A sunfish at a Japanese aquarium lost its appetite and seemed unwell after the facility closed for renovations. Staff took a creative approach to help the fish, hanging their uniforms and placing human cutouts outside the tank. The sunfish responded positively to the heartwarming gesture, starting to eat again and recovering well.
A solitary sunfish at an aquarium in southwestern Japan lost its appetite, began banging into the side of the fish tank, and appeared unwell days after the facility closed last month for renovations. As a last-ditch measure to save the popular fish, its keepers hung their uniforms and set up human cutouts outside the tank.
The next morning, the sunfish ate for the first time in about a week and has been steadily recovering, said Moe Miyazawa, an aquarist at the Kaikyokan aquarium in Shimonoseki. The large sunfish arrived at the aquarium in February 2024 from the southern coast of Kochi in the Pacific Ocean. The sunfish, a member of the blowfish family known for its unique shape and big eyes, became one of the most popular attractions at the facility. When the sunfish began looking unwell days after the aquarium closed on Dec. 1 for a six-month renovation, its keepers suspected digestive problems, gave it less food, and visited the fish tank to comfort the sunfish when there was construction noise, but to no avail. Then at a staff meeting, one person suggested that the sunfish might have been affected by the sudden absence of an audience. 'We were skeptical but decided to do anything we could,' Miyazawa said. They hung their uniforms and placed human-shaped cutouts with photos of smiling faces outside the tank to cheer on the fish, Miyazawa said. 'I knew (the sunfish) was looking at us when we were placing them, but I never thought it would start eating the next day,' Miyazawa said, beaming. The staff now visit more often and wave at the sunfish. The aquarium keepers say they hope many fans will return to see the sunfish when the aquarium reopens in the summer
SUNFISH AQUARIUM JAPAN ANIMALS WELLBEING
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Aquarium Staff Cheer Up Sunfish With Uniforms, CutoutsA sunfish at a Japanese aquarium recovered after its keepers hung their uniforms and placed human cutouts outside its tank to cheer it up.
Read more »
Aquarium Uses Cardboard Cutouts to Cheer Up Lonely SunfishA sunfish at Kaikyokan Aquarium in Japan stopped eating after the aquarium closed for renovations. Staffers created cardboard cutouts of visitors to try and alleviate the sunfish's loneliness and it worked! The sunfish is now eating again and swimming more actively.
Read more »
Japan Aquarium Sunfish Recovers After Staff Hang Uniforms as CheerleadersA sunfish at a Japanese aquarium fell ill after the facility closed for renovations, but its health improved dramatically when staff hung uniforms and placed human cutouts outside its tank.
Read more »
Lonely Sunfish Perks Up After Aquarium Staff Attach UniformsA sunfish at the Kaikyokan Aquarium in Shimonoseki, Japan, was seemingly cheered by staff attaching their uniforms to the tank, after becoming unwell during the aquarium's renovation closure.
Read more »
Sunfish that began ailing after aquarium's closure recovers after human cutouts set up outside tankA solitary sunfish at an aquarium in Japan lost its appetite, began banging into the side of the fishtank and appeared unwell days after the facility closed last month for renovations.
Read more »
Sunfish that got sick after aquarium closed has recovered — thanks to human cutoutsA solitary sunfish at an aquarium in Japan lost its appetite, began banging into the side of the fish tank and appeared unwell days after the facility closed last month for renovations. As a last-ditch measure to save the popular fish, its keepers hung their uniforms and set up human cutouts outside the tank.
Read more »