Amazon tanks in zoos and aquariums
- Thread starter savetherhino
- Start date
The Amazon theme is easily among the most common aquarium themes in zoos. African Rift Lakes might be the only theme that can compete. Zoo Amazon tanks pretty much always have pacu, along with some combination of arowana/arapaima, catfish, cichlids, other large characins (Brycon, Leporinus, etc.), and stingray. Sticking to North America only, off the top of my head, Pittsburgh, Omaha, and Smithsonian all have exhibits that are nicer than Milwaukee's (better lighting and aquascaping). Many others are out there too: Toledo, Como Park, Henry Vilas, Blank Park, etc. Lots of public aquaria of course feature this theme as well, with Shedd being the standout.
Agree. I found red tailed catfish and those small spotted stingrays quite common among Amazon theme, as well as arapaima. Piranha and electric eel in side tanks.
I hasn't visit a lot of aquarium in zoo, but I think the Amazon tank in River Safari is great (that is only the Amazon flooded forest, not the ride)
Vienna has a very nice but more small-scale Amazon aquarium area with a walkthrough tunnel 
Toledo has one. Shedd Aquarium's Amazon Rising complex is incredible.
Miami zoo has a pretty large Amazon aquarium that includes Pacu, Arawana, and the red-tail catfish that was mentioned earlier. Los Angeles zoo has two one featuring piranhas and the other holding river bass.
Jacksonville Zoo has excellent outdoor tropical america aviary with large pool containing pacus, matamata turtles, neotropical sliders and other mixed fishes.