A solitary sunfish at an aquarium in southwestern Japan lost its appetite, began banging into the side of the fishtank 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.
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12 Comments
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Toshihiro
wow, I never knew that Sunfish enjoyed interaction. I wonder how would they fair in the wild? It's a vast ocean out there and interactions are probably rare and potentially deadly for a sunfish. Again, an interesting article, thanks JT.
WoodyLee
Yes and kudos to staff and the vet who overseen this event, yesterday I read about this unbelievable story on MSN news and though to my self this is as good as it gets, Love makes the world go around they say.
zulander
the crazy sounding idea that worked
Fascinating that interaction would affect them so
GuruMick
Big fish dont belong in aquariums
WA4TKG
That’s incredible
Speed
This is great news but it could also be coincidental timing. But I do believe many animals feel loneliness and we humans just don't usually notice.
I put cutouts of my friends and famous people in my room and I feel a whole lot better.
stormcrow
Years ago I visited the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. I was by myself and it was a weekday morning so there was almost nobody there. I went into one darkened room and there was a bland looking tank with a bored looking porpoise in it. It looked like it was daydreaming so it didn’t notice me. I looked around me to be sure no one was watching me and tapped on the glass. It immediately looked over at me and swam over to me. It seemed quite thrilled to see me. With just a few centimeters of glass between us, I stood there for a few minutes with this friendly creature before saying goodbye to it.
Seigi
Bless you dear sunfish. Loneliness is a terrible thing.
GuruMick
Stormcrow....come on...there has got to be more to your story.
Did you correspond, or become pen pals with the dolphin ?
tora
Just goes to show that it pays to put forward even the most preposterous ideas in meetings and that they can sometimes serve a useful purpose after all.
stormcrow
GuruMick
I wish there was more to the story that, but I was just killing time there for a short time. Needless to say, it was a rather mystical encounter (for me anyway) because there I was in the middle of Chicago sharing a moment with this unique and intelligent sea creature which (dare I say it) had so much personality. It was completely unplanned and unexpected yet such a memorable experience.
GuruMick
Stormy...on topic but a little off topic....a woman dolphin researcher ....reseacher female I mean.... in the Carribean observed dolphins in the way scientists do....but there was one male dolphin she "worked with " who enjoyed a little "relief " before serious science and observations could begin.
True story.