life usually found around the jetties and include sea urchins, tripletail and burr
fish. A special seagrass exhibit demonstrates a grass flats environment,
with seahorses and pipefish. Visitors will also see other organisms that
thrive when undisturbed in this delicate environment. Smaller tanks house
a variety of changing features such as anemones, cow fish (these are so
cute), shrimp eels, brotulas, scorpion fish, toadfish, bat fish, sea robins and
a variety of crabs.
A new round tank was added this year and features special marine life donated or harvested by local fisherman, community members and the Aquarium
staff. Currently the invasive lionfish is on display with a large hermit crab. A
beautiful coral reef tank is a special attraction simulating the Flower Garden
Reef Sanctuary in the Gulf of Mexico. You will love being able to see the many
different colorful fish who inhabit this tank in a festive coral environment.
Hands-on activities for the kids include a touch table of marine artifacts, digging for a shell souvenir and crayon rubbing transfer stations. Marine-related
displays, shell collections and free educational materials are
available as well. The souvenir and gift shop has t-shirts,
caps, reference books, interactive children’s books, jewelry,
note cards, stuffed animals, and ornaments, fish, along with
shell and bird identification posters.
The Aquarium is run by volunteers, many who are marine biologists or master naturalists, who are all interested in promoting education and interest in the local marine environment.
Volunteers and staff keep the ever-changing exhibits fresh and
interesting, and welcome you during visiting hours to guide
and answer your questions. If you love what you see and share
a passion for the sea, you might want to consider joining the
Aquarium team.
When you visit, you’ll be able to peek behind the scenes to see
how the tanks and fish are maintained and quarantined before
display. Walk next door to the Aquarium Education Center to watch an
excellent show on marine life and check out an interpretative exhibit.
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