanese Armorhead, Gnomefish
Tank 5 – Ornate Jobfish, John Dory, Blackfringe Bigeye, Blue Grenadier
Tank 6 – Unicorn Shrimp, Mino Nylon Shrimp, Smooth Nylon Shrimp, Gigantocypris, Venus Flower Basket
Tank 7 – Giant Isopod, Eugonatonotus chacei, Longspine Snipefish, Foetorepus altivelis, Crystallichthys matsushimae
Tank 8 – Deep Sea Sole, Sixgill Stingray, Deepbody Boarfish, Angular Roughshark, Hilgendorf’s Saucord, Ruby Snapper
Tank 9 – Vampire Squid
Tank 10 – Garish Hind, Threetooth Puffer, Banded Bellowsfish
Tank 11 – Okinawa Chromis, Japanese Chromis, Odontanthias rhodopeplus
Tank 12 – Jewel Squid, Harp Comb Jelly
Tank 13 – Bloody Belly Comb Jelly
Tank 14 – Atlantic Footballfish
Tank 15 – juvenile Goblin Shark, juvenile Blacksail Snake Mackerel, Eightbar Grouper
Tank 16 – Splitfin Flashlight Fish, Pinecone Fish, Musical Furry Lobster
Tank 17 – Chambered Nautilus
Tank 18 – Armored Searobin, Platymaia alcocki
Tank 19 – Fathead Sculpin, Natal Angler
Tank 20 - Octopus tenuicirrus
Displays of species found at depths of 200 metres or more. For the comfort of the animals, there are two sets of doors leading to the exhibit to minimise light, tank lighting is minimal or red light, and flash photography is strictly forbidden. The exhibit is circular, with tanks ringing a large central cylindrical tank. Most tanks are sparsely decorated with small rocks and a fine, silt-like substrate to mimic the deep sea environment, but some tanks that house species that prefer rocky habitats contain large piles of rocks. Signage at the entry (which doubles as an exit) explains how deep-sea creatures withstand the immense water pressure, and adaptations to living in an environment with immense pressure, no light and little food. Due to the relatively uniform conditions in the deep sea, all 20 tanks in the exhibit are all part of the same system, with large chillers to keep the water at a constant 2 degrees Celsius. Due to the difficulty of collecting deep-sea species, and the naturally brief life of some specimens, it is often not possible to collect the same species reliably, so the list of species displayed within this exhibit is constantly changing.
Tank 1 – Blacktip Snailfish, Sagami Lobster, Spearnose Seabat, Sea Pig
Tank 2 – Flapjack Octopus, Ebinania brephocephala, Botan Shrimp, Salmon Snailfish
Tank 3 – Japanese Sawshark, Spotted Ratfish, Largehead Hairtail
Tank 4 – Japanese Giant Spider Crab, Splendid Alfonsino, Japanese Armorhead, Gnomefish
Tank 5 – Ornate Jobfish, John Dory, Blackfringe Bigeye, Blue Grenadier
Tank 6 – Unicorn Shrimp, Mino Nylon Shrimp, Smooth Nylon Shrimp, Gigantocypris, Venus Flower Basket
Tank 7 – Giant Isopod, Eugonatonotus chacei, Longspine Snipefish, Foetorepus altivelis, Crystallichthys matsushimae
Tank 8 – Deep Sea Sole, Sixgill Stingray, Deepbody Boarfish, Angular Roughshark, Hilgendorf’s Saucord, Ruby Snapper
Tank 9 – Vampire Squid
Tank 10 – Garish Hind, Threetooth Puffer, Banded Bellowsfish
Tank 11 – Okinawa Chromis, Japanese Chromis, Odontanthias rhodopeplus
Tank 12 – Jewel Squid, Harp Comb Jelly
Tank 13 – Bloody Belly Comb Jelly
Tank 14 – Atlantic Footballfish
Tank 15 – juvenile Goblin Shark, juvenile Blacksail Snake Mackerel, Eightbar Grouper
Tank 16 – Splitfin Flashlight Fish, Pinecone Fish, Musical Furry Lobster
Tank 17 – Chambered Nautilus
Tank 18 – Armored Searobin, Platymaia alcocki
Tank 19 – Fathead Sculpin, Natal Angler
Tank 20 - Octopus tenuicirrus
Upcoming exhibits (still working on them):
Freshwaters of the World (A huge exhibit composed of several smaller exhibits, should I post these all at once or in parts? If I do it all at once it'll take a while)
High Seas
Cephalopods
Polar Oceans
Drifters
Weird and Wonderful
Marine Life Down Under
Danger in the Seas
Fish For Dinner
Freshwaters of the World (A huge exhibit composed of several smaller exhibits, should I post these all at once or in parts? If I do it all at once it'll take a while)
High Seas
Cephalopods
Polar Oceans
Drifters
Weird and Wonderful
Marine Life Down Under
Danger in the Seas
Fish For Dinner
Cephalopods
Displays of cephalopods from various habitats, with a wall sign explaining their evolution from early molluscs, and a preserved specimen of the Giant Squid. Each tank is decorated to mimic the natural habitat of the specific cephalopod displayed in it. Due to cephalopods being easily stressed by camera flashes, flash photography is strictly forbidden in this exhibit.
Tank 1 – Bigfin Reef Squid
Tank 2 - Wunderpus
Tank 3 – Pharaoh Cuttlefish
Tank 4 – Greater Blue-Ringed Octopus
Tank 5 – Pyjama Squid
Tank 6 – Giant Cuttlefish
Tank 7 – Giant Pacific Octopus
Tank 8 – Sydney Octopus
Tank 9 – California Two-Spot Octopus
Tank 10 – Greater Argonaut
Tank 11 – Common Cuttlefish
Tank 12 – Coconut Octopus
Tank 13 – Reaper Cuttlefish
Tank 14 – Firefly Squid
Tank 15 – Flamboyant Cuttlefish
Displays of cephalopods from various habitats, with a wall sign explaining their evolution from early molluscs, and a preserved specimen of the Giant Squid. Each tank is decorated to mimic the natural habitat of the specific cephalopod displayed in it. Due to cephalopods being easily stressed by camera flashes, flash photography is strictly forbidden in this exhibit.
Tank 1 – Bigfin Reef Squid
Tank 2 - Wunderpus
Tank 3 – Pharaoh Cuttlefish
Tank 4 – Greater Blue-Ringed Octopus
Tank 5 – Pyjama Squid
Tank 6 – Giant Cuttlefish
Tank 7 – Giant Pacific Octopus
Tank 8 – Sydney Octopus
Tank 9 – California Two-Spot Octopus
Tank 10 – Greater Argonaut
Tank 11 – Common Cuttlefish
Tank 12 – Coconut Octopus
Tank 13 – Reaper Cuttlefish
Tank 14 – Firefly Squid
Tank 15 – Flamboyant Cuttlefish
I make them in MS Paint
Polar Oceans
Displays of species found at the poles. Tanks are decorated with rocks and polar seaweeds and algae, with a coarse, pebbly substrate, except for the tanks housing Clione and Northern Sea Nettle, which are completely bare for the safety of their inhabitants. The tanks housing semi-aquatic species have land areas and snow machines to shower finely crushed ice on the inhabitants to replicate snow. Signage shows the adaptations of polar animals that allow them to live in freezing water, such as thick layers of blubber and antifreeze blood.
Tank 1 – Bald Notothen, Dusky Rockcod, Emerald Notothen, Humped Rockcod
Tank 2 – Antarctic Giant Isopod, Validus Sea Star, Marbled Rockcod, Banded Gunnel
Tank 3 – Alaskan King Crab, Arctic Cod, Mackerel Icefish, Arctic Skate
Tank 4 – Northern Sea Nettle
Tank 5 – King Penguin, Adelie Penguin
Tank 6 – Clione
Tank 7 – Lumpsucker, Bering Flounder, Sailfin Plunderfish
Tank 8 – Antarctic Krill
Tank 9 – Ringed Seal
Tank 10 – Antarctic Spiny Plunderfish, Arctic Staghorn Sculpin, Shorthorn Sculpin, Pacific Spiny Lumpsucker
Tank 11 – Black Rockcod, Amur Sea Star, Longbeard Plunderfish
Tank 12 – Spotted Wolffish, Capelin
Tank 13 – Antarctic Lanternfish
Tank 14 - Antarctic Toothfish, Spiny Dogfish
Displays of species found at the poles. Tanks are decorated with rocks and polar seaweeds and algae, with a coarse, pebbly substrate, except for the tanks housing Clione and Northern Sea Nettle, which are completely bare for the safety of their inhabitants. The tanks housing semi-aquatic species have land areas and snow machines to shower finely crushed ice on the inhabitants to replicate snow. Signage shows the adaptations of polar animals that allow them to live in freezing water, such as thick layers of blubber and antifreeze blood.
Tank 1 – Bald Notothen, Dusky Rockcod, Emerald Notothen, Humped Rockcod
Tank 2 – Antarctic Giant Isopod, Validus Sea Star, Marbled Rockcod, Banded Gunnel
Tank 3 – Alaskan King Crab, Arctic Cod, Mackerel Icefish, Arctic Skate
Tank 4 – Northern Sea Nettle
Tank 5 – King Penguin, Adelie Penguin
Tank 6 – Clione
Tank 7 – Lumpsucker, Bering Flounder, Sailfin Plunderfish
Tank 8 – Antarctic Krill
Tank 9 – Ringed Seal
Tank 10 – Antarctic Spiny Plunderfish, Arctic Staghorn Sculpin, Shorthorn Sculpin, Pacific Spiny Lumpsucker
Tank 11 – Black Rockcod, Amur Sea Star, Longbeard Plunderfish
Tank 12 – Spotted Wolffish, Capelin
Tank 13 – Antarctic Lanternfish
Tank 14 - Antarctic Toothfish, Spiny Dogfish
High Seas
Several large tanks exhibiting species that inhabit open water. Replicas of several ocean-going cetaceans such as Bottlenose Dolphin, Pacific White-Sided Dolphin, Risso's Dolphin, Orca, Humpback Whale and Blue Whale are suspended from the ceiling, and displays of the relative sizes of various sharks compared to a person. The tanks are completely bare and without substrate, other than tank 6 which has Sargassum Weed floating on the surface.
Tank 1 – Devil Ray, Mahi Mahi, Spanish Mackerel, Giant Trevally, Snubnose Pompano, Live Sharksucker, Bigeye Trevally, Indian Mackerel, Ocean Sunfish, Pelagic Ray, Crocodile Needlefish, Green Jobfish, Cobia, Humpback Snapper, Striped Bonito, Sawtooth Barracuda, Mackerel Scad, Dogtooth Tuna, Doublespotted Queenfish, Bluefin Trevally, Skipjack Tuna, African Pompano, Smallspotted Dart, Yellowtail Fuselier, Bluefin Tuna, Yellowfin Tuna
Tank 2 – Japanese Anchovy
Tank 3 – Kawakawa, Australian Bonito, Leaping Bonito
Tank 4 – Oceanic Puffer, Tripletail, Unicorn Leatherjacket
Tank 5 – Fanfish, Halfbeak
Tank 6 – Sargassum Weed, Sargassumfish, juvenile Mahi Mahi, Spotted Oceanic Triggerfish
Tank 7 – Chub Mackerel, Flying Fish, Southern Saury
Tank 8 – Portuguese Man-Of-War, juvenile Bluebottle Fish
Several large tanks exhibiting species that inhabit open water. Replicas of several ocean-going cetaceans such as Bottlenose Dolphin, Pacific White-Sided Dolphin, Risso's Dolphin, Orca, Humpback Whale and Blue Whale are suspended from the ceiling, and displays of the relative sizes of various sharks compared to a person. The tanks are completely bare and without substrate, other than tank 6 which has Sargassum Weed floating on the surface.
Tank 1 – Devil Ray, Mahi Mahi, Spanish Mackerel, Giant Trevally, Snubnose Pompano, Live Sharksucker, Bigeye Trevally, Indian Mackerel, Ocean Sunfish, Pelagic Ray, Crocodile Needlefish, Green Jobfish, Cobia, Humpback Snapper, Striped Bonito, Sawtooth Barracuda, Mackerel Scad, Dogtooth Tuna, Doublespotted Queenfish, Bluefin Trevally, Skipjack Tuna, African Pompano, Smallspotted Dart, Yellowtail Fuselier, Bluefin Tuna, Yellowfin Tuna
Tank 2 – Japanese Anchovy
Tank 3 – Kawakawa, Australian Bonito, Leaping Bonito
Tank 4 – Oceanic Puffer, Tripletail, Unicorn Leatherjacket
Tank 5 – Fanfish, Halfbeak
Tank 6 – Sargassum Weed, Sargassumfish, juvenile Mahi Mahi, Spotted Oceanic Triggerfish
Tank 7 – Chub Mackerel, Flying Fish, Southern Saury
Tank 8 – Portuguese Man-Of-War, juvenile Bluebottle Fish
No Portugese Man-Of-Wars have been kept successfully in captivity, unfortunately. I do believe they have been attempted but they never last long. There are a couple species in the exhibits I've posted here that have never been kept as far as I know, like the Man-Of-War, Blue Grenadier, Reaper Cuttlefish, Gigantocypris and Antarctic Lanternfish. In the end it is fantasy, after all, so I don't feel the need to be completely 100% realistic on everything.
Seahorse
New Member
Absolutely! I like when people include some fantastical species in their zoos in this forum (with the notable exceptions of the javan rhino and saola, which in my opinion are overdone selections, but that's a personal choice thing). They help me learn so much more about the species that live in our universe!
Freshwaters of Australia
Displays of freshwater species found in Australia. Tanks are decorated with native aquatic plants, rocks and pieces of bogwood, and have a natural gravel substrate.
Tank 1 – Gulf Saratoga, Sooty Grunter, Silver Grunter
Tank 2 – Australian Freshwater Moray, Jungle Perch, Tully River Grunter, Jade Perch
Tank 3 - Freshwater Crocodile, Saw-Shelled Turtle, Krefft's Turtle, Fly River Turtle
Tank 4 – Lake Eacham Rainbowfish, Macquarie Rainbowfish, Blue-Eyed Rainbowfish, Eastern Snake-Necked Turtle, Jardine River Turtle, Tandanus Catfish, Empire Gudgeon, Eastern Water Dragon
Tank 5 - Triops australiensis
Tank 6 – Snakehead Gudgeon, Mouth Almighty, Bullrout, Coal Grunter
Tank 7 – Barramundi, juvenile Speartooth Shark, Freshwater Whipray, Australian Long-Finned Eel, Forktail Catfish, Mangrove Jack, Largetooth Sawfish
Tank 8 – Golden Perch, Murray Cod, Australian Bass
Tank 9 – Platypus, Yabby, Macquarie Rainbowfish
Tank 10 – Giant Jungle Prawn, Nurseryfish, Archerfish
Tank 11 – Sleepy Cod normal morph, Sleepy Cod golden morph
Tank 12 – Spotted Galaxias, Black Galaxias, Western Galaxias, Barred Galaxias, Climbing Galaxias, Australian Glass Shrimp
Tank 13 – Redclaw Crayfish
Tank 14 – Australian Lungfish
Tank 15 - Tasmanian Giant Freshwater Crayfish
Displays of freshwater species found in Australia. Tanks are decorated with native aquatic plants, rocks and pieces of bogwood, and have a natural gravel substrate.
Tank 1 – Gulf Saratoga, Sooty Grunter, Silver Grunter
Tank 2 – Australian Freshwater Moray, Jungle Perch, Tully River Grunter, Jade Perch
Tank 3 - Freshwater Crocodile, Saw-Shelled Turtle, Krefft's Turtle, Fly River Turtle
Tank 4 – Lake Eacham Rainbowfish, Macquarie Rainbowfish, Blue-Eyed Rainbowfish, Eastern Snake-Necked Turtle, Jardine River Turtle, Tandanus Catfish, Empire Gudgeon, Eastern Water Dragon
Tank 5 - Triops australiensis
Tank 6 – Snakehead Gudgeon, Mouth Almighty, Bullrout, Coal Grunter
Tank 7 – Barramundi, juvenile Speartooth Shark, Freshwater Whipray, Australian Long-Finned Eel, Forktail Catfish, Mangrove Jack, Largetooth Sawfish
Tank 8 – Golden Perch, Murray Cod, Australian Bass
Tank 9 – Platypus, Yabby, Macquarie Rainbowfish
Tank 10 – Giant Jungle Prawn, Nurseryfish, Archerfish
Tank 11 – Sleepy Cod normal morph, Sleepy Cod golden morph
Tank 12 – Spotted Galaxias, Black Galaxias, Western Galaxias, Barred Galaxias, Climbing Galaxias, Australian Glass Shrimp
Tank 13 – Redclaw Crayfish
Tank 14 – Australian Lungfish
Tank 15 - Tasmanian Giant Freshwater Crayfish
Southern Seas
Displays of Australian sealife from cooler waters. Tanks are decorated with rocks, algaes and artificial kelp. As a safety precaution, tanks 8 and 12 constantly run activated carbon in case of pahutoxin release of their resident boxfish. As a conservation effort, the aquarium's resident Spotted Handfish are part of a breeding program to help curb the decline of this critically endangered species.
Tank 1 - Port Jackson Shark, Mado, Moonlighter, Fiddler Ray, Gummy Shark, Crested Bullhead Shark, Toothbrush Leatherjacket, Smooth Toadfish
Tank 2 - Old Wife, Barber Perch, Victorian Scalyfin, Globefish, Black-Banded Seaperch
Tank 3 - Red Velvetfish, Red Indianfish, Warty Prowfish
Tank 4 - Big-Bellied Seahorse, Leafy Seadragon, Weedy Seadragon, Eleven-Armed Sea Star, Patiriella calcar
Tank 5 - Spotted Handfish
Tank 6 - Gloomy Octopus, Waratah Anemone, Eleven-Armed Sea Star, Eastern Hulafish
Tank 7 - Draughtboard Shark, Black Bream, Sea Sweep, Skipjack Trevally
Tank 8 - Shaw's Cowfish, Girella zebra, Crimson Banded Wrasse, Crested Weedfish, Common Stinkfish
Tank 9 - Black-Headed Puller, Southern Blue Devil, Blue-Throated Wrasse, Bicolour Scalyfin, Goblinfish
Tank 10 - Pencil Weed Whiting, Eastern Blue Devil, Pygmy Leatherjacket
Tank 11 - Tasmanian Giant Crab
Tank 12 - White-Barred Boxfish, Longsnout Boarfish, Largetooth Beardie, Ornate Cowfish
Tank 13 - Eastern Rock Lobster, Southern Rock Lobster, Ranbow Cale, Herring Cale, Magpie Perch, Rough Bullseye
Tank 14 - Eastern Blue Groper, Collared Carpetshark, Gulf Catshark, Red Pigfish, Chinaman Leatherjacket, Sand Flathead, King George Whiting, Australian Angelshark, Whiskery Shark, Eastern Nannygai, Southern Eagle Ray, Cockatoo Morwong
Tank 15 - Australian Ghostshark, Orange Roughy, juvenile Pink Cusk-Eel, Melbourne Skate, Longsnouted Sawshark, Banded Bellowsfish
Tank 16 - Blue Swimmer Crab
Tank 17 - Tasselled Anglerfish
Tank 18 - Southern Sand Octopus
Displays of Australian sealife from cooler waters. Tanks are decorated with rocks, algaes and artificial kelp. As a safety precaution, tanks 8 and 12 constantly run activated carbon in case of pahutoxin release of their resident boxfish. As a conservation effort, the aquarium's resident Spotted Handfish are part of a breeding program to help curb the decline of this critically endangered species.
Tank 1 - Port Jackson Shark, Mado, Moonlighter, Fiddler Ray, Gummy Shark, Crested Bullhead Shark, Toothbrush Leatherjacket, Smooth Toadfish
Tank 2 - Old Wife, Barber Perch, Victorian Scalyfin, Globefish, Black-Banded Seaperch
Tank 3 - Red Velvetfish, Red Indianfish, Warty Prowfish
Tank 4 - Big-Bellied Seahorse, Leafy Seadragon, Weedy Seadragon, Eleven-Armed Sea Star, Patiriella calcar
Tank 5 - Spotted Handfish
Tank 6 - Gloomy Octopus, Waratah Anemone, Eleven-Armed Sea Star, Eastern Hulafish
Tank 7 - Draughtboard Shark, Black Bream, Sea Sweep, Skipjack Trevally
Tank 8 - Shaw's Cowfish, Girella zebra, Crimson Banded Wrasse, Crested Weedfish, Common Stinkfish
Tank 9 - Black-Headed Puller, Southern Blue Devil, Blue-Throated Wrasse, Bicolour Scalyfin, Goblinfish
Tank 10 - Pencil Weed Whiting, Eastern Blue Devil, Pygmy Leatherjacket
Tank 11 - Tasmanian Giant Crab
Tank 12 - White-Barred Boxfish, Longsnout Boarfish, Largetooth Beardie, Ornate Cowfish
Tank 13 - Eastern Rock Lobster, Southern Rock Lobster, Ranbow Cale, Herring Cale, Magpie Perch, Rough Bullseye
Tank 14 - Eastern Blue Groper, Collared Carpetshark, Gulf Catshark, Red Pigfish, Chinaman Leatherjacket, Sand Flathead, King George Whiting, Australian Angelshark, Whiskery Shark, Eastern Nannygai, Southern Eagle Ray, Cockatoo Morwong
Tank 15 - Australian Ghostshark, Orange Roughy, juvenile Pink Cusk-Eel, Melbourne Skate, Longsnouted Sawshark, Banded Bellowsfish
Tank 16 - Blue Swimmer Crab
Tank 17 - Tasselled Anglerfish
Tank 18 - Southern Sand Octopus