Brighter future for solitary sunfish after human cut-outs banish blues
The creature appeared to rediscover its appetite after seeing some familiar images outside its aquarium tank during renovation work, keepers said.
A solitary sunfish at a Japanese aquarium that lost its appetite after the facility was closed for renovation has recovered with a little help from some company – in the shape of human cut-outs.
The fish began banging into the side of its tank and appeared unwell days after the Kaikyokan aquarium in Shimonoseki, south-western Japan, closed last month for renovation work.
As a last-ditch measure to save the popular fish, its keepers set up human cut-outs outside the tank.
The next morning, the sunfish ate for the first time in about a week and has been steadily recovering, according to aquarist Moe Miyazawa.
The large sunfish arrived at the aquarium in February 2024 from the southern coast of Kochi in the Pacific Ocean.
The sunfish, a member of the blowfish family – known for its unique shape and big eyes – became one of the most popular attractions at the facility.
When the sunfish began looking unwell days after the aquarium closed on December 1 for a six-month renovation, its keepers suspected digestive problems, gave it less food and visited the fish tank to comfort the sunfish when there was construction noise, but to no avail.
Then at a staff meeting, one person suggested that the sunfish might have been affected by the sudden absence of an audience.
“We were sceptical, but decided to do anything we could,” the aquarist said.
Staff hung their uniforms on human-shaped cut-outs bearing photos of smiling faces, placed outside the tank in order to cheer up the fish.
“I knew (the sunfish) was looking at us when we were placing them, but I never thought it would start eating the next day,” Moe Miyazawa added.
The staff now visit more often and wave at the sunfish.
The aquarium keepers say they hope fans will return to see the sunfish when the aquarium reopens in the summer.
