G'day folks. Had a rather informative chat yesterday with one of the interpretative staff at Melbourne Aquarium.
Specifically, the major oceanarium on the bottom level of the complex (the "fish bowl") is getting warmer. It's now only 1 degree celsius cooler than the tropical reef tank. The plan is to gradually morph the previously Southern Ocean-themed fish bowl into a more traditional tropical tank based on the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea.
From what I can gather, difficulties with the shark collection seem to be behind the move (as well, almost certainly, as a decade of visitor complaints that the major tank has hundreds of "boring" silver fish that look more or less the same). The leopard shark "Leo", which I posted about in a previous thread noting what I took to be signs of stress in his previous, too-small tank - was moved into the larger tank on Monday.
More importantly, though, the Aquarium has given up on trying to source additional grey nurse sharks to replace those that have died since the Aquarium's opening. There is only one grey nurse left, and he is in advanced middle age. With the species globally endangered and captive reproduction very patchy, the decision was made last year to replace them with sandbar whalers, which required the warmer temperatures. The Aquarium's seven-gill sharks had to be released as a result of increasing the tank temperature.
Thoughts? I am in two minds. I admit to being excited at the prospect of my home aquarium developing a tropical oceanarium of the type I dearly love. On the other hand, the employee I spoke with yesterday made the very good point that Melbourne's cold-water focus gave it something unique in Australia and, indeed, amongst major aquariums around the world. I think that uniqueness was never adequately marketed.
Specifically, the major oceanarium on the bottom level of the complex (the "fish bowl") is getting warmer. It's now only 1 degree celsius cooler than the tropical reef tank. The plan is to gradually morph the previously Southern Ocean-themed fish bowl into a more traditional tropical tank based on the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea.
From what I can gather, difficulties with the shark collection seem to be behind the move (as well, almost certainly, as a decade of visitor complaints that the major tank has hundreds of "boring" silver fish that look more or less the same). The leopard shark "Leo", which I posted about in a previous thread noting what I took to be signs of stress in his previous, too-small tank - was moved into the larger tank on Monday.
More importantly, though, the Aquarium has given up on trying to source additional grey nurse sharks to replace those that have died since the Aquarium's opening. There is only one grey nurse left, and he is in advanced middle age. With the species globally endangered and captive reproduction very patchy, the decision was made last year to replace them with sandbar whalers, which required the warmer temperatures. The Aquarium's seven-gill sharks had to be released as a result of increasing the tank temperature.
Thoughts? I am in two minds. I admit to being excited at the prospect of my home aquarium developing a tropical oceanarium of the type I dearly love. On the other hand, the employee I spoke with yesterday made the very good point that Melbourne's cold-water focus gave it something unique in Australia and, indeed, amongst major aquariums around the world. I think that uniqueness was never adequately marketed.