WATER WORLDS; FISH TANK DISPLAY SHOWS OFF FANCY FINS.Byline: Kevin F. Sherry Daily News Staff Writer Like fish seeking refuge in an aquarium's rock formation, visitors to the Ventura County Fair ducked into the Fishes and Friends exhibit. Some sought refuge from the sun and heat, while most came to marvel at the 52 tanks filled with all varieties of colorful fish and decorated environments. One tank featured a Godzilla theme, complete with a New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. skyline and miniature cars, although in this version, a sucker fish See See also: Sucker - Fishra? - attached himself to the monster's back. Another small tank was nearly filled with a 10-inch goldfish goldfish, freshwater fish, genus Carassius, of the family Cyprinidae, popular in aquariums and ponds. Native to China, it was first domesticated centuries ago from the wild form, an olive-colored carplike fish up to 16 in. (40 cm) long. . Children and their parents oohed and aahed at sea anemones sea anemone (ənĕm`ənē'), any of the relatively large, predominantly solitary polyps (see polyp and medusa) of the class Anthozoa, phylum Cnidaria. Unlike the closely related corals, these organisms do not have a skeleton. and a lion fish with poisonous spikes on its back. Tanks ranged in size from 5 to 135 gallons, said Nicole Horvath, a volunteer in the Fish and Friends exhibit. Horvath has spent the past three years helping displayers, and answering questions for people in the fish exhibit at the fair. It's the next best thing to actually living underwater, she said. She likes helping out in the fish area because she gets to spend time around live animals, rather than at a more static exhibit, such as the mineral show next door. Some tanks sported ribbons won in a variety of category and age classes. The top tank in the display was a combination terrarium-aquarium that featured plants, mud, water, fish, frogs, a lizard and a snake all living together in ecological harmony. Tanks were judged on the type of fish, the clarity of the water, the types of materials used and the overall presentation of the tank, Horvath said. Most people spend a good deal of time setting up their tanks and fish to make them look just right, she said. ``Most of the fish they've bought and raised,'' Horvath said. ``They spend anywhere from a half a week to a week (setting up).'' Chris Dilts, 10, and his brother Matthew, 6, spent time in the fish exhibit Sunday with their uncle, Jesse Salinas Salinas, city, United States Salinas (səlē`nəs), city (1990 pop. 108,777), seat of Monterey co., W Calif.; inc. 1874. It is the shipping and processing center of a fertile valley famous for its grain and lettuce. of Santa Paula Santa Paula (săn`tə pôl`ə), city (1990 pop. 25,062), Ventura co., S Calif., on the Santa Clara River in a fertile valley that yields citrus fruits, avocados, vegetables, flowers, nursery products, and walnuts; laid out 1875, inc. . The boys used to own a fish tank that contained red minnows, crabs and algae eaters Algae eater is a common name for many bottom-dwelling fishes that feed on algae. Algae eaters are important for the fishkeeping hobby and many are commonly stocked by the trade. . They were trying to decide what types of fish or plants to include in their new tank. ``I'm here every year,'' Salinas said. ``There's just so much here to see.'' Skye Jayden Olsen spent time staring at frogs, lizards and fish that reminded her of the aquarium she had at home. Her father, Jerred Olsen of Oxnard, owns a 65-gallon tank with colorful cichlids. ``They're just fun fish,'' Olsen said. ``She digs it. The biggest fish in the tank is hers.'' CAPTION(S): 2 Photos Photo: (1--Color) Tropical fish tropical fish Any of various small fishes of tropical origin often kept in aquariums. They are interesting for their behaviour or showiness or both. Popular varieties include the angelfish, guppy, kissing gourami, sea horse, Siamese fighting fish, and tetra. peek out from their tank to observe visitors at the Ventura County Fair's indoor Fishes and Friends exhibit Sunday. (2--Color) Adults, children and a very large stuffed animal
A stuffed animal is toy animal stuffed with straw, beans, cotton or other similar materials. Some stuffed animals are very old – home made cloth dolls stuffed with straw go back to at least the marvel at the fish and competitive tank displays Sunday at the Ventura County Fair. Phil McCarten/Daily News |
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