Staff at Blue Planet Aquarium to raise awareness of pyjama cardinal fish

Sep 15 2011 by Mark Smith, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

AQUARISTS at the Blue Planet Aquarium in Cheshire Oaks are to hold a pyjama party to help raise awareness of an endangered fish.

Originally from the Indo-Pacific, the pyjama cardinal fish is also known as the ‘spotted’ and ‘coral’ cardinal because of its distinctive markings.

Blue Planet is looking after 17 fish in two separate displays and they are in the process of setting up their own captive breeding programme for the species.

As part of an awareness-building campaign, aquarists are planning a pyjama party weekend on September 17-18 where all staff will be able to come to work in their pyjamas and dressing gowns.

Blue Planet Aquarium’s Paul Renolds said: “We thought having the pyjama party would be a fun way to help raise awareness of this particular fish species’ plight and also to highlight the importance of marine conservation in general.”

Known as ‘mouth brooders’, cardinalfish are among the marine world’s most attentive parents with the fathers taking responsibility for rearing the young.

For ticket details call 0151 357 8804.