Aquariums

When Disney's Finding Nemo came out, there was an exponential increase in small saltwater aquariums sold. Why? Because every little child believed that he could care for a clownfish. In reality, they are quite the needy little species, and many parents had the unfortunate responsibility of flushing a little Nemo or Nema down the toilet.

I'm not quite sure why, but watching little fishies and other marine animals swimming around in a glass tank has always amused me. Maybe it's the bright colors, or the variety of body shapes, or the modes of locomotion. Until I was nine, my parents had a 55-gallon freshwater tank, but there were only a few fish, a red-tailed shark, and a suckerfish. But there were plants, rainbow-colored rocks, and the standard castles and shipwrecks that were popular at the time. Now, a roommate has a 35-gallon saltwater tank, and it's a focal point in our living room. The fish are active, and we've had a variety of different specimens in there. Currently we have a shrimp, two clownfish, a blue one, and a black-and-white-striped one. Fun to look at, but not all that exciting in the long run, LoL.

Living in Florida for the past fifteen years, I have come to take places like SeaWorld for granted. The amazement of the fish in those aquariums is only fascinating for so long. On the other hand, the fish you can see snorkeling never seem to get old. Even if you swim along the same reef or in the same cove, the marine life can be so distinct and beautiful. Still, the San Francisco aquarium was pretty neat, and I wouldn't mind visiting it again, the next time I am in the Bay Area.