museeumchick Posted August 26, 2008 Report Share Posted August 26, 2008 SO i'm not entirely sure this is the place to put this but i would love to hear your opinions: I am working on an exhibition for the Te Manawa science centre in palmy due to open at the start of 2010 and we would like to include in this a couple of natives tanks (currently looking at mudfish and maybe growing some whitebait - ie "whats in your whitebait fritter"). Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted August 26, 2008 Report Share Posted August 26, 2008 Talk to Stella She's keeping and writing a book on Keeping Natives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
museeumchick Posted August 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2008 I hope to discuss the project with stella sometime (will definately be buying her book when it comes out), and anyone else who will listen. Especially as my fish keeping skills/experience consists of tadpoles and the goldfish death trap that is my flat. so i have been doing Heaps of research, but i would like to hear from anyone who has ideas and thoughts on the topic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whetu Posted August 27, 2008 Report Share Posted August 27, 2008 The Auckland museum has had aquarium displays for some years now. I think you should take a field trip to Auckland and arrange to have a behind-the-scenes look at what they're doing and what they have learned from the experience. Personally I think live native fish in a museum is an excellent idea. It adds enormously to people's sense of natural history and responsibility for things like what they put down drains. But then I would say that... that's why I'm in this hobby - I love the little fishies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteS Posted August 27, 2008 Report Share Posted August 27, 2008 Yes Stella is the one to talk too. You will need to catch the whitebait during the whitebait season (Aug-Nov) and keep them for your display. Or obtain older fish to show the public what whitebait turn into i.e. three types of Kokopu, Koaro & Inanga. The main thing you need is some way to keep the tanks cool over the summer and heaps of live food or beef heart to feed the older Kokopu etc. I looking to forward to see how your display turns out. Good Luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whetu Posted August 27, 2008 Report Share Posted August 27, 2008 I hope to discuss the project with stella sometime (will definately be buying her book when it comes out), and anyone else who will listen. Especially as my fish keeping skills/experience consists of tadpoles and the goldfish death trap that is my flat. so i have been doing Heaps of research, but i would like to hear from anyone who has ideas and thoughts on the topic. Given your limited fish-keeping experience, I would suggest that you get some hands-on tuition from someone like Stella. I know museums have very tight budgets, but I think you should consider engaging someone who can act as an expert consultant for the project, and perhaps recruit some volunteers to help maintain the tanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidb Posted August 27, 2008 Report Share Posted August 27, 2008 The Auckland museum has had aquarium displays for some years now. I think you should take a field trip to Auckland and arrange to have a behind-the-scenes look at what they're doing and what they have learned from the experience. that would be me that you would need to talk to. give me a pm if you are keen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
museeumchick Posted August 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2008 davidb that would be awesome, but i should probably start with picking the brains (and scoping the tanks) of the local experts as much as i would like to come visiting your fishies (i will ask the boss aniway, no harm in asking). I'm not sure if i will actually be setting up the tanks myself, more likely to have an 'expert' do it for us closer to the time, and probably maintain it (anyone interested?) i'm more in charge of researching and writing the how to/plausibility guide for parts of the exhibition. What i'm really interested in is what sorts of things you would like to see ie should i have big fish? little fish? what sort of fish? how many fish (the sorts of things that dont sort themselves out with the habitat requirements of the fish concerned) What is your ideal museeum live native fish/stream ecosystem type dislpay?? write me your brains :bounce: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enzoom1 Posted August 27, 2008 Report Share Posted August 27, 2008 yeah the native aquariums at the Auckland Museum are mean as definately worth a look Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidb Posted August 27, 2008 Report Share Posted August 27, 2008 yeah the native aquariums at the Auckland Museum are mean as definately worth a look :oops: thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enzoom1 Posted August 27, 2008 Report Share Posted August 27, 2008 all good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whetu Posted August 27, 2008 Report Share Posted August 27, 2008 that would be me that you would need to talk to. give me a pm if you are keen *Falls at davidb's feet* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella Posted August 27, 2008 Report Share Posted August 27, 2008 Aw shucks guys :oops: That sort of thing is actually exactly the sort of work I am wanting to get into! I really enjoy the education side of things and obviously the aquariums thing is slap bang in the middle of my field. Ideal that we are in the same area! A few preliminary thoughts on what I could do for this: Preliminary ideas/advice of courseProvide aquarium-adusted fish, so they will hopefully be visible and not get sickI could thoroughly seed a filter for the display on my tanks dramatically reducing cycling issuesAll the setup, maintenance etc expertise you could wantPhotos for static displays (see my sig below)Maintenance and practical stuff while the display is on Um.... anything else? We should make a time when you can come over and see my tanks and we can talk about your ideas :bounce: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella Posted August 27, 2008 Report Share Posted August 27, 2008 *Falls at davidb's feet* David was kind enough to give a guided tour for my friends and I of his live exhibits at the Museum last summer when I was in Auckland. Really good stuff! Make some time to go visit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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