Large Arowana Fish Moved From Small Tank In Queens To Bigger Digs On L.I.
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A rare fish has been moved out of its small tank at a Queens restaurant to more spacious living quarters on Long Island.
Patrons expressed concern that the Arowana fish, which has grown to more than 2-feet-long, was too big to move around in its small tank at TOMO Restaurant in Jackson Heights.
Cashier Christina Zheng knew it was time for the fish to go when it scared workers and customers after it jumped out of its tank and onto the restaurant floor.
1010 WINS' Mona Rivera reports
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A woman had been trying to get the owner of the restaurant to release the fish for more than a year, 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera reported.
She eventually reached out to a Port Jefferson-based animal rescue group that was able to negotiate the release of the fish.
Matt Festa, of Guardians of Rescue, stopped by the restaurant on Friday to secure the fish.
"Looks like he's got a lot of fight left," Festa said. "He just cleared the top of our tank but we got him. We got him back in there and the top secured tightly.
Festa transported the fish to the Long Island Aquarium & Exhibition Center in Riverhead where it will live out each day in much bigger digs.
Restaurant owner Larry Zhou said he'll miss the fish and plans on visiting it at the aquarium.
