Livingston was a lionfish kept by Captain Jean-Luc Picard in his ready room aboard the USS Enterprise-D for the duration of the ship's existence. The spherical aquarium was located in the corner of the ready room, next to the viewport. (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint")
In 2364, Lieutenant Commander Data examined Livingston's fish tank very closely with a magnification glass, as the android was implementing some of Sherlock Holmes' characteristics at the time. (TNG: "Lonely Among Us")
Livingston was seen while Captain Picard discussed the situation on Ventax II with Dr. Howard Clark. (TNG: "Devil's Due")
When visiting Picard in his ready room, Berlinghoff Rasmussen examined the fish and knocked on its aquarium. (TNG: "A Matter of Time")
Hugh examines Livingston
The Borg Hugh examined Livingston very closely when he was beamed into the ready room in late 2368. (TNG: "I Borg")
Both Q and DaiMon Lurin took great interest in the fish in early 2369, closely examining Livingston in the tank. (TNG: "True Q", "Rascals")
Later that year, Captain Edward Jellico ordered that Livingston be removed from the ready room after he assumed command of the Enterprise. (TNG: "Chain of Command, Part I")
When visiting a holographic representation of the NX-class Enterprise, Deanna Troi wondered how Captain Jonathan Archer could have survived without a fish tank in his ready room. (ENT: "These Are the Voyages...")
Livingston affected by Barclay's Protomorphosis Syndrome
After being affected by Barclay's Protomorphosis Syndrome, William T. Riker attempted to break open Livingston's fish tank, possibly in order to consume him. Fortunately, he did not succeed. The fish had been affected by the Syndrome as well and was transformed into a jellyfish-like creature. (TNG: "Genesis")
Q thought Picard was probably worried about his fish as well as his ship and his crew after the captain saved Humanity from the effects of an anti-time anomaly in the Devron system in 2370. (TNG: "All Good Things...")
Livingston's tank after the Enterprise-D's crash on Veridian III
Livingston was given a much larger aquarium by 2371. Unfortunately, the Enterprise-D was soon destroyed, although Livingston's tank remained intact and survived the crash of the saucer section on Veridian III. (Star Trek Generations)
For a time, Livingston was present in Picard's ready room on the USS Enterprise-E, in a much larger tubular aquarium. (Star Trek: First Contact)
Appendices
Background information
"Unofficial name given by the Star Trek production crew to the Australian lion fish that lived in the salt water aquarium in Picard's ready room. Livingston was named for Star Trek producer David Livingston. "I can see the resemblance," says Bob Justman." (Star Trek Encyclopedia (4th ed., vol. 1, p. 483))
According to Ronny Cox, Patrick Stewart hated Livingston's presence in the ready room, and constantly petitioned the producers to remove the fish. Stewart, a strong animal rights advocate who opposes many forms of pet ownership, felt that using a captive animal in an ornamental display was "immoral" and inconsistent with TNG's core theme of exploring the inherent dignity of different species across the galaxy. Cox, who called Stewart's point "well taken", stated that Livingston's temporary removal in "Chain of Command" was thus a "sort of a bone they threw to Patrick". Livingston at StarTrek.com
Livingston's aquarium was not readily visible in Star Trek: First Contact, but production photos of the set reveal that it was present. Livingston was not part of the set for Star Trek: Insurrection and Star Trek Nemesis.
Livingston was portrayed by a red lionfish (Pterois volitans) in nearly every appearance. Only in "Devil's Due" did the fish change species and appear as a radial firefish (Pterois radiata).
Livingston is the first of four recurring pets, which include Spot, Chester, and Porthos.
External links
- Livingston (fish) at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
- The changing face of Livingston at Ex Astris Scientia