The Florida Aquarium has unveiled the transformation of its second-largest habitat into an Indo-Pacific wonderland and said “g’day” to thousands of new fish, introducing them into the Heart of the Sea, creating a new exhibit that showcases the diversity of marine life from Australia.
“These are some of the most amazing fish our guests may ever see in their lifetimes,” said Cristy Barrett, associate curator at the aquarium, in a news release.
“They’re from Australia and their colors are so vibrant. Some of them actually help clean the other fish — including inside their mouths! We’re delighted with how well they are adjusting. It’s incredibly rewarding to see them thriving and interacting in their new environment,” said Barrett.
Among the new inhabitants are 26 different species, including: Maori wrasse, gold goatfish, spotted unicornfish, blue speckled group, emperor angelfish, giant squirrelfish, various species of butterfly fish, and a large school of fusiliers. Many of these fish are rarely seen in this part of the world.
The transformation process also involved relocating many of the native fish previously housed in the Heart of the Sea habitat. Species such as tarpon, yellowtail snapper and rooster hogfish have been moved to the aquarium’s largest habitat, the Coral Reef.
Some original residents, including bonnethead sharks, honeycomb stingrays, a southern stingray and a loggerhead sea turtle, remain in the exhibit cohabiting with their new Indo-Pacific neighbors.
The Florida Aquarium is at 701 Channelside Drive in Tampa. Visit Flaquarium.org for more.
Published July 03, 2024
