Overview

• The sunfish at Kaikyokan Aquarium in Shimonoseki, Japan, stopped eating and began exhibiting unusual behavior after the aquarium closed for renovations in December 2024.
• Staff initially suspected health issues like parasites or digestive problems but later theorized that the absence of visitors might be causing the fish's distress.
• To address the issue, staff placed cardboard cutouts of human faces and uniforms on the tank, simulating the presence of visitors.
• The sunfish's health improved almost immediately, regaining its appetite and exhibiting normal behavior, such as waving its fins near the tank glass.
• The aquarium plans to reopen in summer 2025, and staff hope the sunfish will resume its interactions with real visitors when they return.