And we also learned that there are some coral and fish out there that just belong in the wild because they do not do well in captivity.
Something is Killing the Wale Sharks at GA Aquarium
- Thread starter Wes
- Start date
And we also learned that there are some coral and fish out there that just belong in the wild because they do not do well in captivity.
- Location
- Marine Park
Matt, that was great.
As Albert mentioned they aren't in captivity for the same reasons we keep animals in captivity, they are there to educate and most importantly;
Public Aquariums are Labs!
These animals are tested and very closely watched 24-7 so that the scientists can learn all they can about them and their environment. Don't forget that we know more about space than our own oceans. Keeping many of these marine animals in captivity has led to medical breakthroughs as well as breakthroughs in conservation and preservation.
These public aquariums serve a FAR greater good than that piece of furniture in your living room that you ooh and ahh over.
Just saying,
As Albert mentioned they aren't in captivity for the same reasons we keep animals in captivity, they are there to educate and most importantly;
Public Aquariums are Labs!
These animals are tested and very closely watched 24-7 so that the scientists can learn all they can about them and their environment. Don't forget that we know more about space than our own oceans. Keeping many of these marine animals in captivity has led to medical breakthroughs as well as breakthroughs in conservation and preservation.
These public aquariums serve a FAR greater good than that piece of furniture in your living room that you ooh and ahh over.
Just saying,
I know and the worst thing is at the aquarium they have whale shaped french fries like you are eating the whale and its like they have no respect for anything! eating a whale?! a whale is bigger than a french fry anyway! who are they trying to fool?! its like they dont even take their whales seriously!
- Location
- Marine Park
It's OJ!
scarf_ace1981
Advanced Reefer
- Location
- San Juan, PR
fred i hope you are a comedian cuz if you aren't, you are in the wrong business. you are a funny dude.
- Location
- Marine Park
OMG!!!! now THAT is funny.
- Location
- Brooklyn, NY
If anyone is interested in finding out more about the situation at the Georgia aquarium, Dr. Bruce Carlson ( former director of the Waikiki Aquarium) and current Curator at Georgia is speaking at the LIRA meeting tonight. I don't think the Whale Sharks are his responsibility, nor are they the subject of his talk ( he's a coral guy), but I'm sure he can talk about it in an informed way.
- Location
- Marine Park
OJ seen here taking his battle with Whale Sharks to their homeland:
- Location
- Marine Park
"See you grab the whale shark like this...."
I know that an aquarium is a research lab, and we learn many things about certain animals and the behaviors, and breeding and other important things. I also because of being reminded about the throwing stones comment, (ouch), forgot what a similiar situation we as reefers are in, as far as keeping animals in captivity.
Whale sharks travels thousands of miles every year. They follow the same routes to breeding grounds. They pass this on to their young. The have no boundries in the wild. They dive thousands of feet down into the oceans.
Now take those same animals and confine them to a tank 283x163 by 33 feet deep. I'm not sure if these demensions are correct. How are these animals expected to live out a normal existence? We as reefer try everything in out power to mimic and duplicate the natural habitat and suroundings for our captive animals. There's nothing at all natural about the box those whale sharks are in at the aquarium.
That's why I feel they should be freed. And thanx Meshaerfer for the reminder. That stone hurt.:dead1: LOL
Whale sharks travels thousands of miles every year. They follow the same routes to breeding grounds. They pass this on to their young. The have no boundries in the wild. They dive thousands of feet down into the oceans.
Now take those same animals and confine them to a tank 283x163 by 33 feet deep. I'm not sure if these demensions are correct. How are these animals expected to live out a normal existence? We as reefer try everything in out power to mimic and duplicate the natural habitat and suroundings for our captive animals. There's nothing at all natural about the box those whale sharks are in at the aquarium.
That's why I feel they should be freed. And thanx Meshaerfer for the reminder. That stone hurt.:dead1: LOL
Didn't mean for it to hurt, and it was a reminder to all of us - myself included- that we are all in the same boat.
I just don't see much difference between what we do and what they are doing, and to top it off they are literally a world class research facility.
Your dimensions for their tank are pretty much on, they share this tank with close to 100,000 other fish, with a total volume of 6 million gallons. If I had to guess I would say that each of their whale sharks is maybe 15 foot long. This means that they are in a tank that (along it length) is about 15 times the sharks length. Think about it,your average 8 inch tang in a 48 inch aquarium, only has six times it's body length.
The Wikipedia entry on whale sharks
I would LOVE To have the oppurtunity to see them!!!! THey must be some sight right up close like that.
Didn't mean for it to hurt, and it was a reminder to all of us - myself included- that we are all in the same boat.
I just don't see much difference between what we do and what they are doing, and to top it off they are literally a world class research facility.
Your dimensions for their tank are pretty much on, they share this tank with close to 100,000 other fish, with a total volume of 6 million gallons. If I had to guess I would say that each of their whale sharks is maybe 15 foot long. This means that they are in a tank that (along it length) is about 15 times the sharks length. Think about it,your average 8 inch tang in a 48 inch aquarium, only has six times it's body length.
The Wikipedia entry on whale sharks
- Location
- Marine Park
Great point Matt, I was just about to say the same thing. I remember reading that most fish on a reef will have a 3 foot by 3 foot territory. Each fish! How many of us dedicate a 200 gallon tank to one or two fish? Three?
Cast the first stone indeed.
Cast the first stone indeed.
I didn't mean it to sound like I was casting a stone. But there is a huge difference when you think of the space and depth that a whale shark has in the ocean. And something as large as a whale shark kinda made me forget about my SMALL lil tank with captive animals. So yeah it definitely is the same thing. I did'nt look at me and the aquarium as doing the same thing.
it's not necessarily the same...the wale shark is an enormous migratory animal that travels thousands of miles and the average reef fish kept in our hobby is not.
How many public aquariums keep the Giant Blue Marlin? It's a pretty big migratory fish. Why is it so important the Whale Shark is pulled from the ocean so we can study it's behavior? Because it is so big and will attract people to pay admission fees? Or does whale shark meat cure cancer?
All I know is if I were to buy a fish and it dies, then try again and it dies...I would feel bad about trying to keep a third one alive...
If someone were to keep a tang in a small tank and they kept dying for "unknown causes", they would get ripped a new one.
How many public aquariums keep the Giant Blue Marlin? It's a pretty big migratory fish. Why is it so important the Whale Shark is pulled from the ocean so we can study it's behavior? Because it is so big and will attract people to pay admission fees? Or does whale shark meat cure cancer?
All I know is if I were to buy a fish and it dies, then try again and it dies...I would feel bad about trying to keep a third one alive...
If someone were to keep a tang in a small tank and they kept dying for "unknown causes", they would get ripped a new one.
I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Carlson from the Georgia aquarium last night at the LIRA meeting, he was the guest speaker. When this topic was mentioned there were a few details that have been left out of the press. These animals are normally hunted in Taipei/Taiwan as a food source; the animals that the aquarium has were caught legally and were destine as such, they were not wild caught just for the aquarium. In taking these animals the aquarium has extended their life past what would have been and we get the opportunity to study these animals and view them in ways many would never get to. How many animals have we as hobbyists attempted to keep, some with little to no knowledge of their requirements? Think of how many times you’ve seen a news story on a whale/dolphin/sea lion stranded or beached, where did the knowledge to care for and rehab these animals come from.
One other point that was mentioned was the many of the corals there are aquaculture farms or frags from other aquariums; the live rock is all Walt Smith aquaculture.
One other point that was mentioned was the many of the corals there are aquaculture farms or frags from other aquariums; the live rock is all Walt Smith aquaculture.
Granted it is matter of opinon and degree, but it is the exact same thing. We are both taking animals and confining them to area that is a miniscule compared to their natural enviroment. Where we differ is that their mission is to research and educate the public, the people who maintain these animals are marine biologists. For the most part, we are amatures who maintain our tanks stictly for selfish reasons, our own enjoyment.
Yes "If someone were to keep a tang in a small tank and they kept dying for "unknown causes", they would get ripped a new one", but that is not the case here. they have succefully kept these animals since they opened about three years ago. They had their orginal stock of shark whales (4 I think), untill the lost 1 in January for an unkown reason. After five months of no problems, they introduce two more a little over a week ago, and have lost one of those. The second set of sharks where added in an attempt to breed them. It should also be noted, that the second shark to die was euthanized, as it had not been eating and had started to swim in an erratic manner.
If someone came on the board and said he had succefully kept 4 tangs for almost three years and then mysteriously lost one, nobody would blink. If then said that he had added another two to the tank five months later and lost one a little over a week after introduction, it would probably be tossed up to receiving an animal in poor health, or one that didn't recover from the stress of shipping. They would not rightfuly be "ripped a new one" in that case.
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