In this area there are three large tanks, situated next to each other, where you can see fish species of the salmon family grow from fingerlings into young fish, and then from young fish into adults.
This tank, which is five meters in depth and holds approximately 300 tons of water, is the largest freshwater tank in Hokkaido. Here, fish of the salmon family — such as masu salmon, coho salmon, and Japanese huchen (sometimes referred to as “phantom fish”) — and giant fish of the sturgeon family swim around in a leisurely manner. And the exhibit of smelt (Spirinchus lanceolatus）, which can only be seen at the Chitose Aquarium, is not to be missed. Also — only in autumn — broodstock fish put in an appearance: chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) that have swum up the Chitose River to lay eggs, pink (humpback) salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) from the Sea of Okhotsk, and sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka nerka) that swim up the Bibi River.
In addition, every day at 3:00 p.m. a feeding session — the “C’mon, salmon, chow’s on” feeding time — is held in the large tank.
In this area there are three large tanks, situated next to each other, where you can see fish species of the salmon family grow from fingerlings into young fish, and then from young fish into adults.
This tank, which is five meters in depth and holds approximately 300 tons of water, is the largest freshwater tank in Hokkaido. Here, fish of the salmon family — such as masu salmon, coho salmon, and Japanese huchen (sometimes referred to as “phantom fish”) — and giant fish of the sturgeon family swim around in a leisurely manner. And the exhibit of smelt (Spirinchus lanceolatus）, which can only be seen at the Chitose Aquarium, is not to be missed. Also — only in autumn — broodstock fish put in an appearance: chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) that have swum up the Chitose River to lay eggs, pink (humpback) salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) from the Sea of Okhotsk, and sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka nerka) that swim up the Bibi River.
In addition, every day at 3:00 p.m. a feeding session — the “C’mon, salmon, chow’s on” feeding time — is held in the large tank.
Main on display
Coho salmon
| Scientific name | Oncorhynchus kisutch |
|---|
Originally, the coho salmon was not found in Japan, but in recent years it has been raised at fish farms along the Sanriku coast and elsewhere. It swims up rivers in an area stretching from North America to Far Eastern Russia, and on rare occasions it wanders into the Chitose River as well.
Masu salmon
| Scientific name | Oncorhynchus masou masou |
|---|
Fish of this species that go downstream and into the sea are called “masu salmon,” while those that remain in rivers are referred to as “landlocked masu salmon.” They are referred to as “cherry” trout because in Hokkaido they swim up rivers at the time that cherry trees blossom, and because during the spawning season they take on a cherry-hued nuptial coloration.
White sturgeon
| Scientific name | Acipenser transmontanus |
|---|
This species is found in North America, and can be up to six meters in length. Its eggs are the raw ingredient for caviar, one of the world’s three great delicacies.
Brown trout
| Scientific name | Salmo trutta |
|---|
Although the original home of the brown trout is Europe, the species has been introduced into the Chitose River and Lake Shikotsu, and is breeding there naturally. In Lake Shikotsu, giant brown trout measuring more than one meter in length have been caught.
Japanese huchen
| Scientific name | Hucho perryi |
|---|
This species has drastically decreased in number, and is in danger of extinction, to the extent that it is now sometimes called the “phantom fish.” This species is Japan’s largest freshwater fish, and it seems that in Hokkaido specimens of Japanese huchen have been caught that exceeded two meters in length.
Movies
Fish-feeding session
Fish-feeding session
