Opiura, my basket star is going to the Shedd Aquarium!!

[sterling]

No sooner do I speak about not hearing from the Shedd Aquarium regarding my basket star, then I get an e mail today saying they would LOVE to have him/her.
They have a new "coral caves" exhibit that gets fed 3 times a day that they think he/she would do great in!! I'm sooooo excited.
When I take him down there I'm hoping to get a "behind the scenes" tour also.
Then I can go visit him/her during the daylight hours and not have to stay up late at night to take care of it.
Happy Days!!

 

[ophiura]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
I really do APPLAUD your perseverance in caring for this animal. It is really inspirational to hear someone get an animal like this, and really look after its best interest, from hand feeding it to hunting down a big new home. Most people would have thrown in the towel long ago. And now you can get some sleep, and go back to feeding food that doesn't require so much preparation.

 

[sterling]

THANKS!! I'm glad this is coming about, not only because I can go to bed at night, but I'm sure he'll really flourish there.
I have to tell you, after taking care of him for so long and dealing with the feeding, pulling his legs out of intake tubes etc., even though they can't "see" like we do, definitely exhibits emotions. This is not a "people" animal like the fish can be. When I do feed him, I CANNOT let him touch me, he gets frightened and literally runs away!! I think in a sense he can "smell" me thru touch, and it is scary to him.
I believe he "remembers" me having to pull his little legs out of the intake tubes, I'm sure it hurt and so I'm not a nice thing to him.
Anyhow, I could go on and on, but I won't. I'll keep you updated on when I get him down there, I'm hoping next week

 

[wrassecal]

I too am glad they are going to take it and applaud you for all your hard work keeping it healthy. I'm going to miss the pics and stories about though.

 

[arkman]

This sounds like a very cool story -- Thank you for looking out for this creature and doing the right thing. It makes me ill that many people would have "flushed" it.
What do I search for to hear the rest of the story?

 

[ekclark]

I took an oceanography course in college that was taught by a woman who worked at the Shedd and she gave us the "behind the scenes tour". It was really pretty cool. Some of the systems looked like a mad scientist creation. The Shedd is a great place and make sure you take time to see the Sea Horse exibit.

 

[sterling]

I'm going to make sure I get to see as much of everything as I can.
I will send pics of my starfish once he is set up in his new home.