Our shark feed times are every Monday and Thursday at 1:30. If you have ever been to one of our feeds you know that it is quite a show. The sharks dart around the tank attacking and eating bits of fish. Have you ever wondered what goes on up on top of the tank where you can't see? Well you are about to find out.
Everything starts in the kitchen where the food is prepped. The sharks are fed a combination of chunks of salmon and bonita.
Pat Woodward has been volunteering at the Aquarium since before the sharks were even in the shark exhibit. He comes in twice a week to help prep food. Our volunteers are an essential part of keeping the aquarium in great shape.
Everything in this tub is clearly labeled on a paper towel. Don't mind the juicy bits.
The biologists are so happy about moving the cut up fish!
And then we move on to the top of the shark tank. Please don't jump in! The overhead lights are switched on for the feed so that the sharks know that it is food time. Normally they are kept in a relatively dark environment where they can stay comfortable.
It isn't a good idea to stick your hand into the water–sharks have teeth after all. The biologist use poles to grab the food and feed the sharks one by one. This is to insure that each shark gets the proper amount to eat. Pictured here is a yummy piece of salmon.
The biologist slaps the water with the pole to get the sharks attention.
The blacktip moves in for the kill! The biologists have to identify each of the individual sharks and know which one they are feeding. They are able to identify sharks by appearance, and each shark is marked by a unique tattoo.
The bull sharks are hungry too!
The little yellow-white things embedded in the skin of the salmon are vitamins. Our sharks need to be healthy!
The sharks know where the food is.
The lemon shark swinging around.
And you thought the sharks were the only thing on display. Check out the people enjoying the show from inside the tunnel.
And finally here is what you can see down below. The spot where the biologists are feeding the blacktips is right above of our shark view room. They swim and dart around going after bits of food. Next time you see a feed you'll know that the biologists are standing right above you with their poles and food.
Shark feed times are every Monday and Thursday at 1:30.
