Lookdown

Attention: The elevators will be down from November 15 to 27 for maintenance. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Please note: The Harbor View Café is closed for renovations until after Thanksgiving. Learn more about on-site dining options here.

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.

At the Aquarium

See lookdowns swimming in the Giant Ocean Tank or see if you can spot them from home on Giant Ocean Tank Webcam!

How You Can Help

Lookdowns are primarily found in coastal waters, so preserving coastlines and reducing coastal pollution helps keep their population healthy.

VISIT THE AQUARIUM

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

EX EW CR EN VU NT LC

Threats to Survival

Pollution

Conservation Project

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.

Lookdowns swimming on exhibit at the Aquarium Photo: Vanessa Kahn

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."