DINGLE
OCEANWORLD AQUARIUM, COUNTY KERRY, EIRE Text and photographs by David Marshall
| | | The
beauty of the Dingle Peninsular. | | Dingle
Harbour |
The Dingle Peninsular is renowned
as one of the most beautiful stretches of unspoiled coastline that Europe has
to offer. Whilst exploring this area of Eire Sue and I became aware of a Public
Aquarium in the town of Dingle itself.
From the outside the building
looked like it housed a small aquarium that we would be able to enjoy in a short
amount of time? Once through the entrance door, we were 'shocked', as the interior
was much larger than we could ever have imagined. I felt like a character from
Dr. Who, walking into the tardis for the first time and discovering that first
impressions can be very deceptive! This Aquarium has a concept and has been
arranged to give the impression that you are inside a forgotten Mayan cave with
carved pillars, strange figurines and ivy growing on the walls etc. To add to
the effect this theme is carried on into the exhibition aquariums. The opening
three aquariums are home to various native marine creatures and the Crayfish here
really caught my eye.
Tropical
freshwater aquaria followed. The first of these is a true spectacle. Open-topped,
this huge aquarium is home to variously sized Silver Dollars, Black Pacu, Clarotes
catfish, Leporinus fasciatus fasciatus, Tiger Shovel-nosed catfish, Severums,
stunning Oscars and a shoal of Madagascan Rainbowfish. Amazingly each specie seemed
to know the 'water zone' in which it should be swimming and this 'kept the peace'
amongst the various residents.
The first of
two small Amazonian biotope aquariums held a selection of small characins alongside
Peppered Corydoras, Gibbiceps Plecs. and Silver Angelfish. The second of these
had its décor arranged around a large tree root with Gold Lace Angelfish,
Multiradiatus Plec., Cardinal tetras and Dwarf cichlids inter-acting and swimming
between the branches.
| No
Public Aquarium would be complete without a Piranha display. |
. A
stunning display of Black Delta Guppies followed before the 'must have' Red-bellied
Piranha display. Asian fish followed with a tank devoted to various Puntius and
Danio species. Africa was not forgotten and the biotope aquarium was 'stunning'.
It amazed me to see a mixture of Neolamprologus brichardi, various riverine Synodontis,
Elephant-nosed fish, Congo tetras and Red-eyed tetras all getting along in seemingly
perfect harmony. But it was the final aquarium in this section that I will
long remember! A Rift Valley set-up with Caruleus cichlids and Dolphin cichlids
also contained the most darkly coloured Asian Barred-Red Parrot cichlids that
I have seen. I was 'taken aback' by the sheer beauty of this display. A
number of beautifully thought out tropical marine displays followed. The highlight
of these is a massive aquarium home to Sand Tiger Sharks; a number of over-sized
marine fish and a huge Turtle. In a smaller display the colours of a Picasso Triggerfish
were an absolute delight to behold.
| | | Picasso
Triggerfish | |
A Clownfish display |
Brackish fish were not forgotten
with a cylindrical aquarium housing a large shoal of Fingerfish. Now we
are onto the final section that is home to native fish. Three displays of native
marine fish are followed by a freshwater display that combines small Pike with
Rainbow Trout. Whoever created the displays here took much time and thought
not only to mix species but also to find colour combinations of fish that really
catch the eye. The Mayan theme really works and is combined with some excellent
electronic information displays. These work on a 2-page system that you change
with the touch of a finger, focusing on the fish and other water-living creatures
that each display contains. All of the aquaria were well kept and the fish on
show all looked in perfect health. Both Sue and I were very impressed with
Dingle Oceanworld. If you are in the Dingle area this aquarium is a 'must visit'
and is excellent value for the 12 Euro entrance fee. As you read this report
a new Penguin exhibit is set to open.
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