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Food

Bahooka's Famous Fish Rufus Needs A New Home

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Rufus the fish in his tiki paradise (Photo by Emma Gallegos/LAist)

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Rufus, the carrot-chomping pacu fish that greeted customers of Bahooka for more than three decades until it closed last year, is looking for a new home.

A former cook from Bahooka has been feeding Rufus every morning, but his days at the legendary tiki bar are numbered as it transforms into a Chinese restaurant, according to Los Angeles Magazine.

Andrew Meieran, the owner of Clifton's Cafeteria, bought most of the cool tiki decorations for a new bar he has in the works. He's considering taking care of Rufus, but like a lot of other fans of the Bahooka's unofficial mascot, he wants what's best for the 38-year-old fish. He told LA Magazine, "I'm very concerned about his health and well being. I am definitely looking at all possibilities to provide him a loving new home."

Other fans have taken to Twitter to find the slow-moving fish a new home, using the hashtag #SaveRufus. The Aquarium of the Pacific, Cabrillo Aquarium and Neil Patrick Harris have been floated as potential new owners.

Should you know anyone who knows a places for the fish who once shared the screen with Johnny Depp in "Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas," call up Esteban Silva at (626) 602-4522.

Here's a video of Rufus doing his thing:

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