Photos by: Jordann Tomasek, Birch Aquarium
While Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego is undergoing construction on Living Seas, which is slated to open this summer, many of the aquarium’s iconic animals have been moved behind the scenes. But how do aquarists care for so many animals when they aren’t in their normal habitats? The aquarium’s over 4000 residents of the former Hall of Fishes continue to receive the highest quality care during this time through individual care plans and the dedicated work of our Husbandry Team. Here are some of the ways we care for such a wide variety of species during this transitional period.
Sea Turtle Spa
Our Loggerhead Sea Turtle receives specialized care year-round, and while she’s behind the scenes, it’s no different! Birch Aquarium’s aquarists give the sea turtle choice in her daily routine by providing options including a self-scrubbing station. Like all sea turtles, Loggerhead Sea Turtle shells are covered in scutes, the plate-like sections that give the shells their shape. These scutes are made of keratin, just like hair and fingernails, and our Loggerhead enjoys rubbing her back on her scrubbing station! Our turtle continues to thrive behind the scenes.
Variety for Unicornfish
The Bignose Unicornfish, along with our other tropical fishes, are currently in specially-designed habitats behind the scenes where they too receive top-level care. The Bignose Unicornfish eat algae so the Husbandry Team harvests seaweed that grows naturally in our habitats to feed to these fish. Our aquarists either hand feed the individual Bignose Unicornfish or attach a bundle of seaweed to a rock in their habitat that they can come and eat from throughout the day. This way the fish get a natural feeding style while also receiving enrichment. Variety in their diet is key so that they get proper nutrition and all the benefits from different foods — in addition to the various seaweeds, Bignose Unicornfish also get krill, squid and other small foods that help round out their dietary needs.
Octopus Enrichment
Our Giant Pacific Octopus is the “brainiest” animal in the aquarium and caring for it while behind the scenes requires creativity! At Birch Aquarium, we engage our resident octopus in enrichment sessions — with a variety of toys and treats tucked into puzzles — to ensure she’s getting plenty of physical and mental stimulation. During this time our aquarists also bond with our octopus, complete an overall wellness check and ensure that she is eating all her food.
Feeding Corals
Our tropical corals and Giant Clams are currently in a special holding area called the Coral Classroom. This area is open to guests and provides a close-up look at how corals grow and how we care for them, along with some of the fish that make up vital parts of their communities! Our corals are fed about once a week and the method depends on the type of coral! Some corals are fed tiny plankton by dispersing with a turkey baster into the water while others, like our Tongue Coral, are fed Mysis Shrimp. And some like our Plate Coral are fed individually by their food (small krill or shrimp) being placed near their mouths, which the corals move with their cilia into their mouths!
Living Seas is coming soon!
All of these animals will soon begin moving into Living Seas in preparation for its opening this summer. Living Seas, which is the biggest capital improvement in the history of Birch Aquarium, will feature expanded, sweeping views into habitats along with next-generation digital signage and projections that will immerse you into the world of our dynamic coast. The new exhibition aims to inspire you to become lifelong stewards of our ocean planet, through a love of nature, a sense of place and ocean optimism.
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