An Aquarium Thanksgiving
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Tennessee Aquarium says they spent nearly $185,000 on groceries for their animals in 2022.
The Aquarium provides for 12,000 animals in their care.
They even revealed some of the surprising items on their grocery list, from lettuce to mealworms:
- 12,444 pounds of capelin (a small cold-water fish)
- 6,624 heads of romaine lettuce
- 425 quail
- 210 pounds of zucchini
- 306,000 crickets
- 480 pounds of herring
- 405 pounds of carrots
- 2,160 pounds of white shrimp
- 9,984 ounces of bloodworms
- 100 pounds of peas
- 21,000 mice
- 602 heads of broccoli
- 3,440 pounds of krill
- 2,304 ounces of frozen plankton
- 125 pounds of grapes
- 400 pounds of “frog brittle”
- 75,000 mealworms
In 2023, the Aquarium’s horticulturists started greenhouse facilities to start growing their own organic fruits and vegetables. They say these “farm-to-exhibit” program benefits many species including Amazonian Pacu, Red-ruffed Lemurs and Desert Tortoises.
Experts will still be caring for these animals on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, even though the Aquarium will be closed.
They say you can help support their animals and nonprofit here.
