We’ve fired the spotlight up again, and this time we’ve pointed it directly at another of the Blue Reef aquarist superhero team. Today you lucky people get to meet Shoshi!
Shoshi is not only deeply devoted to the care of the wildlife on this wild planet, and a champion of conservation, she is also the calm among the storm when the gale force winds of chaos begin to blow across this little aquarium on the edge of the sea. However, on the flip side she does appear to have a slight taste for the music of Bruno Mars, so, I guess everyone has flaws.
Anyway, here’s Shoshi!
Blue Reef: Hi Shoshi, thanks for your time, and to kick things off let’s go with what is, after three previous spotlight pieces, a tradition! Could I get an overview of your time at Blue Reef Aquarium?
Shoshi: I’ve been at Blue Reef Newquay for nine months now and the time has flown by! I didn’t know as a child that I was going to be an aquarist though. I’d always loved rockpooling whilst on holiday and was fascinated by programmes about marine life but hadn’t considered a career with fish until my final year of sixth form, after already applying to other, unrelated courses on UCAS.
I loved my freshwater planted tanks at home and realised that I wanted to take this further than just a hobby and combine it with my love of wildlife, animals, and conservation. I think that being an aquarist is a very good mix of these!
I’ve been involved in many different aquatic sectors including the ornamental trade, aquaculture, and research into restoration/stock enhancement projects.
Blue Reef: It sounds like the aquatic route was a good one. Do you have any favourite memories from the first nine months at Blue Reef?
Shoshi: My first time feeding Omiros the loggerhead sea turtle as it’s incredible to see how he navigates the tank during feeding sessions. Also, the surprise of finding baby small spotted catsharks in egg cases when holding them up to the light!
Blue Reef: That was a spectacular and slightly sci-fi looking video I saw of the baby catsharks! How about any days you’d rather forget?
Shoshi: Attempting and failing to catch the edible crabs to move them into a different tank. They’re stronger than you’d expect, okay.
Blue Reef: Strong crabs? I mean, it wasn’t Tamatoa from Moana, but if you say so. When not wrestling crabs, do you have any favourite tanks?
Shoshi: I love the nursery tank with the baby porcupine fish (Parmesan), long-horn cowfish (all named after Cornish cheeses, including Little Stinky), and a Valentini Pufferfish – aka the cheeseboard fish. They’re all so inquisitive and never fail to entertain. I especially love giving them enrichment devices and watching how they react and work out how to get the food.
Blue Reef: That’s a great choice, if not a little cheesy…sorry. Moving on, when you eventually call time on your career with the aquarium, what song will be playing as the end credits roll?
Shoshi: Runaway baby – Bruno Mars
Blue Reef: When you’re not busy caring for the aquarium residents, what do you like to do with your days?
Shoshi: Rockpooling, snorkeling, going to live music gigs, tending to my own fish tanks at home, going on road trips and nice walks.
Blue Reef: All good wholesome fun! Now we move to the bit that almost feels unnecessary, but I do it anyway. The quickfire round!
What was the last film/show to make you cry?
Shoshi: The series ‘One Day’
Blue Reef: Which song always gets you moving?
Shoshi: The latest Bruno Mars song ‘I Just Might’
Blue Reef: Is there a book you can never forget?
Shoshi: Takashi Amano’s Nature Aquarium World Book I
Blue Reef: What superpower would you choose (other than being an aquarist of course)?
Shoshi: Being able to breathe underwater.
And with that, we called time on the interview and bid farewell to Shoshi, as she ventured back to an aquatic life in this aquatic place.
And Bruno Mars? Well, I Just Might Not.
