The Mirage Hotel’s famous aquarium has been shut down and emptied as the iconic Las Vegas resort closes for good. Situated in the lobby behind the registration desks, the huge fish-only saltwater aquarium was home to 450 fish from 85 species and had been there since the 3000-room hotel opened in 1989.
The good news is that all the resident fish have been moved a short distance to Mandalay Bay’s Shark Reef Aquarium, one of the largest public aquariums in North America featuring a 1,300,000 US gallons mega tank.
The Mirage’s fish tank was placed in the main lobby to entertain guests before check-in but has been featured many times on TV and the media throughout the hotel’s 35-year history. It featured a custom-made coral insert, replica corals, and Butterflyfish, Triggerfish, Snappers, Trevally, Surgeonfish, Batfish, Monos, Rabbitfish, and other species.
The Mirage is giving away $1.6m in unclaimed progressive jackpots from slot machines and table games before closing, then a liquidation sale will begin on August 1st when fans and former guests will have a chance at getting their hands on pieces of the famous Las Vegas landmark. After that, the property itself will remain, but it will become a Hard Rock Hotel.
Main image credit Thierry, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
