Sunfish who fell ill after aquarium closed recovered – thanks to human cutouts

TOKYO — A lone sunfish at an aquarium in southwest Japan lost its appetite, began bumping into the aquarium walls and appeared ill days after the facility closed last month for renovations. As a final measure to save this popular fish, its keepers hung up their uniforms and installed human cutouts outside the tank.

The next morning, the sunfish ate for the first time in about a week and was recovering steadily, said Moe Miyazawa, an aquarist at Kaikyokan Aquarium in Shimonoseki.

The bluegill arrived at the aquarium in February 2024 from the southern coast of Kochi in the Pacific Ocean. The bluegill, a member of the pufferfish family known for its unique shape and large eyes, has become one of the resort’s most popular attractions.

When the sunfish began to appear ill a few days after the aquarium closed Dec. 1 for a six-month renovation, its keepers suspected digestive problems, gave it less food and visited the aquarium to comfort the sunfish. crappie when there was construction noise, but no. enjoy.

Then, at a staff meeting, someone suggested that the bluegill might have been affected by the sudden lack of an audience.

“We were skeptical but decided to do everything we could,” Miyazawa said. They hung their uniforms and placed human-shaped cutouts with pictures of smiling faces outside the aquarium to encourage the fish, Miyazawa said.

“I knew (the bluegill) was looking at us when we were placing them, but I never thought they would start eating the next day,” Miyazawa said, beaming. The staff now comes more often and greets the panfish.

Aquarium keepers hope many fans will return to see the sunfish when the aquarium reopens in the summer.