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 centre91裸聊视频檚 first venture with Central Saanich veterinarian Marley Chou.

The vet returned to perform bilateral oophorectomy 91裸聊视频� ovary removal similar to spaying a pet 91裸聊视频� on a rock greenling in a Nov. 26, 2024 surgery intended to extend the marine animal91裸聊视频檚 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 91裸聊视频� starting to solidify in the fish91裸聊视频檚 body and she would never pass them. Surgery was the only option for the life-threatening condition.

91裸聊视频淎nimal welfare is the top priority for us all the time. It91裸聊视频檚 not something people always see,91裸聊视频� LeSergeant said, noting surgeries are rare.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 something that91裸聊视频檚 going to drastically improve the health of this animal and give it a longer and healthier life.91裸聊视频�

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 centre91裸聊视频檚 registered vet tech keeps anesthetic water running over the fish91裸聊视频檚 gills to provide oxygen and to keep it under while the vet does the hour-long surgery.

Just like humans, someone monitors the animal91裸聊视频檚 vitals throughout.

It aligns with the centre91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淧art of our 10-year strategic plan involves making sure we have the highest standard of animal care,91裸聊视频� LeSergeant said. 91裸聊视频淲e are highly focused on keeping those five freedoms of animal welfare.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e also very careful about how we source our animals as well, making sure we91裸聊视频檙e taking things respectfully and only as necessary,91裸聊视频� LeSergeant said. 91裸聊视频淭he animal care team is highly committed to upholding the highest standards for these fish and invertebrates 91裸聊视频� making sure collectively those animals are happy, healthy and hopefully making people love the ocean more.91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淲hen you stand at the surface you can91裸聊视频檛 see what91裸聊视频檚 going on underneath,91裸聊视频� LeSergeant said. 91裸聊视频淭o be able to go into the aquarium and see the fish right in front of your face and have an understanding of what91裸聊视频檚 down there and what it looks like 91裸聊视频� it91裸聊视频檚 a cool experience for people to see what91裸聊视频檚 going on under the Salish Sea.91裸聊视频�

Right now visitors won91裸聊视频檛 see the female greenling as it remains in quarantine. She91裸聊视频檒l be reassessed when her sutures come out, but Leon91裸聊视频檚 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 he91裸聊视频檚 a picky eater much loved by both the public and the team at the .

91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 definitely a squid guy,91裸聊视频� LeSergeant said with a chuckle. 91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 definitely the animal care team91裸聊视频檚 favourite fish, well definitely up there.91裸聊视频�