AQUARIUM visitors are being invited to ‘clown around’ throughout the half term holidays.
Blue Planet Aquarium at Cheshire Oaks is staging ‘Clown Fish Week’, a celebration of the orange and white-striped fish which gained worldwide fame thanks to the animated Disney/Pixar blockbuster Finding Nemo.
There will be a special Clown Fish Trail for younger visitors to follow around the aquarium, daily Clown Fish Feeds and special themed shows taking place every day in the Aquatheatre.
Blue Planet’s giant cuddly costume character Charlie the Clown Fish will also be making regular appearances throughout the week at meet and greet sessions.
Aquarium spokesman Rebecca Wade said: “They may only be small but clown fish have got a big reputation and the
real-life story of these incredible fish is almost as fascinating as the animated version."
“Our clown fish display is always one of the most popular amongst visitors and we decided it would be great to dedicate an entire week to these fish.”
Clown fish make their home among the stinging tentacles of sea anemones, and they are protected from predators by the anemone’s tentacles.
Clown fish can survive among the venomous tentacles because they cover their bodies with a layer of mucous secreted by the anemone. The anemone then thinks the clown fish is another tentacle and doesn’t sting it.
Clown fish fathers are so protective they have been known to attack divers who venture too close to their young.