Vancouver Aquarium - renovated tropics zone

[Delphinus]

Just wanted to let everyone know that the Vancouver Aquarium has done a really cool job on their newly renovated "Tropic Zone" section. It's worth a look if you haven't seen it already.

Since my last visit last year, there has been a huge overhaul. Gone is the "pool blue" walls, the "aiptaisa exhibit" and the really dorky fake corals in the main opening fish tank (still fake corals, but much better quality). The anemone exhibit that was just overrun with aiptasia is replaced with an awesome live reef display. Fantastic aquascaping. Lots of mushrooms, heehee, but, the size of that tank, not really a big deal. Counted about 6 fighting conches in the sand bed (and I'm sure there are more)!

Unfortunately, there is no longer a clownfish in an anemone exhibit. But the improvements made far surpass that one thing.

When we were there last week (Thursday), one of the sharks in the shark tank gave birth to a live pup, right in front of everyone's eyes. It was amazing. Sadly, being that the birth was unexpected, the pup was eaten by one of the other sharks. So the aquarium staff were able to dispatch some divers, and cordone off a section of the tank in the net. The mother was given a section of the tank all to herself, so that in case she gave birth to a second pup, they would be able to net the baby out of harm's way. I do not know if there was a second pup born, if anyone heard anything about that could you please post an update here, I would like to know what came of that.

PS. I also want to applaud the aquarium for their marine mammal rescue effort. When I was on Hornby Island last week, we learned of an orphaned seal pup who had been on his own for four days, desperately looking for his mother who had been somehow killed. A local fisherman was able to net the pup, and he drove it to Comox airport where it was airlifted to the aquarium in Vancouver. When we were at the aquarium on Thursday I enquired about the state of the little guy (his cries of "Maw! Maw!" could be heard all over the Hornby-Denman ferry lineup) and I was very relieved to learn that he was in very good condition, he had suffered was some mild dehydration but he stands a very good chance of recovering to be released into the wild again. Needless to say, the aquarium gets my donation for the "Save our Seals" program. Great job, guys.

The only real downside to our trip was the smash and grab done on my car at Stanley Park. The perpetrator made of with nothing of any real value (shampoo, soap, my razor but he neglected to take the plug for it so when then battery is dead the razor is a paperweight), but, he managed to do $1600 worth of damage to my car (he couldn't break the windows so he tried prying all of them open... All four of my doors have pry marks and the car has to go the body shop to be repaired). To get home I had to stop in a Rona to get some duct tape and some plastic so I could at least drive on the highway back to Calgary without a missing window. There were three cars nailed, ours, and the one to our left and the one to our right. Whatcha gonna do. Unfortunately, these things do happen sometimes. It's in the hands of my insurance company now.

But definitely do pay the aquarium a visit (just don't leave anything of value in your car when you park at Stanley Park).

[EmilyB]

That's why we'll take Christy's car...

Awesome stories Tony.

[christyf5]

Oh thanks Deb.

Actually I think you're better off leaving your car open in Vancouver. With nothing in it of course Less damage that way.

[Gujustud]

So its certainly been a while since I was last at the Vancouver Aquarium (possibly 6+ years). My girlfriend, also has never been so I decided that it was time to go. I read up on a few other posts on the board, and I also agree the $16 is nothing for the experience of going to the aquarium. I find I would probably go back a few more times, and if I do decide to, I would rather just buy the yearly pass for $40.

The place has changed quite a bit since I last remember. Its a bummer not to see the Orca's there anymore, however, I do believe that mammals that size should be in the ocean, or a tank, MUCH larger than the one they have (I remember at a time they had 3 inside the large tank).

The cold water tanks were a nice touch, as it lets you know whats right around the corner from where we live. I spent more time in the tropical area, specially with the salt water tanks. In the past it would of been something I would of just walked by, but now knowing whats actually in there, makes it more rewarding.

I was disappointed not to see too much SPS, for some reason I thought they would of had a huge setup, but the mountains of mushrooms was interesting to see. The only think that I found odd was I couldn't find a single clownfish in all their setups, except for the 2 in the small tank, in the kids area. I would of thought with all the "finding nemo" hype they would of had a few more in the bigger fish only tank.

In all, I had a blast, saw some of my old friends (whitefin, and the 2 sloth's). The belugas tried to splash me, but I ran

I took a bunch of pictures, so here they are:
(click on pics to see bigger version)

Cold Water Tank - Full of Anemones


Jellyfish - (Hard to capture)




Frog - Very cool frog exhibit. No matter how many scary faces I made, he didn't flinch.


Big Fish Only Tank (with fake corals. Some looked real, some didn't.)



Reef Tank with Corals





Big Clam


And a few others:

Sea Otter


More pictures here

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

This December, I took my wife there for her birthday. Since I spent all my $$ on this addiction, it was a good thing we had 2 free passes. By the way, I think the Entertainment Book usually has a 2-for-1 coupon. EmilyB - if you need one call or pm me.

It was definitely worth a trip there, especially since its been years since my last visit. Actually, I used to give NightStalker tours - where you take groups of Scouts or Guides through at night, show 'em behind-the-scenes, have a snack & then sleep in the Beluga exhibit with a big smiley face staring at you as you snooze off, only to have the same (maybe dif) smiley faced Beluga staring at you in the morning. Miss those days.

Yeah, so I agree with those who say the new Van Aquarium is worth seeing. My wife loved the jellyfish exhibit (of course she wants one at home now )

[Gujustud]

Originally Posted by SeaHorse_Fanatic

By the way, I think the Entertainment Book usually has a 2-for-1 coupon.

Yup I had one from last years book (expired Nov 1st '04) but the nice lady at the ticket book, scratched out nov, and put dec No harm in asking.