Are you saying its a bad aquarium because the fish aren't the major focus or are you saying its good but it doesn't count as an aquarium because the fish aren't the major focus?
Zoo/Aquarium Hot Takes
- Thread starter pachyderm pro
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What on Earth do you mean by this? Fish are the main focus of Shedd, and nearly all of the non-fish species on exhibit are aquatic.
A zoo with some fish in tanks as a side gig? You sure you're not talking about Dallas World Aquarium? (BTW, quick hot take: they should rename themselves to Dallas World of Rainforests or Dallas World of the Tropics)
Sphenisciologist
Well-Known Member
Oh god. Not aquariums again. 
ummm what? That description fits more like DWA tbh
??????
This is just flat out untrue in every way. Shedd probably has more fish tanks than any other aquarium on the planet and doesn't have a single species that isn't aquatic. Absolutely baffling description.
Well, that isn't really true. They keep Hawk-headed Parrot, Striped Skunk, Red-footed Tortoise, Goliath Birdeater, Clown Tree Frog, Bullet Ant, Giant Cockroach, various poison dart frogs, Giant Monkey Frog, Goeldi's Monkey, Domestic Dog, Barred Owl, and probably more. But yes, the vast, vast majority of their massive collection is aquatic.
Corangurilla
Well-Known Member
I've only visited Shedd once on a very strict time limit and even I know this statement is blatantly untrue.
I like the ring of "Dallas World of the Tropics", tbh. Hot take (half-joking), but I think that should be their new name.
Corangurilla
Well-Known Member
I don't think they even have the dogs or the monkeys anymore (and I can't find anything on the skunk past 2020), so calling Shedd "a zoo with some fish tanks as a side gig" is even less accurate!
Sphenisciologist
Well-Known Member
I will say, although Shedd Aquarium isn’t my taste exactly, I know for a fact it still has one of the most diverse collections of an aquarium, and that was apparent when I visited.
Diversity is important for **both** zoos and aquariums. Along with that, Shedd focuses a lot of its exhibits on fish. Every area in the aquarium has a fish-focused area, except maybe the Oceanarium.
Diversity is important for **both** zoos and aquariums. Along with that, Shedd focuses a lot of its exhibits on fish. Every area in the aquarium has a fish-focused area, except maybe the Oceanarium.
You’re correct, but many of the species you mentioned are ambassador animals used for off-site programs and aren’t actually on exhibit. They also no longer have callimicos and haven’t for a few years. I’ll admit I did forget about the hawk-headed parrots and probaly a few herps as well, so let’s say that 99.9% of the collection are aquatic species. Not too shabby, me thinks.
Steelcan
Member
I was being slightly hyperbolic and joking about how much of the Aquarium consists of at least partly terrestrial species but I see that was unwise given how tone cannot be conveyed easily....
Corangurilla
Well-Known Member
Partly terrestrial? That's a weird way of saying "semi-aquatic".
Bengal Tiger
Well-Known Member
The semi-aquatic species are only a small part of the collection, with almost all of their 1500 species being fish and aquatic invertebrates.
But it's not just partly terrestrial- it's the opposite of what you described in your original post.
Bengal Tiger
Well-Known Member
They kind of work, as they're in the dry riverbed exhibit.
The most diverse animal collection of any modern facility, in fact - Shedd keeps around 1500 species, more than any other zoo or aquarium in the world.
Those species make up perhaps 1% of the collection at best...
Well the most diverse collection in the world can’t consist 99% of *non* partly terrestrial creatures
…Now Shedd surely is the most specious, if that’s what you mean.
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