Tarpon Springs Aquarium
| Tarpon Springs Aquarium | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 28°09′19″N 82°45′48″W / 28.15536°N 82.76323°W | |
| Location | Tarpon Springs, Florida United States |
| Total volume of tanks | 125,000 gallons |
| Website | www |
The Tarpon Springs Aquarium is located at the West end of the Sponge Docks in Tarpon Springs, Florida, United States. It offers a variety of local aquatic and reptilian life. Shark, Alligator, Snake, and Eel showings are featured throughout the day where visitors can watch staff feed the animals and touch them. Also includes an indoor playground named Puffy's Playground.
Admission
Adults: $7.75, Children(3-11): $5.75, Seniors(55+): $7.00, Children two and under free
Exhibits
Touch pool
At the entrance of the aquarium is a touch pool housing diamond-back terrapin turtles, hermit crabs, sea urchins, and horseshoe crabs.
Alligator exhibit
The alligator exhibit is towards the front of the aquarium. One juvenile American alligator, one adult American alligator, and an Alligator snapping turtle. The juvenile alligator is sometimes held by staff, allowing guests to walk into the aquarium and pet it's back.
Gulf of Mexico tank
The Gulf of Mexico tank is a large 120,000 gallon tank in the aquarium with two full grown Nurse sharks and Bonnet-head sharks. Other fish such as, Atlantic tarpon, porcupinefish, and a large Goliath grouper live in the tank. Periodically throughout the day, SCUBA Divers hand feed the sharks and fish for an audience.
Snake Enclosures
The snake enclosures hold a different varieties of snakes, including a 15-foot Burmese Python, that are on display. There are a total of 5 different enclosures, some with multiple snakes. Snake shows are featured where visitors may touch a large python.
Stingray pool
The stingray pool holds Atlantic stingrays and Cownose rays that visitors may touch. The stingrays may also be fed for $1. It is near the shark feeding pool.
Shark feeding pool
The shark feeding pool allows guests to use tongs to feed multiple young Nurse sharks. The pool is next to the stingray touch pool
Miscellaneous
Near the Gulf of Mexico exhibit is a Green moray eel tank and a Caribbean ocellated moray eel tank. Eel shows are featured where visitors may watch as staff feed the eels. Also near the Gulf of Mexico exhibit is a Florida lobster tank. There is one coral reef tank that also includes a Percula clownfish and a Skunk clownfish. A new tank holds scorpionfish, and one more holds an Atlantic pygmy octopus.
Puffy's Playground
An indoor playground is located next to the aquarium. Admission into the aquarium also allows visitors to enter the playground which has inside a bounce house, ball pit, quarter games, and an assortment of other equipment.