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Chattanooga Aquarium
Hi everyone,
Just got back from white water rafting eastern TN and visiting the Opryland Hotel in Nashville. But the highlight of my trip was the Chatanooga Aquarium. Entrance fee is $11 and the tour takes 2 hours. I counted eight different killies including a very well done tank for a rare Tennessee Fundulus. The aquarium is a small building, smaller than the Shedd aquarium. You ride an escalator up to the top floor where you become a raindrop. You get to see a magnificent real view out there window of a TN river. Then as a raindrop you enter into the first exhibit where you get to see a simulation of a small TN river, leaf clutter, native plants. This river/exhibit enters into the next room which is a bigger river and bigger fish, some salamanders, newts, turtles etc. This exhibit enters into a large room with large tanks. The room is like a greenhouse with real trees and many real birds. These exhibits continue with each exhibit being followed by someplace downstream. You go thru a Nickajack River/Lake exhibit, a Missisippi river exhibit. A delta exhibit. An ocean exhibit. Many people oohed and aahed over three foot paddlefish and seaturtles. But I was equally impressed with several exhibits of small fish. Several rainbow and killie tanks. The large fish in the big tanks showed signs of overcrowding and stress. But the little fish in the little tanks all looked healthy.
The highlight of the whold tour was a side room with a jellyfish exhibit. I have never been a jellyfish fan, but this room was breathtaking. The lighting was different, I assume it was a black light of some type. The jellyfish looked like luminous pulsating umbrellas. All under water, not at the surface. The smallest jellyfish, you had to use a magnifying glass to see. Did you know that the largest jellyfish grow larger than the blue whale!!!. I have been told that this jellyfish exhibit is provided by a Japanese company and that the exhibit travels from aquarium to aquarium. Someone said that it will be at the Shedd in Chicago soon. If so, you must go see it. I cannot emphasize the uniqueness and beauty of this exhibit.
On other matters,
Brian I must agree that I was appalled to see genetically engineered guntheri in the N&RSC listing. Some improvements need to be made in this committee in my opinion. We all miss Lenny. The AKA may need to part with some cash to support this committee more. One of the main reasons people stay in the AKA is for the F&E and The N&RSC. IF F&E goes online, then the N&RSC has to be extra good to keep members.
Got my JAKA and BNL and a shipment of fish all today. I am really confused by the nomenclature changes suggested in the JAKA. Is this a recommended change or is it official. I can't wait to get the new KMI. I was looking through the F&E and saw several fish listed listed under different genera that were probably the same species. A. deltense/ Fp deltense, C constanciae and S constanciae. T. dolichopterus, C. dolichopterus. Perhaps after Dr. Dan composes the F&E someone could look over the listing (on the 15th of the month) and notify the lister of the correct names before that person actually distributes the fish the following month. If you take a look at the current F&E I am sure that you will find at least 20 errors. These errors will be compounded if we do not nip them in the bud.
If you are in the ST Louis area this weekend be advised that SLAKA will host there annual picnic. This is a real good club and some real nice people. Best Wishes Bob