Fish Celebrates 80th Anniversary
- 11 years ago
In honor of their 80th year together, Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium threw a party for Granddad, an Australian lungfish.
In honor of their 80th year together, Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium threw a party for Granddad, an Australian lungfish.
Not only is he the oldest fish in any zoo or aquarium in the world, he’s the oldest known lungfish in history.
Given the magnitude of the occasion, the Consul General of Australia was on hand to give a speech.
Of course, it isn’t a party without cake, so he was presented with a frozen treat filled with veggies, shrimp, and smelt and frosted with seaweed.
How old the fish itself is remains unknown, but he arrived in Chicago in 1933 fully grown.
Weighing in at 25 pounds and measuring around 4 feet length, Granddad is reported to be in excellent health.
The fact that he sits around on the bottom of his tank all day barely moving isn’t a sign of his age, that’s just what lungfish do.
His dark spots are also typical of the species. Worried that they might be seen as liver spots, the Shedd Aquarium issued a statement explaining that the colorations are simply double layers of scales.
Granddad’s longevity has been attributed to clean water and attentive healthcare.
In honor of their 80th year together, Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium threw a party for Granddad, an Australian lungfish.
Not only is he the oldest fish in any zoo or aquarium in the world, he’s the oldest known lungfish in history.
Given the magnitude of the occasion, the Consul General of Australia was on hand to give a speech.
Of course, it isn’t a party without cake, so he was presented with a frozen treat filled with veggies, shrimp, and smelt and frosted with seaweed.
How old the fish itself is remains unknown, but he arrived in Chicago in 1933 fully grown.
Weighing in at 25 pounds and measuring around 4 feet length, Granddad is reported to be in excellent health.
The fact that he sits around on the bottom of his tank all day barely moving isn’t a sign of his age, that’s just what lungfish do.
His dark spots are also typical of the species. Worried that they might be seen as liver spots, the Shedd Aquarium issued a statement explaining that the colorations are simply double layers of scales.
Granddad’s longevity has been attributed to clean water and attentive healthcare.