As well as children and chickens, Scoil Mhuire is also hosting fish! Outside the school office, our fish tank is now holding fish from the local shore. Among other species, there are shrimps, a cushion starfish, some hermit crabs, some decorator crabs, an anemone, a squat lobster, a queen scallop, gobies, mullets, sticklebacks, some blennies and some wrasses. All swimming or crawling within a sea of plastic plants and ceramic decorations!
The fish are fed every morning by some eager marine scientists who keep up to date with activities, losses and look for hidden inmates. The tank is always busy with fish swimming or creatures scampering at the bottom. There is also a group of enthusiasts who come to peep at the tank at 3pm on their way home.
Every week or so, some of the water is taken out of the tank and replenished with fresh sea water. Once a month or so, the sand at the bottom is hoovered to keep the habitat clean. These jobs are done by Peter who is a keen aquarist and a specialist in marine tanks.
A Galway Atlantaquarium marine scientist (adult size!) will be visiting the school soon to give more information on marine life and how to best look after our tank.
Come and peep into the tank anytime you are visiting the school. Just remember to look with your eyes, not with your fingers! Tapping on the glass actually hurts the fish and could upset the secretary whose office is nearby! So beware!!!
