Uploaded December 2022 | Updated September 2026, 11 minutes ago
Two teams worked together to accomplish a large-scale fish move! This carefully choreographed effort involved both Animal Care and Marine Ops teams to relocate fully grown fish from the shallow side of the coral reef habitat to the deep side. By doing so, we are providing space for newer juvenile additions that have cleared quarantine while giving the larger fish species room to thrive.
The coral reef habitat at The Florida Aquarium consists of two distinct spaces with varying depths. The ‘deep side,’ which can be seen on the left hand of our coral reef tunnel and at the coral reef panoramic window, is home to our larger fish species, elasmobranchs, etc. The ‘shallows,’ seen at the entrance of the coral reef gallery and the right hand of our coral reef tunnel, is home to our smaller fish species. The shallows provides a habitat where juvenile fish can grow. The relocation is a carefully choreographed process that allows our team of animal care professionals to relocate fully grown fish from the shallow side to the deep. By doing so, we are also able to provide space for newer additions like those fish clearing quarantine protocol. It is a large undertaking that requires multiple divers working in unison to help ensure the long-term wellbeing of the animals in our care. After several hours, the teams were able to move hundreds of fish!
“We have experienced biologists that were able to teach our newer biologists how to school and safely secure fish.” – Anna Garcia, Senior Biologist
Two teams worked together to accomplish a large-scale fish move! This carefully choreographed effort involved both Animal Care and Marine Ops teams to relocate fully grown fish from the shallow side of the coral reef habitat to the deep side. By doing so, we are providing space for newer juvenile additions that have cleared quarantine while giving the larger fish species room to thrive.
The coral reef habitat at The Florida Aquarium consists of two distinct spaces with varying depths. The ‘deep side,’ which can be seen on the left hand of our coral reef tunnel and at the coral reef panoramic window, is home to our larger fish species, elasmobranchs, etc. The ‘shallows,’ seen at the entrance of the coral reef gallery and the right hand of our coral reef tunnel, is home to our smaller fish species. The shallows provides a habitat where juvenile fish can grow. The relocation is a carefully choreographed process that allows our team of animal care professionals to relocate fully grown fish from the shallow side to the deep. By doing so, we are also able to provide space for newer additions like those fish clearing quarantine protocol. It is a large undertaking that requires multiple divers working in unison to help ensure the long-term wellbeing of the animals in our care. After several hours, the teams were able to move hundreds of fish!
“We have experienced biologists that were able to teach our newer biologists how to school and safely secure fish.” – Anna Garcia, Senior Biologist
