THE BLUE REEF PUBLIC AQUARIUM AT TYNEMOUTH REVISITED

Text and photographs by David Marshall

For Sue and I the chance to visit Tynemouth is always one that is eagerly anticipated. Included in our visit is always a return to the Blue Reef. For sometime the exhibits here have remained roughly the same, so a big surprise was waiting this time as they have moved things about and changed several exhibits. With this in mind I felt that a revised visit review was called for.

The Blue Reef Building.

As with many modern U.K. Public Aquariums, the 'American theme' is followed here, whereby you build the exhibits around a rough framework of twenty-nine eye-catching displays and a walk-through-tunnel.

The exhibits begin with a large round open-topped foyer display. For many years this contained a mixture of Goldfish and Terrapins. These creatures are still here, but in smaller numbers, and currently have rescued Pacu, Oscar cichlids and various large loricarins for company. On paper this may appear a strange mix but it seems to work as all of the fish and Terrapins looked in good health.

This stunning Pacu was the star of the foyer display.

The tropical freshwater section follows and comprises of three very different aquaria. The first of these is home to a group of five Red-bellied Piranha. These fish are the offspring of a pair that called the Blue Reef home for several years. Over the years Sue and I have seen these five fish grow from 50p size to fully-grown adults. The second is a beautifully planted aquarium; home to a variety of Corydoradinae (some of which were busy 'spawning') and Platys. The third is a lovely open-topped Rift Valley display; home to a large number of Caruleus cichlids that I presume were brought over from the successful breeding programme at the Bristol Aquarium (which belongs to the Blue Reef group)?

Three Piranha that were bred here	The beauty of the Caruleus cichlid exhibit.

Now we enter the native marine section. Here are a number of very impressive aquaria, each of which has been carefully aquascaped to display a variety of marine creatures. These range from delicate Seahorses to strange looking Edible Crabs and from amazing Wolf-fishes to large Conger Eel.

Lobsters	A bizarre Wolf-fish

The delicate beauty of Yellow Pipefish.

The Asian Short-clawed Otter exhibit follows and now consists of three youngsters that were born at the Blue Reef. With both land to play on, and water to play in, these beautiful mammals have plenty of space to entertain their adoring public. At the side of the exhibit is shown a film, running in a loop, about Otter conservation in the U.K. and at a point where the filmed Otters bark, the living Otters look to the screen and return the compliment!

Otter exhibit.	The start of 'Coral Garden'

Now we are in 'Coral Garden'. These three tropical marine aquaria were allowed to mature for eight years before becoming fully stocked with fish. The Yellow Tangs and various Clownfish here were the highlight for me but you could stay here for ages wallowing in the beautiful and differently
shaped fish that surround you.

	Tinfoil Barb aquarium within the Marmoset habitat
Pygmy Marmoset

Portrait of one of the Tinfoil Barbs

As with all of the Blue Reefs, other inhabitants of the natural world now take their place in the exhibits. Beautifully landscaped vivariums play host to a variety of creatures that include Bumblebee Frogs, Leopard Gecko and Brown Axolotls. To my amazement, part of the viewing area for the tunnel has been re-cycled and is now home to two excellent new exhibits. The first of these is a beautiful Pygmy Marmoset habitat. Within the habitat they have placed a large aquarium containing a mixture of Tinfoil Barbs, Altispinosa Rams, Lemon Tetras and Ancistrus. The second houses some very playful Cottoned-topped Tamarins. Again, they have included a large aquarium into the habitat and this one contains some glorious Marbled and Golden Angelfishes.

A smiling Tamarin	No surprise as the Tamarin habitat is beautiful

Now we move outside of the building to encounter several rescued Seals, with injuries and problems that would not allow for their release back into the wild. They were surplus to requirements at similar aquariums in Bergen and Denmark. Here they have plenty of space to move around and the exhibit is constructed in a way that gives the visitor only limited viewing access, thus allowing the Seals plenty of privacy.

Back inside now and we have four aquariums presenting bizarre fish and invertebrates from the coral seas. This leads us into the tropical marine tunnel that marks the final exhibit. Although the number of fish here is not as high as in the past, some wonderful Fingerfish, Sgt. Majors, Black-tipped Sharks, Black Triggerfish and Brown Puffers swim around and above us. A brilliant way to end your visit!

The tunnel	A beautiful tunnel inhabitant

In conclusion, I always enjoy visits to the Blue Reef at Tynemouth. The exhibits are always very varied with plenty to see and talk about. Although not an aquatic feature, the miniature monkey exhibits have added a new dimension to the Aquarium as a whole.

.