New Fish Facility

December 2025

Moonlit Sanctuary Opens New Fish Facility and Welcomes its First Dwarf Galaxias

Moonlit Sanctuary is proud to celebrate one of our key conservation achievements of 2025; the opening of our purpose built, state-of-the-art fish facility and the arrival of its first species, the Dwarf Galaxias (Galaxiella pusilla).

This new facility marks a significant step forward in our commitment to freshwater conservation. Designed with precise environmental controls and adaptable tank configurations, it provides the ideal platform for long-term husbandry, research and conservation breeding. While the Dwarf Galaxias is the first species to benefit, the facility has been intentionally developed to support additional threatened aquatic species in the coming years, strengthening our role in safeguarding Australia’s freshwater biodiversity.

The arrival of the inaugural Dwarf Galaxias was a milestone moment for the organisation. Our ectotherm department, leadership team and owner Michael Johnson gathered as these tiny fish were gently introduced to their custom-designed tanks.

The Dwarf Galaxias is a small endemic freshwater fish found across parts of Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia. Although once more widespread, it now exists in fragmented populations, largely due to wetland drainage, habitat degradation, climate pressures and competition from introduced species. As a result, it is listed as Vulnerable.

We extend a huge thank you to Chris Lamin (Middle Creek Farm) and Greg Martin (Aquariums by Design) for their invaluable expertise and commitment throughout this project. Both worked closely with our Ectotherm Coordinator, Jamieson Brodie, to design and refine the systems and environments that now support these tiny freshwater fish. Their collaboration was essential in bringing this facility from concept to reality.

As we look ahead, this facility represents not just a 2025 highlight, but a long-term investment in threatened aquatic species recovery. We look forward to expanding our work in the freshwater space, collaborating with partners across the sector, and contributing meaningfully to the future of species like the Dwarf Galaxias.