[Photos] UK 40 - ZSL Aquarium

[moonvoice]

The Zoological Society of London, or ZSL, was one of our final locations. And pretty much for one major reason, I happen to know the head zoologist of Penguin Beach (after having done commissions for her over the years - some of my most distinctive reptile pieces were thanks to her wonderful passion for herps), and she invited me to come and meet the Humboldt Penguins in person. (They will get their own post don't worry :) ).

I ended up bringing Glen and Tif with me (after checking it was okay), and Z was kind enough to get us into the zoo for free. It was an interesting experience, I kept mentally comparing it to Perth Zoo, which is around the same size. I think ZSL has done a great job in moving a lot of its larger animals to ZSL Whipsnade, which is a more safari-style location with far more space and privacy for the large animals. ZSL therefore placed far more emphasis on its aquarium, penguin beach, its history (the original sculpture that inspired Winnie the Pooh is here), insects and arthropods, and birds. There were a few large animal exhibits around, but really not many, comparatively speaking.


Giant Gourami




I apologise, I don't have all the names for all of the specimens.





Unga Cichlid.



Unga Cichlid.



Rainbowfish.



Rainbowfish.



Rainbowfish.



Red Bellied Piranha - These were SO large and SO pretty. Their flanks were like mirrorballs.





Clownfish.







Banggai Cardinalfish



Coral shapes



The Giant Gourami, in the same family as Bettas, but HUGE. I was captivated by these fellows and spent far too long with them.

Comments

[silverjackal]

I have no time this morning and must rush out the door, but I couldn't *not* click on your post when I saw it sitting on top of my f-list page. I worked in the pet trade for a time, and I can name your mystery fish off with no trouble as they're popular: Yellow Tang and Regal Angelfish. Red Bellied Piranhas are the nicest of the Piranha (excluding the Pacu) species in the trade -- gentle, social fish, not at all prone to beating each other up. Diamond Scaled Piranhas aren't as calm, and Black Pirahnas are the only ones that are a bit dangerous to the aquarist once they're large and get territorial. (I had more than one idiot "dare" me to put my hand in the Piranha tank. If I had time to oblige them I would -- the fish would promptly move smartly to the other side, watching me warily. :D)

[moonvoice]

Thank you! Also I had no idea that you worked in the pet trade! I feel like I should've known that, heh.

The Red Bellied Piranhas were very beautiful, and tbh seemed very calm (although I know that what you see in an aquarium is not necessarily reflective of reality). I loved how they glittered!

[silverjackal]

I feel like I should've known that

I've doubtless alluded to it in passing, but likely only vaguely. I worked for an exotic pet store for a couple of years on and off interspersed with contract work. I also worked at a veterinary clinic in Uni, and a genetic facility (horses and cattle mostly, though there were some other ungulates). And a zoo, and a research facility devoted to cervids. I even worked as a grain inspector for a time -- again patching holes between contracts before I settled into my career permanently. There were a rough few years after being done with school where work in my field was hard to come by/only seasonal in nature.

Red Bellied Piranhas are omnivores and are calm, easy going fish in my experience (though obviously mixing them with smaller/slower fish is *not* a good idea). I've observed and fed them in the wild and they didn't appear to be any more aggressive than their domestic counterparts. They also utter vocalisations that serve for intraspecies communication though there's no evidence of collective hunting. In general they're a cool fish. There's a variety that I think is exclusively domestic that's even shinier, a "diamond scale' variant of the Black Piranha S. rhombeus:

https://www.aquascapeonline.com/products/black-diamond-piranha-6-7-serrasalmus-rombeus.html

but they're much wilder and shier when young, and much more aggressive when mature (as one would expect from a Black Piranha). Ordinary Red Bellies are much nicer fish IMO even if they aren't as showy.

[moonvoice]

Goodness that black diamond piranha is stunning. So interesting about the difference in their temperaments too! (The piranhas were in an aquarium with quite a few other species, which I thought was cool).

[silverjackal]

Red Bellied Piranhas can be kept with suitable tank mates successfully. Anything in the Black Piranha complex is best kept by itself in adulthood, not even with conspecifics. I've heard of some people successfully keeping them with larger known fish that are ecozone-appropriate (so that basically the piranha grows up unable to eat them and will leave them alone through being accustomed to them) but that's... questionable.

[cmcmck]

So many colours! :o)

[moonvoice]

Yes! I can't wait to start putting some of the birds up. :D

[elinox]

The first fish is a yellow tang. The second is, I think, a regal angelfish. ;)

[moonvoice]

Is the wink because the person above stated the answers too? :D But thank you!

[elinox]

Didn't see that, sorry. The wink was because I've a diver, so I love fishies. (*points at icon*)

[moonvoice]

Oh that's awesome that you go diving!