rickkott13
New member
why taiwan need whale shark for? the fins??
Georgia Aquarium Loses Second Whale Shark
- Thread starter TypicalNoah
- Start date
Dr Begalke
In Memoriam
Maybe they should convert that whale shark tank to a tank for tangs?
Wait, not big enough... tang police wouldn't be happy.
Wait, not big enough... tang police wouldn't be happy.
Dr Begalke
In Memoriam
seriously though, its a sad loss...
i don't know of any parasitics that can cause peritonitis (what the first one died from)..
parasitic infections, and the abscess/ruptures they cause, certainly can and due cause this.
I think there is a lot of value in keeping whale sharks in an aquarium, as someone wiser then me once said:
"In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we are taught."
i don't know of any parasitics that can cause peritonitis (what the first one died from)..
parasitic infections, and the abscess/ruptures they cause, certainly can and due cause this.
I think there is a lot of value in keeping whale sharks in an aquarium, as someone wiser then me once said:
"In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we are taught."
The meat of this shark is consumed in Asia, though not considered to be of high quality. I am not sure if they use the fins of this species in soups, although some parts are used in traditional medicines.
It is hunted in Sri Lanka and neighbouring nations for the liver used to make oil used to waterproof the wood on fishing boats. The meat is sent on to Taiwan and other Asian nations.
It is hunted in Sri Lanka and neighbouring nations for the liver used to make oil used to waterproof the wood on fishing boats. The meat is sent on to Taiwan and other Asian nations.
Ralph ATL
Formerly mysterybox
These specific whalesharks were going to be slaughtered for their fins to be eaten! Why are some of you so harsh to judge when a dealth happens at the aquarium? They would already have been dead & would have been eaten! At least they are TRYING to keep them alive! I'm sure all of you had a loss of some type in YOUR aquarium! Weren't you trying to keep it alive? What did you do? Do you trust anybody?
Chelito1234
Member
.... really sad!!!
Aussie_hippie_2
New member
Why then, exactly, if they are so worried about the declining population, did they not just release the whale sharks are buying them? It seems like capitalism disguised as conservation to me...
Lanceafer
New member
Normally I never post on thread like this but I feel this needs to be said.
We are all here because we love the marine life that we keep. Those of you who say that Atlanta was irresponsible for creating this display need to get off your high horse. Have you ever bought anything for your tank that was wild caught? Think back because I know that many people have been in this hobby for years and there is no way everything they have ever owned was tank raised, and for that matter anything we have that is tank raised is only a few generations old. So why not take your tanks and release them because they were all wild once and some of the species we keep have since become endangered because of us. Just about everything we know about or hobby has come from trial and error. The deaths here were and error that I'm assuming will not be repeated.
We are all here because we love the marine life that we keep. Those of you who say that Atlanta was irresponsible for creating this display need to get off your high horse. Have you ever bought anything for your tank that was wild caught? Think back because I know that many people have been in this hobby for years and there is no way everything they have ever owned was tank raised, and for that matter anything we have that is tank raised is only a few generations old. So why not take your tanks and release them because they were all wild once and some of the species we keep have since become endangered because of us. Just about everything we know about or hobby has come from trial and error. The deaths here were and error that I'm assuming will not be repeated.
Unfortunately from I have heard through a fellow student that is going into public aquarium medicine and has first hand knowledge of the situation is the reason they are having the problems they are having now is because they have neglected to quarantine. I understand it is difficult to setup a display for whale sharks much less a QT to keep them but a cardinal rule for keeping any type of live animal is QTing them before being introduced into the general population. No matter how hard that rule is to follow in your particular situation it is still very important and should be done to prevent costly and even catastrophic results to the animals ones care. Apparently they have introduced a parasite (a type of fluke if I remember correctly) that is only susceptible to one type of medication. The flukes in the system have developed a resistance to this and the whale sharks that have died have been treated with much higher than normal doses of this medication to try and rid them, at least temporarily, of the flukes. This has ended up killing the whale sharks.
Unfortunately the Aquarium is now stuck with these parasites forever and they actually have to routinely physically remove them from several species every few days.
I also need to say I think the aquarium is a great idea and has some very nice points. It is obvious however from my visit and from what I have heard that husbandry issues are an ongoing concern.
Chris
Unfortunately the Aquarium is now stuck with these parasites forever and they actually have to routinely physically remove them from several species every few days.
I also need to say I think the aquarium is a great idea and has some very nice points. It is obvious however from my visit and from what I have heard that husbandry issues are an ongoing concern.
Chris
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Fishkeeper101
New member
This is truly sad, and I could understand the outcry for them to stop keeping them.
However, it seems that the Public in general, needs to see something to conserve it.
I volunteered at a local aquarium for just short of 5 years (through most of my teenage years) and I saw that people had no idea about what was going on in the oceans, and cared even less, until they saw that 300 lb tuna swimming around, and the sharks that are caught in the nets and thrown overboard dying.
Its unfortunate, BUT I believe that in keeping these animals, and (even with good intentions) prolonging its death, if someone learned something, anything about these animals, its death was not in vain. It could have been a kid, who will grow up to be the next politician to cry for conservation. It could be an adult, who decides to tell all their friends about it, and in that stops the purchase of canned tuna, or the harvesting of whale sharks.
A marketing ploy? Perhaps. but in the end, even out of something as terrible as this, some good is bound to come out of it.
I know its been quoted already, but "In then end, you conserve what you love, you love what you know, and you know only what you have been taught..." holds true.
These aquariums are teaching something. And thats the only way that conservation can happen.
Just my 2 cents.
However, it seems that the Public in general, needs to see something to conserve it.
I volunteered at a local aquarium for just short of 5 years (through most of my teenage years) and I saw that people had no idea about what was going on in the oceans, and cared even less, until they saw that 300 lb tuna swimming around, and the sharks that are caught in the nets and thrown overboard dying.
Its unfortunate, BUT I believe that in keeping these animals, and (even with good intentions) prolonging its death, if someone learned something, anything about these animals, its death was not in vain. It could have been a kid, who will grow up to be the next politician to cry for conservation. It could be an adult, who decides to tell all their friends about it, and in that stops the purchase of canned tuna, or the harvesting of whale sharks.
A marketing ploy? Perhaps. but in the end, even out of something as terrible as this, some good is bound to come out of it.
I know its been quoted already, but "In then end, you conserve what you love, you love what you know, and you know only what you have been taught..." holds true.
These aquariums are teaching something. And thats the only way that conservation can happen.
Just my 2 cents.
hahnmeister
In Memoriam
I said it when I saw them in person 'those things are dead'. I posted it here on RC as well, and got arguments from all sorts about how 'I know someone who works there and they have the most state of the art vet staff and scientists taking care of them'... yeah... like the Japanese didnt when they tried... lol. The record is 5-6 years in captivity... for a fish that lives many many times that.
All I can say is: told you so. That place reminds me of Petco every time I am there.
Its a shame, and all I can say is I hope they do not try to get another. Sharks in general shouldnt be kept in captivity, the electrical interference they endure to their sensitive electrical systems is equal to us trying to sleep at a party.
Maybe they can make better use of that oceanarium for something else. They should put jewfish in there, and some other wicked cool fish you dont normally see or hear about (Like that guitarfish... that thing is coolest thing in there). I wonder if giant squid could live in there... lol. A mola mola would be another one. Manta?
All I can say is: told you so. That place reminds me of Petco every time I am there.
Its a shame, and all I can say is I hope they do not try to get another. Sharks in general shouldnt be kept in captivity, the electrical interference they endure to their sensitive electrical systems is equal to us trying to sleep at a party.
Maybe they can make better use of that oceanarium for something else. They should put jewfish in there, and some other wicked cool fish you dont normally see or hear about (Like that guitarfish... that thing is coolest thing in there). I wonder if giant squid could live in there... lol. A mola mola would be another one. Manta?
Cristina_j
Moved On
I can't wait to go see the Georgia Aquarium. I've heard it's amazing. I'm going to Macnna XX in ATL and am staying an extra couple of days to be a tourist.
Ralph ATL
Formerly mysterybox
It is an amazing place. I've been there over 20 times, and I still get that same "butterflies in the stomach" feeling. You will not be disappointed.
Don't you find it funny at the hypocrisy going on in this thread coming from Aquarists? I mean, doesn't every aquarist have an animal die that maybe they shouldn't have kept? or the conditions weren't right? etc?
Anyway, pm me if you need any info.
hahnmeister
In Memoriam
I suppose I hold public aquariums to a higher standard since I live near the Shedd.
TypicalNoah
New member
I think it's really cool to hear from all these perspectives, but it's difficult to keep the energy and emotions down and just take these opinions with a grain of salt. We'll just have to see how captive whale shark technology and medicine develops at institutions like this one. People's careers and public interests are based on this; much good work will come of it.
hahnmeister
In Memoriam
Thats sort of the problem though... people's careers and public interest. It was people's careers and public interest that has resulted in the extinction of many species. The interests of the Whale Shark are not assigned a monetary value.
Now, Im not going all 'left-wing' here, but I think its stupid to keep a fish that rare and large in captivity when it will only live a small fraction of its natural life at best. Perhaps learning more about them in the wild before we try to kill them in our back yards is a better idea. There are 'critter cams' after all...
Now, Im not going all 'left-wing' here, but I think its stupid to keep a fish that rare and large in captivity when it will only live a small fraction of its natural life at best. Perhaps learning more about them in the wild before we try to kill them in our back yards is a better idea. There are 'critter cams' after all...
