Shedd aquarium ?
- Thread starter azrednex
- Start date
carpediem360
New member
Have fun!! Like I need to say that. Just remember staring is not polite
whirley
New member
I'll throw my hat into the rink.
I too was disappointed by the 'Wild Reef' portion of the Shedd. I have to confess, I went 2 years ago, so it might have changed.
Anyways, I found it to be quite expensive (gas, admission....kids) and really didn't find anything too amazing in the Wild Reef section. I could see more amazing corals in fellow reefers tanks.
Perhaps my expectations were too high.
I too was disappointed by the 'Wild Reef' portion of the Shedd. I have to confess, I went 2 years ago, so it might have changed.
Anyways, I found it to be quite expensive (gas, admission....kids) and really didn't find anything too amazing in the Wild Reef section. I could see more amazing corals in fellow reefers tanks.
Perhaps my expectations were too high.
jglackin
New member
As of now, we don't really know
As of now, we don't really know
They are extremely delicate and very difficult to keep. They will not breed in captivity and have very specific eating habits.
I am being told that we may never be able to get more. The Australian government is protecting them and has stopped all export of them. And, since they cannot be bred in captivity, the only way to get them is collections from the wild.
Every day that I work, I would always go and check out the Leafies.
Best Regards,
Jim
As of now, we don't really know
They are extremely delicate and very difficult to keep. They will not breed in captivity and have very specific eating habits.
I am being told that we may never be able to get more. The Australian government is protecting them and has stopped all export of them. And, since they cannot be bred in captivity, the only way to get them is collections from the wild.
Every day that I work, I would always go and check out the Leafies.
Best Regards,
Jim
jglackin
New member
It's all in the details
It's all in the details
The thing about the Shedd, or any aquarium for that matter, is paying attention to the details. When I am at the Shedd and watching the tourists, I notice that most people just stroll by. They don't take the time to notice that there is a pistol shrimp living in the whole dug out by the watchman goby. They don't notice that the harlequin shrimp are feasting on a starfish or that there are three nautilus hanging out in the far left corner of the tank. My favorite tank is the first tank you come to when you enter the Wild Reef. There is a very large clam (over a foot wide and nearly 2 feet long) in the center of the tank and very few people ever even notice it. They don't even notice the blenny that lives in the clam. They just walk by. The biodiversity in that tank, as with several others, is simply amazing. I often will go down to that tank and stand by it and point out different aspects of the tank and the life within the tank to the tourists. You should see the lights come on. One second earlier, they were ready to move on to the next tank and, a second later, they are standing there observing the life within the tank for over 5 minutes and seeing things that they were previously oblivious to. The problem for us spoiled aquariasts is that most people really don't care about the very fine details that we aquariasts care so much about. Large Aquariums like the Shedd have to cater to the masses. We can't afford to pay to have people camped out at every tank to point out what should be very interesting to a mostly oblivious public.
There are many things I would change at the Shedd, being a spoiled marine aquariast, but there are many things that are absolutely amazing. I am also a spoiled scuba diver and have been to Galapagos and many other places and believe that the Caribbean Reef is outstanding. I have been to the rain forests of the Amazon several times and know that the Amazon exhibits at the Shedd are also top notch. The penguins, the belugas, and the dolphins are great, but we are getting ready to do a face lift on the Oceanarium, so I know it will get better.
More importantly, to me, supporting the Shedd helps to educate and open the eyes of a public that is largely oblivious to coral bleaching, over fishing, pollution, destructive invasive species, poaching, encroachment, etc. Admissions money to the Shedd is money well spent. And considering myself more "enlightened" to the issues facing our wild reefs and aquatic ecosystems, I consider it my duty to support the Shedd.
p.s. If you want to volunteer your time, I can get you an application form.
It's all in the details
The thing about the Shedd, or any aquarium for that matter, is paying attention to the details. When I am at the Shedd and watching the tourists, I notice that most people just stroll by. They don't take the time to notice that there is a pistol shrimp living in the whole dug out by the watchman goby. They don't notice that the harlequin shrimp are feasting on a starfish or that there are three nautilus hanging out in the far left corner of the tank. My favorite tank is the first tank you come to when you enter the Wild Reef. There is a very large clam (over a foot wide and nearly 2 feet long) in the center of the tank and very few people ever even notice it. They don't even notice the blenny that lives in the clam. They just walk by. The biodiversity in that tank, as with several others, is simply amazing. I often will go down to that tank and stand by it and point out different aspects of the tank and the life within the tank to the tourists. You should see the lights come on. One second earlier, they were ready to move on to the next tank and, a second later, they are standing there observing the life within the tank for over 5 minutes and seeing things that they were previously oblivious to. The problem for us spoiled aquariasts is that most people really don't care about the very fine details that we aquariasts care so much about. Large Aquariums like the Shedd have to cater to the masses. We can't afford to pay to have people camped out at every tank to point out what should be very interesting to a mostly oblivious public.
There are many things I would change at the Shedd, being a spoiled marine aquariast, but there are many things that are absolutely amazing. I am also a spoiled scuba diver and have been to Galapagos and many other places and believe that the Caribbean Reef is outstanding. I have been to the rain forests of the Amazon several times and know that the Amazon exhibits at the Shedd are also top notch. The penguins, the belugas, and the dolphins are great, but we are getting ready to do a face lift on the Oceanarium, so I know it will get better.
More importantly, to me, supporting the Shedd helps to educate and open the eyes of a public that is largely oblivious to coral bleaching, over fishing, pollution, destructive invasive species, poaching, encroachment, etc. Admissions money to the Shedd is money well spent. And considering myself more "enlightened" to the issues facing our wild reefs and aquatic ecosystems, I consider it my duty to support the Shedd.
p.s. If you want to volunteer your time, I can get you an application form.
pk1
Active member
Jim, do you know what happened to the Leafy Sea Dragons? That was also one of my favorite display's. I read somewhere that there is one person breeding those, I'll see if I can dig up the link. I love the Shedd, we go there once a year at least. I think the cost is fair, I can't imagine what it takes to keep that place up, considering how much I spend just to keep my itty bitty 180 running! The Wild Reef section is amazing also, looks very natural. It will be nice to watch it progress through the years. The first time I went, the large reef display was covered in Aptasia, next time I went I didn't see a single one. Good job!
PSam
Active member
Re: As of now, we don't really know
Re: As of now, we don't really know
That's such a bummer - so amazing.
Anyway, I love the Shedd. Their FW habitat displays are exceptionally well done. I got a little nervous when I saw how big their polypterus are - hopefully my lady doesn't grow that fast. Went home with great ideas for my planted tank. I was far from disappointed with any exhibit there - with exception of the komodo - poor guy in that room with a bunch of hyper little kids banging on the plexi.
Re: As of now, we don't really know
That's such a bummer - so amazing.
Anyway, I love the Shedd. Their FW habitat displays are exceptionally well done. I got a little nervous when I saw how big their polypterus are - hopefully my lady doesn't grow that fast. Went home with great ideas for my planted tank. I was far from disappointed with any exhibit there - with exception of the komodo - poor guy in that room with a bunch of hyper little kids banging on the plexi.
pk1
Active member
I'm sorry it was the Weedy Sea Dragons that were bred, not the leafy 
http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/CURRENT_EXHIBIT/TROPPAC/index.htm
http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/CURRENT_EXHIBIT/TROPPAC/index.htm
PSam
Active member
There is this from a Natl. Geo video:
"Based in Victoria, Australia, there is one man in the world who has independently been successful at rearing both species of sea dragon. His name is Pang Quong and he has been collecting both species of sea dragon for over 10 years. He captures a male with eggs from the wild and raises the young until they are 6 weeks of age when he will then distribute them to public aquariums all around the world."
"Based in Victoria, Australia, there is one man in the world who has independently been successful at rearing both species of sea dragon. His name is Pang Quong and he has been collecting both species of sea dragon for over 10 years. He captures a male with eggs from the wild and raises the young until they are 6 weeks of age when he will then distribute them to public aquariums all around the world."
jglackin
New member
But see, that is not captive breeding. That is catching wild specimens with fertilized eggs and then hatching and raising the eggs. The trick is getting the Leafy Sea Dragons to breed in captivity.
My understanding is that the Australian Government will not allow collecting of wild specimens anymore. And since all specimens are wild caught specimens...
PSam
Active member
Right, I realize it's not captive breeding. But considering an average of 5% of males' eggs make it to 2 years in the wild (*Natl Geo video), it is a great effort.
He has a permit from the govt. that allows him to take 1 pregnant male (leafy) per year, and up to 10 weedy sea dragons per year.
He has a permit from the govt. that allows him to take 1 pregnant male (leafy) per year, and up to 10 weedy sea dragons per year.
MrMexReefer
In Memoriam
i took this pic this summer (what kind is it?):
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/eclipsedoctor/Shedd012.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/eclipsedoctor/Shedd012.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>
PSam
Active member
I'm interested to know. Ask your curator what's up, if s/he knows when it happened?
Anyway, the video is indeed from 2005 (and a fine video at that!) - the permit info is from just over 1 year ago - so if revoked, must have been recently. I wonder why? Sustainability, I presume?
Here's his most recent permit that was written as valid 12/2006 - 12/2009 - but notice wording "Unless amended or revoked".
Commonwealth of Australia
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
Declaration of an Approved Wildlife Trade Operation
I, ANDREW MCNEE, Assistant Secretary, Marine Environment Branch, as Delegate of the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, have considered in accordance with section 303FN of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act) the application from PQ Aquatics, public comments on the proposal as required under section 303FR, and advice on the ecological sustainability of the operation. I am satisfied on those matters specified in section 303FN of the EPBC Act. I hereby declare the operations for the harvest of Phycodurus eques (leafy seadragon) from South Australian waters, and Phyllopteryx taeniolatus (weedy seadragon), Hippocampus breviceps (short headed seahorse) and Hippocampus abdominalis (pot bellied seahorse) from Victorian waters, by PQ Aquatics in accordance with relevant State permits, to be an approved wildlife trade operation in accordance with section 303FN (2) and (10)(d), for the purposes of the EPBC Act.
Unless amended or revoked, this declaration:
1. is valid from 31 December 2006 until 31 December 2009 and;
2. is subject to the conditions applied under section 303FT specified in the Schedule.
Dated this 14th day of December 2006
[Signed]
Andrew McNee
Delegate of the Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Anyway, the video is indeed from 2005 (and a fine video at that!) - the permit info is from just over 1 year ago - so if revoked, must have been recently. I wonder why? Sustainability, I presume?
Here's his most recent permit that was written as valid 12/2006 - 12/2009 - but notice wording "Unless amended or revoked".
Commonwealth of Australia
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
Declaration of an Approved Wildlife Trade Operation
I, ANDREW MCNEE, Assistant Secretary, Marine Environment Branch, as Delegate of the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, have considered in accordance with section 303FN of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act) the application from PQ Aquatics, public comments on the proposal as required under section 303FR, and advice on the ecological sustainability of the operation. I am satisfied on those matters specified in section 303FN of the EPBC Act. I hereby declare the operations for the harvest of Phycodurus eques (leafy seadragon) from South Australian waters, and Phyllopteryx taeniolatus (weedy seadragon), Hippocampus breviceps (short headed seahorse) and Hippocampus abdominalis (pot bellied seahorse) from Victorian waters, by PQ Aquatics in accordance with relevant State permits, to be an approved wildlife trade operation in accordance with section 303FN (2) and (10)(d), for the purposes of the EPBC Act.
Unless amended or revoked, this declaration:
1. is valid from 31 December 2006 until 31 December 2009 and;
2. is subject to the conditions applied under section 303FT specified in the Schedule.
Dated this 14th day of December 2006
[Signed]
Andrew McNee
Delegate of the Minister for the Environment and Heritage
