The Freshwater Public Aquarium in Havana Cuba, by Howard Norfolk

My Visit to the Freshwater Public Aquarium in Havana, Cuba

by Howard Norfolk
Original to Aquarticles

After My Visit to the National Aquarium I wanted to find out more about the aquarium scene in Cuba, and thought that a visit to a fish or pet store would be a good place to start. There was always a long line of taxis outside my hotel, so I found a taxi driver who spoke English and asked if he could take me to an aquarium store. He assumed that I meant the National Aquarium, so I said "I've already been there - now I want a place that SELLS live fish." He consulted with his colleagues and said he would take me somewhere.

Cars are not allowed in the narrow streets of Old Havana, so my driver dropped me off at a stopping area (I think it was at the Plaza de San Francisco de Asis) and gave me directions to walk to a place opposite the Hostel los Frailes. Of course I got lost, but luckily the driver had written down the hostel's name and a policeman put me on the right track.

Walking down a narrow street I was elated to finally see the word "Aqvarium." However the windows were all blacked out and the only door was solid and closed, so I thought the "shop" must also be closed. But careful examination of the little blue sign on the door made me gingerly push on it...

Expecting to find a busy aquarium store, I thought it must be closed until I read this little sign on the door.

CLICK ON PHOTOGRAPHS FOR ENLARGEMENTS, THEN GO "BACK."

...To my surprise it opened into a large dark room, complete with two rows of large display aquariums! It was in fact a small public freshwater aquarium that I had no idea existed and that none of my guidebooks mentioned.

The room is uncluttered, and contains two rows of beautiful display aquariums.

Entry fee was US$1, which I paid to the curator (on the left above). The curator said it was O.K. to take photos. He left me to my own devices and carried on chatting to his friend the whole time I was there.

The Aqvarium has eight tanks of about 150 gallons (600 litres), each containing fish from different regions of the World. Plants are not biotypic - plants from other continents are just not available in Cuba. Standing signs have pictures of the fish, and state their common (Spanish) and scientific names, size, distribution, food, and colour variations. The aquariums are nicely landscaped and exceptionally clean and well maintained. Each tank can be viewed from all sides. The large air-conditioned hall is completely uncluttered, with just a simple counter and bench for the attendant. There are no pictures on the walls, no souvenirs, no leaflets or any other distractions - just the eight tanks, each on a separate stand of its own, sitting peacefully as classical music softly plays.

Here they are:

Zona: Ciclidos Americanos. This tank contains oscars, Jack Dempseys, convict cichlids, angelfish, firemouth cichlids, and Cuban cichlids (Cichlasoma tetracanthus).

Zona: Norte, Centro America y el Caribe. Here are found a variety of colourful guppies, platies and swordtails.

Zona: Cuba. These fish were all caught in the wild, since none are commonly kept or bred by aquarists. Some of them are native to Cuba only, and others are variously also found in Florida, Mexico or Costa Rica.
Dormitator muculatus, Girardlinus metallicus, Poecilia vitata, Cyprinodon variegatus, Cubanichthys cubensis, Rivulus cylindraceus, Gambusia puncticulata, Gambusia punctata.

Zona: Sur America. Better known fish! - black tetra, black-lined tetra, Buenos Aires tetra, serpae tetra, short-striped penguin fish, aenus catfish, dwarf cichlid, and the fish below:

On the left is Callichthys callichthys, the slender armoured catfish, and on the right Hypostomus plecostomus.

Zona: Africa. No Rift Lake fish here - but jewel cichlids, kribensis, and red tilapia.

Zona: Asia Templada. (Temperate). Common carp, and goldfish.

Zona: Asia Tropical. More familiar fish: cherry, gold, rosy and tiger barbs; giant and zebra danios; blue, pearl and some other gouramis; Siamese fighting fish.

Manjuarí (Atractosteus tristoechus). Cubans are proud of their Cuban gar, or alligator gar. This specimen was housed in a tank near the aquarium entrance, together with a detailed description in Spanish. I researched that it is a solitary, aggressive carnivore that inhabits fresh or brackish water and even enters the sea. Eventually it will require larger living space, since it can grow to at least 6ft. (200cm.) long.

I would have liked to ask the curator some questions about his collection, but he spoke no English. Nobody else entered the Aqvarium the whole time I was there.

Should you be wandering around Old Havana, a visit to the "Aqvarium" is a welcome respite from the busy streets and relentless sun.

ADDENDUM:
April, 2004: After reading this article, José Vázquez, Director of the Aqvarium, kindly provided the following additional information:

Dear Mr. Norfolk:
Our common friend, Mr. Armando Olaechea, has given me your web site to find the article you have written about the FRESHWATER PUBLIC AQUARIUM in Havana.

It is a pity I was absent during your visit to the Aqvarivm, because we could have talked about our goals and activities, and I could have served you as "tourist guide" regarding your purposes related with aquariums and tropical fishes. Since I read the three articles you wrote about Cuba, I felt your "taxi driver" was not competent for your interests. In fact, there is a great amount of private people rearing freshwater fishes for aquariums in Havana (in the same way you saw) and also there are three government owned pet shops in the city, one of them very close to the small Aqvarivm you visited in Old Havana.

The "Aqvarivm" is an idea of the Office of the Historian. Supported by them, it was inaugurated in March, 2000, so we have been open for 4 years. In this period we have received more than 250,000 visitors, mainly children.

The idea of the "Aqvarivm" is very simple. To give the common people an opportunity of being in touch with "a piece of nature" in this non-ecological area. It is really surprising (even to me), that the people who live in big cities, with no relations with nature or even with animals and plants, love these small "Ecological Redacts." You should see the "Aqvarivm" on holidays and in summer time: thousands of people come here just to see the eight tanks and take some fresh air. We also have the so-called "community activities," mainly with children and old persons. We have a monthly spectacle with puppets, clowns, etc., just to talk about nature, giving children basic ecological concepts in an easy and adequate way according to their ages.

We also have a program co-ordinated with health authorities, in which very old people with high blood pressure, heart diseases and stress problems come here two times a week with a psychologist to receive an "Anti-Stress" treatment with very good results. (Remember the darkness, the air conditioning, classic music - everything focused to relax).

By the way, I have not mentioned yet who I am: My name is José Vázquez, Director of the Aqvarium and also of the pet shop I have already mentioned (Casa Langwith). I am a Biologist, graduated from the University of Havana with a MSc. Degree in Freshwater Aquaculture (Commercial scale, not in aquariums), and I would be very pleased to exchange information with you and serve in anything you need.

I appreciate a lot your article about the AQVARIVM and apologize for the inconvenience you had here with English. I hope to meet you in your next visit, hopefully soon.

Thanks again,
José Vázquez

Thank you, José. I wish I'd met you too. Next time!