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Virginia Fishes

Virginia FishesAs the Virginia Living Museum's Aquarium Curator, Stacey Murray-Rester and her team of aquarists oversee the indoor aquatic habitats and aquatic program animals representing over 15o species of indigenous fish and invertebrates living in habitat aquariums ranging from 30 to 30,000 gallons. Her passion for Virginia Fishes is shared here.

Coming Soon: Underwater Videos!

Ice on Pines I have always preferred using film cameras, especially with slide film, because of the clarity, color saturation,  and super-fine grain. I take pride in creating and using original images here at the VLM for my blog, articles etc. Photographing fishes requires a…

Chain Pickerel

Chain Pickerel Esox niger, are a species of fresh water fish most commonly found in rivers and streams. They are named for the chain-like markings along their sides. Pickerel have long, thin bodies and broad, rounded, beak-like rostrums, with a distinctive vertical bar beneath the eye. Their…

Reef Update

The Coral Reef Exhibit has been running well, the water cleared and the chemistry has stabilized. It is now the new home for several corals, anemones, and fishes. As the system matures, each animal will find its home within the exhibit and learn how to…

Reef tank modifications

We recently renovated our coral reef tank to add more substantial filtration. We added a large sand filter, a much more powerful pump, and several additional returns to dramatically improve water flow, essential to proper coral growth.          The white pipes are returns that have…

Roanoke Logperch Update

Next week marks the arrival (finally) of the Roanoke logperch (Percina rex) to our museum! Our aquarium curator, Chris Crippen, will be driving out to Marion, Va to the VDGIF‘s Aquatic Wildlife Conservation Center to retrieve the new additions to our Mountain Stream Exhibit on…

cobia

 A five year old cobia in our Chesapeake bay exhibit Cobia Rachycentron canadum have a dedicated following in this area and thus many cobia fishermen are very secretive about their fishing spots. In addition to being a powerful and challenging adversary for sport-fishermen, they are…

blennies

The latter part of each summer is our most productive time to collect specimens. Most recently we have been collecting fishes for our Piling exhibit: blennies, gobies, skilletfish, various crustaceans, and vegetation. Late summer is prime time for these fishes, and Kiptopeake State Park is…

Roanoke logperch

Roanoke logperch Percina rex The “king” will soon be at the VLM! The king of what? The king of darters! Darters comprise several Genera of the Family Percidae (perches) and are typically small stream fishes but may inhabit swamps, ponds and lakes as well. And…

Chippy the barn swallow

  Juvenile barn swallow One of the benefits of the museum is that we are exposed to a wide range of animals, not just fish. As a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, I have the opportunity to care for many types of local wildlife from red foxes…