The Simons Theatre will be closed for a private event on Tuesday, October 22.
On Wednesday, October 23, The Trust Family Foundation Shark and Ray Touch Tank will be closed until 1:00 p.m. for routine animal care.
Please note: The Gift Shop and Harbor View Café are closed for renovations until mid-November. A temporary gift shop is located on the third floor (Aquarium admission required for entry). Learn more about on-site dining options here.
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START YOUR ADVENTURELookdown
Selene vomer
These fish are called lookdowns because they appear to look down as they swim. You can see them in the Giant Ocean Tank in medium- to large-sized schools. Some of the lookdowns you’ll see were raised from eggs in the Aquarium’s Larval Fishes Program.
Animal Facts
Size
Six to ten inches long; two to three pounds
Diet
Small invertebrates, such as shrimp and worms, and fish
Lifespan
Unknown in the wild; up to 20 years in the care of humans
Range
Shallow coastal waters from Maine to Uruguay, including the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico
Conservation Status
Least concern
Threats to Survival
- Pollution
Larval Fishes Program
For years, our aquarists have collaborated with researchers at Roger Williams University to raise fish from eggs through the larval stage and into adulthood. The program has successfully raised more than 17 species, including lookdowns. Through this work, we can reduce the number of fish collected from wild populations and share our learnings with other public aquariums.
Lookdown Transport
Some of the fishes inside our Giant Ocean Tank are part of the Larval Fish Program here at the Aquarium, like our lookdowns. Aquarist Lindsay explains the how we move the lookdowns from the Giant Ocean Tank to our Animal Care Center in Quincy using a process called "light stunning."
Related Stories
What’s in an Egg?
Learn how our team collects fish eggs for the Marine Fish Egg Catalog.
Raising Glassy Sweepers from Egg to Adult
Currently, about 75 juvenile glassy sweepers, reared and raised from egg to adult for the first time as part of the Aquarium's Larval Program, are now on view in the Aquarium's Blue Planet Action Center.
