Barnaby Bear visits the National Marine Aquarium

The National Marine Aquarium is in Plymouth, in Devon, by the Docks. It is a new building, and home to many different species of fish.

	Here is Barnaby Bear at the aquarium with some friends. Out of the window you might be able to see the dock.
The first tank Barnaby saw had lots of big goldfish and carp in it. The carp had lots of different colours and patterns. The Romans used to keep carp in their fishponds.
	Barnaby found a large tank with many different types of trout. He had only ever seen one kind before! Here you can see rainbow trout and golden rainbow trout. The golden rainbow trout are silver-white with pink 'blushing' stripes and cheeks.
If you look carefully, you will see that the fins on these trout are deformed. This is because they have been bred for display, but their genetics was wrong. Do trout live in fresh or salt water?
	Barnaby saw sharks at the aquarium. This shark is small, but still bigger than Barnaby Bear. He was glad it was on the other side of the tank! The sharks here do not eat the other fish because the people who look after them make sure they are well fed. Barnaby Bear was glad about that.
He also saw some sharks teeth. They were very big. Barnaby Bear thought that he wouldn't like to run into the shark that these teeeth belonged to!
	Barnaby Bears favourite animals at the aquarium were the spiky fish...
...and the seahorses. The seahorses have to be kept in the dark. You aren't allowed to use a flash when you photograph them. How deep in the sea do you think they live? How do you know?

Some fish are coloured so that they can hide from predators. This fish is called a Dragonette. It lives on the bottom of the sea. Can you see it?

It's time for Barnaby Bear to go home. He is very tired, but he has had an exciting day. He has seen big fish, small fish, colourful fish, sharks, sea anemonies and a turtle. Some fish didn't want to be seen at all! Barnaby Bear thinks he will come back again some day.