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Officials hopeful more fish, crabs from TIA crash will survive

Staff Photo by MAURICE CAPOBIANCO

The wreck broke a 1,500-gallon tank worth more than $50,000.

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 12, 2009

Updated: 11/12/2009 01:41 pm

TAMPA - Hope floats. Some of the fish, however, won't.

Five fish and two hermit crabs have survived a Ford Ranger crashing into their tank at Tampa International Airport, Florida Aquarium spokesman Tom Wagner said today.

The surviving fish are together in quarantine in a tank at the aquarium, where they are being treated with antibiotics.

"We're hopeful that at least half the fish will make it," he said.

Fifty fish and about a dozen hermit crabs lived in the tank before a Ford driven by Yamile Campuzano-Martine crashed into it Monday night, Wagner said. Among the fish survivors: a clownfish, a butterfly fish and a blue tang.

Some of the fish have begun eating again, but that doesn't guarantee their survival. Two fish that resumed eating Wednesday have since died, Wagner said.

The crash broke a 1,500-gallon tank worth more than $50,000. No people were seriously injured.

The marine exhibit was part of the airport's El Movimiento del Mar public art program. The airport spent $200,000 on the exhibit.

"We certainly do want to bring the aquarium back to the location," Wagner said. "We just need to sit down with the airport and figure out the logistics."

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691.

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