This week I got to work at the REEF helping out and taking care of the animals.
Most of the work was on taking care of the tanks for the animals and I also got to feed them. The most interesting animal to feed was the California Moray Eel. The eel is mostly blind and therefore they have to rely on their sense of smell to find their food. In order to feed them and stimulate their sense of smell, you have to squeeze dead fish above the water and wait for the eel to come to you. Then, you drop the fish right in front of the eel and hope that they will be able to detect that the fish is there. I also got to feed the Two Spotted Octopus. They eat crabs So, you basically do the same thing as with the eel. You dangle the crabs until the octopus takes it from you, they use their tentacles to snatch the crab from your hand.
On a sad note this week we had three baby Swell Sharks die. The REEF has been trying to figure out what is causing the death of the baby sharks. They think that it might be that the sharks are getting too much oxygen and that might burns their gills. I helped them with the sharks by putting some of the babies into containment and finding a way to keep them away from the pump because they think that might be what is causing them to get too much oxygen.
Besides that, I spent most of my time cleaning the tanks and helping out with programs teaching little kids about the different marine animals at the REEF and fun facts about marine life.
Soccer Game in LA
California Moray Eel
On my free time, I went to a soccer game with Jonah in LA which was a lot of fun. The LAFC team scored 3 goals within 12 minutes and we were right behind the goal; it was amazing!
YASS Justine! Work it girl
Thank you! You are amazing!