A yelloweye rockfish living in the sandy bottom habitat in a Sidney aquarium ironically has only one eye.

He certainly startles people on occasion, when he turns and they're faced with that second empty eye socket, admits the manager of animal care at the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea.

Affectionately dubbed Leon, the ocean creature lost its eyeball in a surgery determined to extend the quality of his life. The finned fella kept repeatedly damaging his eye. The last time was so bad, it damaged the eye beyond the fish's healing capacity so the best option was removal surgery. 

It was the Salish Sea centreB次元官网网址檚 first venture with Central Saanich veterinarian Marley Chou.

The vet returned to perform bilateral oophorectomy B次元官网网址� ovary removal similar to spaying a pet B次元官网网址� on a rock greenling in a Nov. 26, 2024 surgery intended to extend the marine animalB次元官网网址檚 life.

The fish was retaining her eggs, and was unable to release them. After unsuccessfully trying medication to stimulate egg release, an ultrasound confirmed the eggs remained bound B次元官网网址� starting to solidify in the fishB次元官网网址檚 body and she would never pass them. Surgery was the only option for the life-threatening condition.

B次元官网网址淎nimal welfare is the top priority for us all the time. ItB次元官网网址檚 not something people always see,B次元官网网址� LeSergeant said, noting surgeries are rare.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 something thatB次元官网网址檚 going to drastically improve the health of this animal and give it a longer and healthier life.B次元官网网址�

Fish, like humans, are put under for surgery.

An anesthetic drug is dissolved into water and the fish laid in a trough on a table while the centreB次元官网网址檚 registered vet tech keeps anesthetic water running over the fishB次元官网网址檚 gills to provide oxygen and to keep it under while the vet does the hour-long surgery.

Just like humans, someone monitors the animalB次元官网网址檚 vitals throughout.

It aligns with the centreB次元官网网址檚 approach to care and welfare of animals in general, with the team dedicated to encompassing ethical, scientific and environmental responsibilities of the animals in their care. The goal is to ensure all animals have the best lives possible while living in the Sidney centre.

B次元官网网址淧art of our 10-year strategic plan involves making sure we have the highest standard of animal care,B次元官网网址� LeSergeant said. B次元官网网址淲e are highly focused on keeping those five freedoms of animal welfare.B次元官网网址�

Those are the freedom from hunger, pain injury and disease; distress; discomfort; and freedom to express behaviours that promote well-being.

When acquiring animals, the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea takes precautions to reduce the impact on wild populations.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e also very careful about how we source our animals as well, making sure weB次元官网网址檙e taking things respectfully and only as necessary,B次元官网网址� LeSergeant said. B次元官网网址淭he animal care team is highly committed to upholding the highest standards for these fish and invertebrates B次元官网网址� making sure collectively those animals are happy, healthy and hopefully making people love the ocean more.B次元官网网址�

The goal is to support a healthy Salish Sea with a focus on education, exploration and conservation, while fostering appreciation.

B次元官网网址淲hen you stand at the surface you canB次元官网网址檛 see whatB次元官网网址檚 going on underneath,B次元官网网址� LeSergeant said. B次元官网网址淭o be able to go into the aquarium and see the fish right in front of your face and have an understanding of whatB次元官网网址檚 down there and what it looks like B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 a cool experience for people to see whatB次元官网网址檚 going on under the Salish Sea.B次元官网网址�

Right now visitors wonB次元官网网址檛 see the female greenling as it remains in quarantine. SheB次元官网网址檒l be reassessed when her sutures come out, but LeonB次元官网网址檚 ongoing story suggests this latest surgery could also spell success.

He too endured quarantine with pain medications and antibiotics. Upon his return to the sandy bottom habitat, it took a little bit to get used to having one eye, and his appearance prompts questions routinely from the visiting public spurred by the empty eye socket.

The much-loved, one-eyed rockfish was once regularly sequestered to quarantine with eye injuries.

Now heB次元官网网址檚 a picky eater much loved by both the public and the team at the .

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 definitely a squid guy,B次元官网网址� LeSergeant said with a chuckle. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 definitely the animal care teamB次元官网网址檚 favourite fish, well definitely up there.B次元官网网址�