Fish at the Omniplex NEED HELP!
- Thread starter kittyj
- Start date
Youngsilver
C'est un touche-Ã -tout
paul w. has quite the knack for getting photoshop'd 
cek1313
Member
Since I have lived in Norman and OKC (originally from Tulsa), I have commented on several occasions and even written letters while in college to the Omniplex and OKC zoo about the conditions. While in college, I volunteered at the Little River Zoo in Norman for two years (they don't have aquariums) and we corresponded with the OKC zoo on many occasions.
The reason I mention all of this is to conclude that NOTHING was responded to or even acknowledged. I even offered to volunteer my services to clean tanks, care for fish...again nothing.
I do adamantly agree with monkey that to quote:
"some well drafted letters to the management there pointing out several problems might help. Naturally, we can CC the board of directors for the Kirkpatrick Foundation as well as the Oklahoma Museum Association, The Smithsonian Institution, and several of their largest corporate donors. They are a non-profit, a bit of bad publicity may likely change things".
Being not-for-profit means paying attention to paying customers should be a priority. It's worth a shot...
The reason I mention all of this is to conclude that NOTHING was responded to or even acknowledged. I even offered to volunteer my services to clean tanks, care for fish...again nothing.
I do adamantly agree with monkey that to quote:
"some well drafted letters to the management there pointing out several problems might help. Naturally, we can CC the board of directors for the Kirkpatrick Foundation as well as the Oklahoma Museum Association, The Smithsonian Institution, and several of their largest corporate donors. They are a non-profit, a bit of bad publicity may likely change things".
Being not-for-profit means paying attention to paying customers should be a priority. It's worth a shot...
New to Oklahoma [within the last year] - what is the Omniplex anyway???? As far as everyones thoughts - valient efforts however keep in mind that every business has budget constraints and everyone has an opinion about how to build a better mouse trap. I'm sure Microsoft gets email hourly about the magic fix for the crappy operating system.......how many of those actually make it to "the man in charge". Your concerns are definitely valid on this forum but outside, in the real world, it is of no consequence. I have been to just about every public aquarium in the US and many of the others outside of the US. I, like many other people in this hobby/industry would do things very differently in many of them [like not keep a whale shark in captivity, attempt to feed the first captive white shark small portions daily, or keep a reef without "janitors" because it's not a species native to the display] - sorry just got a little irritated by thougths of the past visits. Anyway - the point of where I started is something I have always preached in our industry...you can't go to school for "AQUARIUMOLOGY - however, you can go to school for marine biology to learn lots about the open ocean and little about captive life. Our industry has always been plagued with this issue for many years. Again - back to the point - sorry - what is important to the "true hobbyists" such as yourselves is really insignificant to John Q Public. As irritating as it is - it is reality. Could it change??? I would like to think so - I think going to the media and screaming would freak most people out about as much as the billboard I saw of Pamela Anderson whinning about the chickens treatment by KFC. I personally am a member of PETS [people for the ethical treatment of silicon] - use it for AQUARIUMS!!!!!!!!!!!!! She's a freak everyone knows it!!!
Just my opinion....as always...hope not to offend.
Just my opinion....as always...hope not to offend.
Should be a nationwide class - but like you said training of "Public Aquarium personnel". A 5,000 to 25,000 gallon system differs greatly from the commonplace 125 gallon of these forums. I studied under Dr. John Grazek at the University of Georgia - brillant guy - and one of the few that researched captive life. However, the focus was only disease diagnosis and control. Not the entire captive system found in most homes, restaurants, doctors offices, etc. Theories remain intact but must be altered.
Serra
New member
Omniplex science museum. " Amusement park for the mind."
http://www.omniplex.org/ This place touts itself as a learning experience. What should we learn from abused fish? Fish do feel pain and stress so to be kept in these bad conditions is crime. It is hard as a hobbyist and as a caring human being to see.
It really is a good place for kids of all ages. It just needs to get rid of the tank. If a company doesn't have the money or knowledge for upkeep of one, it shouldn't have an aquarium.
http://www.omniplex.org/ This place touts itself as a learning experience. What should we learn from abused fish? Fish do feel pain and stress so to be kept in these bad conditions is crime. It is hard as a hobbyist and as a caring human being to see.
It really is a good place for kids of all ages. It just needs to get rid of the tank. If a company doesn't have the money or knowledge for upkeep of one, it shouldn't have an aquarium.
dugg
New member
scott0615, the Omniplex is a science museum in OKC. It is actually a wonderful place to take your kids for a fun day of learning. It is a non profit organization, that is run on donations, grants, and gate admissions. It is located right next to the OKC Zoo. If it were an aquarium, they would never have a tank in such conditions. It just happens to have a small section with a few tanks in it. The tanks are so poorly cared for, that it is breath taking to see the horrible conditions. It's like a marine grave yard. The Omniplex is a place for children to learn about science and the world they live in. The extremely poor conditions of thier tanks are a very poor lesson for the children to see. If it is a matter of budget, then they should do away with the tanks all together. If it is just a lack of knowledge on the keeping of a marine aquarium, then they should be eager to learn so that they don't set such a bad example for the children that come there to learn.
Since you obviously haven't been to the Omniplex, if you have kids, you really should go there with them. If you take the time to study all of the exhibits they have to offer, it is a full day of fun and very educational. They have everything from mummies to rockets and everything in between. Try and avoid the aquariums until the end of the day, so you don't spend the rest of the day upset. Be sure though to go and see them before you leave, and then you will understand what everyone is talking about.
Since you obviously haven't been to the Omniplex, if you have kids, you really should go there with them. If you take the time to study all of the exhibits they have to offer, it is a full day of fun and very educational. They have everything from mummies to rockets and everything in between. Try and avoid the aquariums until the end of the day, so you don't spend the rest of the day upset. Be sure though to go and see them before you leave, and then you will understand what everyone is talking about.
