[Charlotte]

Was in your neck of the woods today, went to the Bournemouth Oceanarium - very impressed The tanks are all so nice + clean, the fish really looked happy More than I can say for the restaurant tho' ... food was good, but the place looks grubby.

Much better than the Portsmouth aquarium, which seems dark + dismal in comparison, with some of the fish alone in their own tiny tanks

Anyway, really enjoyed 'your' one

[stupot]

hi charlotte

i've been to the Bournemouth Oceanarium once, but i was with my nephew and he was in a grisly mood so we rushed through it not really have time to look very well, so i must go again. Glad you enjoyed it though. Typical thing we have great things on our door steps but take them for granted.

[Dabhand16]

How can you tell if a fish ios happy?

[fionaB]

it smiles at you?

[Charlotte]

I've been expecting that question, Graham, it was just a toss up as to who'd ask

Answer: They swim around in a jolly manner

Fish in a tank that are not happy just continually amble along the glass trying to find a way out. These fish were frolicking

[Charlotte]

Originally Posted by fionaB

it smiles at you?

No fiona, that's a myth

[Dabhand16]

Originally Posted by Charlotte

I've been expecting that question, Graham, it was just a toss up as to who'd ask

Oh, really? I'm disappointed that you wondered who would ask.

I just love your answer, though. 'Nuff said.

I will never look at the fish in my garden pond in the same way again.

Don't ever change, Charlotte.

XX

[Charlotte]

Originally Posted by Dabhand16

... I will never look at the fish in my garden pond in the same way again ...

Can't look 'em in the eye, eh? Not frolicking, are they

Originally Posted by Dabhand16

... Don't ever change, Charlotte.

I gave up trying

[Rob Barron]

Actually, any fishkeeper can tell when their fish are showing signs of stress, even when they are smiling through gritted lips!

But glad you liked the Bournemouth Oceanarium Charlotte. Can't say it overly impressed me when I went but that was when it first opened so hopefully it has improved since then. I have to say I have been to several fantastic aquaria over in the States and now all these Sea-life centres and things seem puny by comparison. The aquarium in the Epcot Centre is truly spectacular.... the largest single aquarium in the world.

I have to say in defence of individual tank type aquaria, you often get to sea fish in those places that you would never see in the large mixed tank places simply because they'd end up as dinner for the other species! As anyone at home who has tried sticking tetras in with the badly misnamed angelfish will have discovered, they are very happy to eat anything that is small enough to stick in their gobs so keeping a large balanced aquarium is hard work. Rare and endangered species that have to be kept alone or with similar types need these individual tanks so they do have their place in the whole scheme of things. Not as spectacular for the viewer perhaps but vital for the species survival.

I had a wonderful goldfish that I easily trained to say my name. Every morning I'd go to the tank and he's say 'Rob, Rob, Rob....' Couldn't hear him of course but was easy to read his lips

Cheers,
Rob

[Steve]

But surely fish of the same type get along?

There is reason not to have more than one of the same type is there?

[Dabhand16]

Originally Posted by Steve

But surely fish of the same type get along?

There is reason not to have more than one of the same type is there?

The fish in my pond are getting along just fine. I started with four (it's only a small pond), and now i have six

Different types of fish usually co-exist very well, providing they are fish that you would usually find in similar conditions in the wild. However, there are also preditary fish like the Pike that are the marine equivalent to foxes (no, not FB!!) and will not be happy (to use Charlotte's description) until they have eaten all of the other fish.

[Charlotte]

Seahorses look pretty placid to me, not at all canibalistic ... one which I remember seeing alone in a very small, dark + not particularly clean tank at Portsmouth Aquarium

[Dabhand16]

Originally Posted by Charlotte

Seahorses look pretty placid to me, not at all canibalistic ...

Just wait until they work out how to bulid a bonfire to swim around. All of the rituals they are dreaming of whilst giving the impression that they are nice gentle creatures will mean that the tanks will have to be screened to stop those of weak constitutions from fainting.........

[Charlotte]

You didn't take your Thorazine again Graham

Anyway, back to the Oceanarium ... I did take some photo's, as might be expected of a budding photographer, + I'll get round to posting them in the next day or two!

Was very careless, I might add: When I got there, I changed lens on camera. Near the end of the visit I stooped to get a shot + a lens rolled out of my camera bag + onto my lap (thankfully) ... apparently I hadn't zipped the bag up after I changed lens + had been walking around with it gaping open Being a front pocket, I'm jolly lucky I didn't lose any lenses along the way ... stoopid, stoopid, stoopid ...