A bitter dispute is making waves in Adelaide’s nightlife scene — and this time, it’s not about door lists or DJs.
One of the city’s most popular clubs, Atlantis is under fire for their eye-catching centrepieces — live aquariums housing tropical fish — with animal activists calling the displays cruel and inappropriate.
Animal rights campaigner Tyler Clare has slammed the venues, claiming the fish are being kept in distressing conditions just metres from thumping speakers and strobe lights.
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“The bright strobe lights going off all night completely disrupt their circadian rhythm,” Clare told 7NEWS.
“All the fish had their mouths wide open — a clear sign of stress.”
Clare is demanding the marine life be rehomed, saying nightclubs are no place for sensitive aquatic animals.
“They’re surrounded by flashing lights, loud music and drunk crowds — it’s completely unnatural,” he said.
But Atlantis owner James Pratt is defending the setup, saying the fish are well protected and properly cared for.
“We’ve got 55mm-thick acrylic glass, 25,000 litres of water — the fish can’t hear a thing,” he told 7NEWS.
“They’re part of the family here.”
Pratt said two marine biologists signed off on the design, even testing noise levels inside the tank.
“They had dB readers going with the music cranked up. There’s no harm being done,” he said.
While the tanks remain a striking feature, the controversy has reignited a broader debate.
In the UK, London nightclub Inferno removed its aquarium after a public backlash, and now all eyes are on South Australia — where upcoming animal welfare law reforms will formally recognise fish as sentient beings, capable of feeling pain.
But there’s a catch — nightclubs may be exempt from the new legislation.
“If fish are recognised as sentient animals, there should be minimum welfare standards — no matter where they are,” Clare said.
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