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suits, no tail. They can add small when you go to an aquarium, one
weights if they want, and then exhibit was just Atlantic fish, or
we put them in the tail. And this is just Red Sea or Pacific or whatever.
where we have to be very diligent, These are fish from all over the
because even scuba-certified and world. We’ve even converted some
comfortable people in the water brackish water fish in the saltwater.
can panic in a tail. It’s basically like So we have all kinds of fish in there,
having your legs tied together, and which is really unique.
it’s not easy. It takes someone very,
very comfortable in the water to All the aquarium systems and
make it look as graceful and as easy main exhibits are hooked up to a
as they do. monitoring system that goes into an
app on my smartphone. So at two or
JW three in the morning, if a pump goes
We have learned a lot in our talks out, my phone goes beep!, and I get
with mermaids globally, and neutral to come in and figure out what’s
buoyancy is a recurring topic. Some going on. It keeps us busy, for sure.
mermaids put weights in their tails.
RR What’s your policy on that kind of JW
I’m a biologist at heart. So I love thing? How many people are working here?
the animals. But the mermaids are
fantastic because they bring so RR RR
many more people than we would Our mermaids have weights around There are six full-time biologists.
[normally] get here. Mermaids have their hips. There use different There are three full-time divers,
grown so much in popularity over weighted ones to be a little slightly several on-call divers, two full-time
the past six, eight years. It’s just negatively buoyant. So when they go mermaids, two part-time mermaids,
exploded; it’s great. down in the front window, they can and numerous others on call. With
kind of sit there and do their thing the 24-hour monitoring system,
JW without worrying about floating up. when something breaks, we are
Do the mermaids that work for We leave it up to the girls; they make here asap, 24/7. We have two 325
the Silverton need mermaid it look easy. horsepower pumps that circulate
certification? the water through the sand filters.
JW Then we do a backwash two times
RR How would you see this entire exhibit a week—nine thousand gallons
Our mermaids just have to be scuba going in the future? With regards to each—and that’s how we recycle the
certified; that’s the only requirement. size or inclusion or otherwise? water. That’s why we’ve only done
When we have an open position, one water change in 16 years; we’re
it’s titled “free swimmer.” So it’s not RR constantly cycling the water. So
actually titled mermaid but free I would love an expansion. But who 325 horsepower pumps push water
swimmer on our website. Anyone knows if that’ll ever happen. The through two banks of sand filters
that is scuba certified can apply. bigger, the better. The more fish and one huge protein skimmer.
There is a trial process and whoever we can have, the more people that
does the best in class gets the would draw in, but that’s just not up Food: the stingrays get the high 30s
opportunity. to me. We are constantly making [in] pounds of food per week, and
improvements, and I have amazing all the food we feed is restaurant
JW staff right now. I want this to continue quality. The shrimp, the squid, the
What about breath holding? Do to grow in popularity—perhaps start scallops—when we put in a purchase
they have their own tails? advertising with school groups and requisition, the food is ordered from
school tours and really get the word the same place that supplies for the
RR out. I want to bring people in and get restaurant. They’re spoiled rotten.
I think it depends on the mermaid. I the Silverton name out there.
mean, they’re all amazing at holding We pull sharks and stingrays out
their breath. I don’t know how they I would like to get the mermaid two times a year; we weigh them
do [it]. I’m scuba certified and [if] I school up and get it back to where and measure them to ensure they
have that regulator out of my mouth it was pre-pandemic. That was really are healthy, [or] at least maintaining
for two seconds, I’m scrambling to popular at one time. We also had weight. Again, if they’re juveniles,
get it back in. I don’t know how they meals with mermaids, where we put we make sure they’re at least
hold their breath the way they do. tables up to the window so when maintaining, if not gaining.
The mermaids really enjoy the smiles the guest is here eating breakfast,
on kids’ faces. When they get down a mermaid would swim up to the JW:
there and make the bubble hearts window. The entire staff at the Silverton care
for the kids on the front window, I for the animals in the aquarium,
think they all really enjoy that. JW the mermaids, and presenting an
Let’s talk numbers, like gallons, the incredible exhibit for its guests. The
JW quantity of food, and the number proof is in the crowds of people that
What is your process for choosing a of people on staff. I don’t think are both entertained and educated
mermaid? anybody looking at this would really at the same time. The Silverton
understand the size of the operation mermaid exhibit is a must-see if you
RR and fully appreciate it. are in Las Vegas.
We do the auditions, and we bring
people in that are seemingly RR
comfortable in the water; we let It’s 117,000 gallons. It’s 15 feet deep,
them dive down and breathe off the 2000 fish, [with] over 100 different
regulator first in just their bathing species. One unique thing is they’re
not region-specific. So many times

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