Disney's Cichlids

[number17Fan]

Just got back from a trip to Disney World in Orlando. I was blown away by the African Cichlid collection in the Animal Kingdom park. They labeled the fish as Lake Victoria Cichlids, but there were clearly tons of Lake Malawi species in the mix.

I didn't know whether to be amazed or outraged by the exhibit. There were 100's maybe 1000's of fish crowed into this exhibit. While it was incredible to see so many adult specimens in one place, the habitat didn't seem very natural and they were clearly over crowded.

Its worth checking out if you are down in Disney anyway.

Not a great pic, it was hard to get a good shot with the crowd around the tank.

 

[ewurm]

That is a huge overcrowding! Great fish but why do they need that many?

 

[benzjamin13]

That is a huge overcrowding! Great fish but why do they need that many?

Because the average person likes to see an overcrowded tank. It looks cool.

 

[skinless]

cool.
did you visit epcot?

i'm curious if they still have an aquarium there. been maybe 15 years.
don't recall ever seeing an african tank at wdw.

 

[SinisterKisses]

That is a huge overcrowding! Great fish but why do they need that many?

I highly doubt they put that many fish in there to begin with. Its probably years and years of breeding within the tank that builds the popluation up...its not like they're going to make the effort to thin the group now and then. Half of them are probably also hybrids.

 

[Ash]

intresting I ve been there a few times and I never ever noticed that tank... O__o

 

[fishcatch22]

ouch.... doesn't look like they have too much elbow room... maybe they should consider selling some of them as souvenirs.

 

[number17Fan]

There is another salt water reef tank at Epcot in the Nemo under the sea ride. Its a pretty huge wrap around tank with a pair of dolphins in one caged off section and a couple of reef sharks in the other. There are a couple of sea turtles as well.

The african tank above is on the African safari walk in the bird aviary at Animal Kingdom.

The park has been open for almost 10 years so the over crowdedness may be a result of breeding.

As for hybrids, there did appear to be a lot of blotchy looking species, real mutty looking, so that could be true.

All in all we are bummed we missed Sea World!!!

 

[Chickieepooh2u]

Wow, thanks for the picture. I would think that Disney would thin out the population, but apparently not. lol I can sometimes get all 'uppity' about over crowded tanks, but I try to hard to keep my mouth shut. I agree, it's probably years of breeding... Still would love to go sometime. It bites living in the middle of nowhere!!!

 

[mike dunagan]

maybe I can write and let them know I will be down there soon. i can take a few off their hands. i will send back home to my local LFS for holding till I come back into town... or they will tell me to shut and kill me... I mean disney has that power... oh no.. I have said to much as it is...