I hope they find the cause quickly and it doesn't affect any of the other residents of the tank. Whale sharks are awesome. Last August I was lucky while diving in Hawaii to see one. It was about 25' and hung around for awhile so we all got a good look before it took off.
Whale Shark at GA Aquarium Dies...
- Thread starter erparamedic
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tthirteen
Registered
I am certainly not one to advocate keeping animals in captivity, BUT: "Ralph, one of four whale sharks in the only such exhibit outside Asia, arrived at the Georgia Aquarium in June 2005 from Taiwan, where he had been destined to become seafood." (from the OP's article). Also, I believe (correct me if I am wrong) that they found Gasper, the euthanized beluga, in an amusement park exhibit somewhere in Mexico. At least they both were cared for for the remainder of their lives.
As a side note, I have been to the GA aquarium, and the main tank is FRIGGIN HUGE
As a side note, I have been to the GA aquarium, and the main tank is FRIGGIN HUGE
mikerault
Contributor
Remember the Japanese have kept them for a decade and their experts helped with the Atlanta setup.
Mike
Mike
Yeah, but didn't they keep them in big outdoor pens or something? I didn't know they'd tried a closed tank with the things...
But I've been out of the loop before.
But I've been out of the loop before.
archman:
You may be thinking of this:
http://www.infiltec.com/oki-0902/
archman:
There are aquariums in Japan that keep whale sharks in captivity in tanks (before the Georgia Aquarium):
Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
http://www.kaiyukan.com/eng/
http://www.kaiyukan.com/eng/life/index.htm
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium (where manta rays are kept with the whale shark in a 10 x 35 x 27m tank).
http://www.kaiyouhaku.com/en/
Yes. I saw a documentary on the Okinawa Churaumi aquarium....it's huge. It's got the biggest single pane viewing window in the world. They have three whale sharks...already for a few years now. They're really hoping that they're happy enough that they'll breed. That's never been done yet in captivity. The mantas and stuff in the same aquarium are already breeding OK.
I was never impressed by GA Aquarium. Chattanooga was better IMO. Sure GA is Huge but you have Very little "window time" unlike TN that has a 5 story one that you see the whole time walking down a square spiral ramp.
One of the Belugas had a weird story, He was rescued from the Pond under a Roller Coaster in Mexico where he was being kept. Can't remember if it was Gasper or not.
One of the Belugas had a weird story, He was rescued from the Pond under a Roller Coaster in Mexico where he was being kept. Can't remember if it was Gasper or not.
Football field sized tanks create very small circles compared to their natural habitat. While whale sharks may not be quite as charismatic as marine mammals to some, I think this is sad... but not unexpected IMHO.
sooooooo.. what are they going to do with the carcass after the nacropsy? It's to big to flush... right?
Also.. I wonder how the body was found.. like.... was it floating around upside down like other fish?
Also.. I wonder how the body was found.. like.... was it floating around upside down like other fish?
The body will be cremated and the ashes buried in an animal cemetary.
The whale shark stopped swimming and was resting on the bottom, at which point they knew something was quite seriously wrong.
As for Gaspar, yes, he was one of the two that came from under the roller coaster in Mexico. He suffered from skin conditions, osteomyelitis, and other problems, and in the end, they were unable to improve his condition.
The whale shark stopped swimming and was resting on the bottom, at which point they knew something was quite seriously wrong.
As for Gaspar, yes, he was one of the two that came from under the roller coaster in Mexico. He suffered from skin conditions, osteomyelitis, and other problems, and in the end, they were unable to improve his condition.
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