 July 2010 - When we got the 3.500+ fish/inverts order from the Istanbul Aquarium in April we knew it was going to be a challenge and that we'd have to involve everyone we know...
|  July 2010 - ...And that included, of course, our usual "partners in crime" from Coris and honorary member Nuno Vasco Rodrigues.
|
 July 2010 - With such an awesome team, it wasn't long until we had filled up the Estação de Biologia Marinha do Funchal with fish and invertebrates collected locally.
|  July 2010 - Keeping water quality up to standard wasn't easy with such a heavy load of fish - and only a small external filter - but we did plenty of water changes and did our best to keep all critters happy.
|
 July 2010 - Of course, good husbandry techniques, and lots of diving, can't be done on an empty stomach, so keeping the team decently fed (and their mouths properly watered) was extremely important.
|  July 2010 - Collecting, while diving, two times per day wasn't easy for one week straight, but the team learned quickly how to relax in between work.
|
 September 2010 - When all the collections were done, it was up to the Marine Biology Station to take care of all animals, and they did a superb job at it until early September, when the time came to move them all to Flying Sharks' facility at the Escola Superior de Turismo e Tecnologia do Mar in Peniche.
|  September 2010 - Preparing the tanks for transport always takes a lot of time, and attention to detail, because one drop of saltwater inside the aircraft could mean disaster...
|
 September 2010 - Once the tanks were ready, it was time to pack all the animals inside them and take them to the airport.
|  September 2010 - To make things smoother for all animals we packed all decoration, and hiding spots, in the transport tanks as well. Quite honeslty, we don't think they even noticed they were being moved across 1.500 Km of ocean.
|
 September 2010 - Once we got to the School, in Peniche, the doors were too narrow for the tanks so all critters had to be caught individually and moved to their new home in plastic buckets.
|  September 2010 - At first we thought the procedure was going to be too painful - mostly because the folks who travelled with the fish had been up since the day before, in Funchal. However, a few jokes, and the usual high standard professional behaviour, took care of the big job in little over one hour.
|
 September 2010 - And what a treat it was, after it was all done, to check out all 350+ fish, urchins, lobsters, crabs and sea-stars living happily in their new home.
|  September 2010 - So, as per usual, the operation was wrapped up with a phenomenal lunch in Peniche, this time involving one seriously huge Scorpaena notata.
|
July 2010 - When we got the 3.500+ fish/inverts order from the Istanbul Aquarium in April we knew it was going to be a challenge and that we'd have to involve everyone we know...
July 2010 - ...And that included, of course, our usual "partners in crime" from Coris and honorary member Nuno Vasco Rodrigues.
July 2010 - With such an awesome team, it wasn't long until we had filled up the Estação de Biologia Marinha do Funchal with fish and invertebrates collected locally.
July 2010 - Keeping water quality up to standard wasn't easy with such a heavy load of fish - and only a small external filter - but we did plenty of water changes and did our best to keep all critters happy.
July 2010 - Of course, good husbandry techniques, and lots of diving, can't be done on an empty stomach, so keeping the team decently fed (and their mouths properly watered) was extremely important.
July 2010 - Collecting, while diving, two times per day wasn't easy for one week straight, but the team learned quickly how to relax in between work.
September 2010 - When all the collections were done, it was up to the Marine Biology Station to take care of all animals, and they did a superb job at it until early September, when the time came to move them all to Flying Sharks' facility at the Escola Superior de Turismo e Tecnologia do Mar in Peniche.
September 2010 - Preparing the tanks for transport always takes a lot of time, and attention to detail, because one drop of saltwater inside the aircraft could mean disaster...
September 2010 - Once the tanks were ready, it was time to pack all the animals inside them and take them to the airport.
September 2010 - To make things smoother for all animals we packed all decoration, and hiding spots, in the transport tanks as well. Quite honeslty, we don't think they even noticed they were being moved across 1.500 Km of ocean.
September 2010 - Once we got to the School, in Peniche, the doors were too narrow for the tanks so all critters had to be caught individually and moved to their new home in plastic buckets.
September 2010 - At first we thought the procedure was going to be too painful - mostly because the folks who travelled with the fish had been up since the day before, in Funchal. However, a few jokes, and the usual high standard professional behaviour, took care of the big job in little over one hour.
September 2010 - And what a treat it was, after it was all done, to check out all 350+ fish, urchins, lobsters, crabs and sea-stars living happily in their new home.
September 2010 - So, as per usual, the operation was wrapped up with a phenomenal lunch in Peniche, this time involving one seriously huge Scorpaena notata.