Brilliant Butterfish

What a contrast we are noticing between our Butterfish residents of this year and those of last year! We currently have 3 individuals all as bold as each other. During the touch tank demonstrations, they are sure to be nearby; watch out, you may feel them as they peck your hand looking for their next meal! I've also included a couple of photos of two of our other creatures.

One of our 3 Butterfish. There are 2 smaller ones and one big one.

Whoever said Prawns aren't pretty?

 

 

 

Boss of the big tank!

Lorna

Busy Centre!

I am pleased to report that the visitor centre has been bustling with people the past 2 weeks. There has been many a touch tank demonstration and make your own lobsters, as well as lots of sightings being added to our map. It's always a delight to see the support of not just holiday makers, but locals too. If you are planning a visit soon, please bring along your milk bottle lids -  so many caterpillars have been made we have ran out!

One of the busiest days ever, last week.

Our first ever green lobster, complete with purple tail!

This year we have 3 Butterfish living in the touch tank, one of which has taken up residence in this old dog whelk shell.

Lorna

A hat-trick of photos for my third last day at the Centre 2012

On a rainy day, what better thing is there to do but to spend an afternoon doing quizzes, feeding hungry crabs, lobsters and starfish? I was joined by my grandparents today who had been looking forward to seeing the INHT visitor centre during their short Islay stay. As you can see below, much enjoyment was had completing the Weights quiz, amongst others, as well as the basking shark rope.

I also remembered I haven't (I don't think) posted a picture of our Black brittle star, and resorted to using flash to photograph one of our butterfish. They were happy though, having just golloped up their food.

Measuring out the sand in the first part of the Weights quiz

Our Black brittle star in the Echinoderm tank. The shorter arm has grown during the time it has been in our care.

The paler of the butterfish in the touch tank. They have become rather tame, peeping their heads out from hiding and gazing up at me, waiting for breakfast!



Lorna

The starfish display is complete!

It's taken me a long time, but the starfish tank finally has a complete display, which includes true or false, echinoderm classes, and of course 'A day in the life of...' A tube worm has also found its way on to the big tank's side. I have tried photographing the butterfish in the touch tank, especially when cleaning the filters (where they like to hide), but the results have been too blurry! Lorna

Touchtank visitors

The touch tank was also very popular today, with the star fish being a big hit. We found the eyes on the common starfish, and marvelled at the legs of the sun star, which someone described as a jewel. Some very brave people held the shrimps! Sadly, we decided to release the Butterfish (my favourite), although appearing to be well, it looked a bit pale.  Lorna

The 'jewel' sun star

The tide is out for the common star fish

Bye bye butterfish