One Fish Tank … just add water

Another group of interesting fish. Very beautiful and colorful. One species is locally called the Humuhumunukunukuapuaa . More on this fish later. Enjoy the video taken at the Manila Ocean Park

The Wrasse fish tank at the Manila Ocean Park

My friends at the Manila Ocean Park have this new event for Summer. It promises to give new meaning to the term Sleeping with the Fishes.

What: A Night In Manila Ocean Park - Sleeping with the Fish
Where: Manila Ocean Park, Behind the Quirino Grandstand, Luneta, Manila
When: April 25, 2008

Background Information:
When day journey visitors have gone home from their visit to Manila Ocean Park, we invite you to join us in a night filled with new discoveries. Gear up, meet your team leaders and get ready to explore the Oceanarium and learn more about conservation through special activities, presentations and speakers.

ITINERARY

6:30 – 7:15 PM
Registration

Dinner at the Function Hall
7:30PM

Welcome and introduction to the Sleeping With The Fish event
Break into groups

7:45 – 9:00PM
Oceanarium Journey and behind the scenes.

9:15 – 11:00PM
Film Showing

11:15PM
Get ready to sleep with the fishes!!
Take items to sleeping area

11:45PM
Lights out

6:00AM
Wake up and see what the animals do before the guests arrive
Pack up

6:30 – 7:00AM
Breakfast

7:30AM
End of program

This event is open to families and organized groups such as scouts, church, school, corporations, etc.

Registration cost:
Adult - PhP1,000
Children (8 to 12 years old) - PhP 750.00 (Chaperone is required.)
Yayas* - PhP 600.00

Inclusion: Oceanarium admission, dinner, evening snack, breakfast snack, activities with instructor and behind the scenes areas. *For Yaya’s – Oceanarium admission, dinner, breakfast snack, activities with instructor and behind the scenes areas.

The Sleeping With the Fish event is available only on the following dates: April 25, May 2, 9, 16 & 23, 2008 at 6:30PM to 7:30AM the following day. Registration is required in order to have a wonderful experience with the fish!

For details, contact Manila Ocean Park at telephone number 567-7777 loc. 152 or email marketing@manilaoceanpark.com

Trifecta is horse-racing term that means a better in order to win must predict and bet the horses that will finish first, second and third. It is also a term in politics when a government executive apppoints another elected official (lets name him A) to one position and said executive is allowed to also appoint another elected official (lets name him B) to the position vacated by the elected official A. Luckily, the first two definitions are not what I am referring to. Rather, Trifecta is a slang that refers to successful or favorable events, phenomena, characteristics.

Hence this April for bloggers there is a Trifecta of Events in store so far:

The Philippine Blog Awards 08:

Nomination period commences starts today. Thirty Six award categories are open for nomination.
Check it out here or visit the PBA08 blog.

Note: Several more awards. Its free

And next week …

IBLOG 4

What: IBLOG 4
When: April 26, 2008
Where: Malcolm Theater,College of Law, in UP Diliman, Quezon City. Right in front of the UP Sunken Garden. Its hard not to miss once you are in UP.
Register for iBlog4 here.

Note: The theme this year is a little bit different from the past Iblogs. Its free

And

88DB.com Bloggers’ Night

What: 88DB.com Bloggers’ Night
When: April 26, 2008 @ 7pm
Who: bloggers of any size, age, status or whatever
How: Just leave a comment below or register through any of thecoordinators blogs
Why: Booze, Music, Prizes and 88DB.com
Where: Katips Bar in Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City

Note: From Aileen aka Ms Antipolo -

Come as your blog means you have to dress up like your blog. With all my blogs I wonder how I’m going to dress up… I’ll probably come as an apple! Remember, the blogger who represents his/her blog the best wins the Sony PSP.

Its free

One of the interesting denizens of the Manila Ocean Park is Macrocheira Kaempferi or the Japanese spider crab, Macrocheira kaempferi. This is supposed to be the largest living arthropod.

Some facts about the Japanese Spider Crab …

Maximum Leg span - 4 m (13 ft)

Maximum Body size - up to 37 cm (15 inches)

Weight - up to 20 kg (44 lb).

Natural habitat - Bottom of the Pacific Ocean,around Japan

Food - Shellfish.

Life expectancy - Around 100 years

Here is how it looks when one steps back …

I was finally able to visit the Manila Ocean Park (MOP). We (Jayvee and I) had a meeting there for some volunteer work for the MOP. And I am doing this because as an aquarist and aquarium hobbyist. I believe in the project. You probably read a lot about it from the other blogs. A mix of positive and negative feedback from bloggers. And this fits in well because the MOP’s opening is a soft opening -ie there are more things to come.

Why do I like the MOP?

One, It is the first world class oceanarium and public aquarium in the Philippines.

Two, It can be quite an effective educational tool if used properly. Aside from the aquariums. The MOP has several interactive educational tools available.

a) A set of interactive screens that give interesting facts and trivia.

b) An interactive touch screen that simulates the effects of human activity in nature.

Three, It showcases the Philippines natural resources. See the different deep sea and coral reef fishes that inhabit our seas. And it is also a living repository of the different species of fish and other aquatic organism from around the world/

Four, It is one place that practices responsible aquarium keeping. You can see it by the health of their denizens … ie fishes. When I was there was no visible sign of diseases on the fish and no physical signs that they were stressed.

Five, You can stay inside the MOP display area for a minimum of thirty minutes to several hours. In other words you can take your time. I would suggest going there on a weekday or after office so that there would be less people but you can enjoy the fish.

Six, The MOP is a dynamic exhbit unlike any museum their displays move and they thrive. The people of the MOP said it was a soft opening and it is but more importantly it is a dynamic exhibit. Something worth going back to from time to time.

Seven, And just imagine this is a place where you can see the denizens of the Sea, the Lake, the River and even the pond up close. There are several thousands species of fishes and more water invertebrates. The MOP is probably one of the places in the Philippines where you can see them without the aid of diving gear.

Eight, Watching a balanced and well-kept aquarium is therapeutic. It relieves stress. And in certain cases actually heal. Take for example the Fish Spa at the MOP. They fishes that nible on dead skin. Literally cleaning your feet. I am not sure the species they have but it is the Cyprinion macrostomus or the Garra rufa both are known as Dr. Fish, nibble fish, and kangal fish.

A video of the Fish Spa at the MOP.

If you were going to set-up an aquarium for a child what would it be? What are things that one should consider?

First, one should be aware that you will be the one responsible for the aquarium and not to child. Of course as the child grows up this changes and the responsibility becomes shared and eventually move towards the child when he or she is capable of managing and the aquarium by themselves.

Second, I think it is prudent to have the aquarium made of plastic, acrylic, fiberglass or safety glass. This avoids potential injury if ever the aquarium breaks or falls.

It might be prudent at this time to teach the child not to tap the aquarium. Not only does it pose a potential damage from the glass aquarium. And even if it is not glass tapping the aquarium stresses the fish and if it becomes a habit that may be repeated when the child sees another aquarium.

Third, Keep all equipment out of the reach of the child. A lot of aquarium kept are powered by electricity or have sharp edges and moving parts. The glass aquarium itself is the cause of a lot of cuts and wounds for the aquarist or aquarium keeper. If you love your child keep the equipment away and out of reach.

Fourth, Seal the top with a hood. To avoid unwanted things from entering thr aquarium. You will be surprised to see the different things that finds its way in a aquarium. These may range from plastic toys, powder or even soap.

Fifth, Hide the fish food, A lot of tank or aquarium systems collapse when overfed. And fish food acceptable to child is a recipe for disaster. Personally feed the fish or closely supervise your child when she or he feeds the fish.

Sixth, Choose the correct fish for your aquarium. Guppies, platy’s. mollies and other live beares are a good choice since there are a number of them that are colorful; so are Bettas; Tetras and Rasboras are also nice; Dwarf Cichlids and even one goldfish is acceptable as long as:

- The aquarium is properly stocked based on the maximum length of the fish, when it becomes an adult.

- The aquarium is maintained by you the adult.

Seventh, Place the aquarium in a stable and level place. This avoid potential damages and also prevents any accidents. Secure your aquarium.

What more things can you suggest for a children’s aquarium?

A month ago I bought this really old big glass candy jar - the ones you find in those antique stores or thrift shops. And this is a big one and heavy as well. One can probably a fill with candy from two to three grocery bags. A big jar and just enough to set a small and lightly stocked aquarium.

This is the type of aquarium I had when I was a kid. This was when you could get guppies from open canals. Put water and add the fish. A days later they would die.

No filter
No food
No plants

It is not surprising that the fishes died. Such a set-up the simple aquarium is not impossible to impossible. One just has to (i) stock it lightly: (ii) keep tight and frequent water changes; and (iii) maintain balance. In China, they kep a bg goldfish in a fishbowl. The owner had to replace more than fifty percent of the water. And it works.