Can Music Set The Mood For Fish At MOA Aquarium?

February 6, 2009

Release from: John Lauritsen
WCCO.com

Underwater Adventures is one of only two aquariums in the nation that has a male and a female sawfish, and they are trying to do something that has never been done before.

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, Underwater Adventures is trying to set the mood for a pair of sawfish.

The fish are living together in the aquarium, but so far there has not been a spark.

"It would be great to be the first aquarium to have them reproduce in captivity, so that is our goal," said Christoph Noetzli from Underwater Adventures.

To try and stir some passion, Noetzli and his crew are pumping a little Pure Disco #2 right into the shark tank.

With the help of Barry White and a disco ball hanging overhead, the mood has been set.

The music approach has worked for koi fish in similar experiments in Massachusetts. Classical music caused koi to become more active in one particular experiment.

With the sawfish stuck in the same tank, the staff at Underwater Adventures are keeping their fingers crossed their reaction will be similar to the koi.

"The Barry White is more for him. We got to get him going," said Noetzli.

Visitors to the aquarium think there is a chance it might work.

"I like Barry White and from what I have heard of him, yes," said visitor Michael Stewart.

Only time will tell. If the music does work expect 8 to 10 baby sawfish in the future. If it doesn't, maybe Barry White isn't their thing.

"We were wondering if maybe they prefer Elvis," said aquarium goers Greg and Tammy Drayer.

Friday was the first day Underwater Adventures has tried Barry White and they said they could mix in some Al Green or Marvin Gaye. They plan on trying the music approach for the next two weeks.