THE Blue Planet Aquarium experienced a baby boom in the run-up to Mother’s Day.
Keepers at the Cheshire Oaks aquarium are struggling to keep pace with a sudden breeding bonanza among residents – including a fish species virtually extinct in the wild.
Other expectant mums are a southern stingray, bearded dragon and an emerald green monitor lizard.
Assistant curator Andrea Swatman said: “As a mum myself, I’m definitely a firm believer in celebrating Mother’s Day and it seems as though our animals feel the same way.
“I’m not sure if it’s a sign that spring is on its way but it seems as though everywhere we look there’s expectant mums. We’re particularly pleased that the pinstripe damba fish are breeding as they are a critically endangered species in the wild.”
The pinstripe damba is a type of freshwater cichlid from Madagascar. It was only identified by science in the 1990s and was believed to exist in only one location.
Due to a combination of over-fishing, habitat loss and competition from introduced species, it was declared extinct in the wild in 2004. But in 2006 a population was discovered by scientists in a second nearby lake and captive breeding programmes – like the one at Blue Planet – are helping to keep the species alive.
Bearded dragon lizards are native to Australia and live in rocky and arid regions of the country and dry open woodlands. Fully grown adults can reach more than half a metre and weigh around 600 grammes. Their common name comes from their habit of puffing out their throat when they are angry or excited, giving the appearance of a beard.
Southern stingrays have a gestation period of about six months. The eggs hatch in the mother’s body and the pups are born folded up. In the wild they must immediately fend for themselves and it is believed their tail stings are functional from the moment they emerge.
Female emerald tree monitor lizards hatch their eggs in the nests of tree-dwelling termites. So, in a bid to encourage the lizard, which is close to a metre in length, to breed the zoological team provided her with an artificial hollow tree constructed from cork bark and coconut fibre.
