Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay Review and Species List - December 2024

[MOG2012]

Hello Zoochat. I have another species list but this time I'm also giving my thoughts. This will be in a different format, heavily inspired by @Astrotom3000 's reviews. I'm in Las Vegas right now so I went to the only AZA-accredited facility here.

In this thread, I'm reviewing the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay which is located in Paradise NV in the Las Vegas Strip. I visited this facility on December 20, 2024. The species list may not be the best as there is a lack of sufficient signage here.

The Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay is located at and owned by the resort Mandalay Bay. It's 9,800 sq. m large and opened on June 20, 2000. During the planning of this aquarium, it was helped by the Vancouver Aquarium with the cost of $40 Million. When it opened, it was the only indoor shark exhibit on the west coast. In 2003, it was first accredited by the AZA. In 2020, a virtual reality theater opened which showed aquatic short films and was included with the ticket. Currently, it receives an average of 900 thousand visitors per year.

In the next post, I will start my review of the different exhibits at the zoo with my own species list. I will split my review into three posts, the Jungle, the Temple and the Shipwreck. Feel free to note mistakes and missing information. I did not include behind-the-scenes-only animals on my list. I'm sorry if my photos weren't that good/clear.

To Be Continued Later Today...

 

[MOG2012]

Part 1 - The Jungle​

For the first part, I will be talking about the first exhibit which is The Jungle. It mainly focuses on tropical species from Southeast Asia and the Amazon with an exception.

After you pass the entrance, you walk ahead (with a couple of turns) to the humid "Jungle" area. The entry/exit room is a Central American-themed temple with tropical foliage and "ancient" stone brick walls. This exhibit has 7 enclosure, 6 that have freshwater aspects with one of them having no liquid water element. There are 2 enclosures in a L-like arrangement in the corner when you enter with a pond o the right side of the pathway. If you go a little down the pathway, you reach a dark-ish hallway with more of the "ancient temple theme" with an enclosure on your left side. At the end of the hall, there is a large tank with the "Amazon Predators" with submerged stone staircases and urns. On the adjacent wall, there is an aquarium for piranha. When I was there, a keeper was feeding them with a group of school children taking much of the viewing area which is why I couldn't take photos of them. Then, the path turns a corner which has the final enclosure on the left side. It's tall but narrow with no water element. Then, the Jungle section ends.

This enclosure is a bit small for the crocodile but it's not even close to the smallest in zoos.

• Freshwater Crocodile (Crocodylus johnstoni) [Signed as Johnston's Crocodile)

• Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis)

• Hybrid Ash Meadows Amargosa Pupfish (Cyprinodon nevadensis mionectes) x Devils Hole Pupfish (Cyprinodon diabolis) [Signed as Devils Hole Pupfish]

• Asian Arowana (Scleropages formosus)
• Burmese Python (Python bivittatus)
• Pig-Nosed Turtle (Carettochelys insculpta) [Not Seen] [Signed as Fly River Turtle]

• Giant Arapaima (Arapaima gigas) [Signed as Arapima]
• Peacock River Stingray (Potamotrygon motoro) [Signed as Motoro Stingray]
• Redtail Catfish (Phractocephalus hemioliopterus) [Not Signed]
• Ripsaw Catfish (Oxydoras niger) [Signed as Razorback Catfish]
• Tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) [Signed as Pacu]
• Tiger Stringray (Potamotrygon tigrina) [Not Signed]
• Xingu River Ray (Potamotrygon leopoldi) [Not Signed]

The following enclosure has species that were all signed as "Pygocentrus sp." This is the best I could identify in my short time at that enclosure. It's also interestly open-topped but it has a keeper there at all times to prevent injuries and also answers questions.

• Black Spot Piranha (Pygocentrus cariba)
• Redbelly Piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri)

The final enclosure is a body of water-less terrarium

• Solomon Islands Skink (Corucia zebrata) [Signed as Prehensile-Tailed Skink]

Then, the pathway leads to the next exhibit, the "Temple". Please identify any mistakes as I want this to be as helpful as possible.

To be Continued Tomorrow...

 

[protege]

there used to be a golden crocodile there; i didn’t see it last time i was there. i guess it died?

 

[MOG2012]

there used to be a golden crocodile there; i didn’t see it last time i was there. i guess it died?

It got replaced some years ago with a pair of freshwater crocodile. It did sadly pass and I don’t think the AZA is encouraging hybrid crocodiles

 

[MOG2012]

Part 2 - The Temple​

This next part focuses on the next zone in the zoo; the Temple. It focuses on species across the world with it's main theming being "a sunken temple" as if there wasn't enough "temple" theming across the zoo. All of the tanks are saltwater

After the Jungle, the pathway leads to the Reef Tunnel but before entering the tunnel, there are 3 large viewing windows that look into it. This is the second largest aquarium in the aquarium. There is notably a lack of signing which made it annoying to find all of the species I could see. After passing these windows, there is a square room with stone wall "ruins". To your right is the Caribbean Reef tank which had lots of activity. Then, there is the actual Reef Tunnel which leads to a larger "temple" room. The center of the room had a shallow touch pool tank with a keeper giving a talk. To the left of the pathway, there is a lionfish enclosure with the left wall being mainly a tank of cartilaginous fish that was not very biogeographically accurate. In the middle of the left side of the room, there was a Kreisel tank housing the jellyfish. Before the exit, there is a tank housing the octopus.

Reef Tunnel (my best identification)

• Blacktip Reef Shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus)
• Bluespine Unicornfish (Naso unicornis)
• Bonnethead (Sphyrna tiburo)
• Doublebar Rabbitfish (Siganus virgatus)
• Grey Angelfish (Pomacanthus arcuatus)
• Halfmoon Angelfish (Pomacanthus maculosus)
• Lookdown (Selene vomer)
• Purple Rockcod (Epinephelus cyanopodus)
• Red Emperor Snapper (Lutjanus sebae)
• Sohal Surgeonfish (Acanthurus sohal)
• White-spine Surgeonfish (Acanthurus leucocheilus)

Caribbean Reef

• Atlantic Sergeant Major (Abudefduf saxatilis) [Signed as Sergeant Major]
• Blue Parrotfish (Scarus coeruleus) [Signed as Scarus Parrotfish]
• French Angelfish (Pomacanthus paru)
• French Grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum)
• Midnight Parrotfish (Scarus coelestinus) [Signed as Scarus Parrotfish]

Lionfish Tank

• Common Lionfish (Pterois volitans)

Touch Tank (not signed)

• Atlantic Horseshoe Crab (Limulus polyphemus)
• Atlantic Stingray (Hypanus sabinus)
• Cownose Ray (Rhinoptera bonasus)
• Southern Stingray (Hypanus americanus)

Jellyfish Tank

• Pacific Sea Nettle (Chrysaora fuscescens) [Signed as Jellyfish]

Cartilaginous Tank

• Horn Shark (Heterodontus francisci) [Signed as California Horn Shark]
• Leopard Shark (Triakis semifasciata)
• Pyjama Shark (Poroderma africanum)
• Swellshark (Cephaloscyllium ventriosum)

Octopus Tank

• Giant Pacific Octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini)
• Unsigned Fish

To Be Continued Tonight...

 

[MOG2012]

Here's my updated species list for the temple, I forgot a couple species and some of the identifications were wrong.

Reef Tunnel (my best identification) - I also heard there was a zebra shark but the moderator with the signage was off and I didn't see it. Based on the species list, I think this is West Indian Ocean based.

• Bignose Unicornfish (Naso vlamingii)
• Blackfin Hogfish (Bodianus loxozonus)
• Blacktip Reef Shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus)
• Blueface Angelfish (Pomacanthus xanthometopon)
• Bluering Angelfish (Pomacanthus annularis)
• Bluespine Unicornfish (Naso unicornis)
• Bonnethead (Sphyrna tiburo)
• Clown Triggerfish (Ballistoides conspicillum)
• Lookdown (Selene vomer)
• Magnificent Rabbitfish (Siganus magnificus)
• Masked Butterflyfish (Chaetodon semilarvatus)
• Orangeblotch Surgeonfish (Acanthurus olivaceus)
• Palometa (Trachinotus goodei) [ @Westcoastperson 's suggestion ]
• Pinktail Triggerfish (Melichthys vidua)
• Powder Blue Tang (Acanthurus leucosternon)
• Purple Rockcod (Epinephelus cyanopodus)
• Raccoon Butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunula)
• Red Emperor Snapper (Lutjanus sebae)
• Squirrelfish (Sargocentron sp.)
• Slingjaw Wrasse (Epibulus insidiator)
• Sohal Surgeonfish (Acanthurus sohal)

Caribbean Reef

• Atlantic Sergeant Major (Abudefduf saxatilis) [Signed as Sergeant Major]
• Blue Parrotfish (Scarus coeruleus) [Signed as Parrotfish]
• French Angelfish (Pomacanthus paru)
• French Grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum)
• Lookdown (Selene vomer) [Not Signed]
• Midnight Parrotfish (Scarus coelestinus) [Signed as Parrotfish]

Lionfish Tank

• Common Lionfish (Pterois volitans)

Touch Tank - Partly Signed

• Atlantic Horseshoe Crab (Limulus polyphemus) [Signed]
• Atlantic Stingray (Hypanus sabinus) [Signed as Stingray]
• Cownose Ray (Rhinoptera bonasus) [Signed as Stingray]
• Southern Stingray (Hypanus americanus) [Signed as Stingray]

Jellyfish Tank

• Pacific Sea Nettle (Chrysaora fuscescens) [Signed as Jellyfish]

Cartilaginous Tank

• Horn Shark (Heterodontus francisci) [Signed as California Horn Shark]
• Leopard Shark (Triakis semifasciata)
• Pyjama Shark (Poroderma africanum)
• Swellshark (Cephaloscyllium ventriosum)

Octopus Tank

• Giant Pacific Octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini)
• Unsigned Fish and Starfish

 

[MOG2012]

Part 3 - The Shipwreck​

This exhibit only has one enclosure with multiple viewing panels and even a tunnel. It's the largest tank, being 4,900,000 litres which is one of the largest in North America. It recreates a large "sunken ship" with the viewing room replicating the lower deck. There also cargo boxes stacked in the center for seating and photos. There are also several panels above and below you. When I entered the room, it was just before the Santa meet and greet which is currently happening, leading this room to be packed and noisy. There are many rarities in this enclosure too. After the tunnel, there is a staircase that leads to the gift shop, then to the exit. For the signage of these species, the monitor was paused on the sawfish slide with the zebra shark and guitarfish having physical signage.

• Atlantic Crevalle Jack (Caranx hippos)
• Blue Runner (Caranx crysos)
• Bowmouth Guitarfish (Rhina ancylostomus)
• Galapagos Shark (Carcharhinus galapagensis)
• Green Sawfish (Pristis zijsron)
• Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
• Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos)
• Lookdown (Selene vomer)
• Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus)
• Sandbar Shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus)
• South Seas Demoiselle (Chrysiptera taupou)
• Zebra Shark (Stegostoma tigrinum).

And this is it for all of the Shark Reef Aquarium's fauna and exhibits. In the next post, I will provide a species breakdown tomorrow.

To Be Concluded...

 

[MOG2012]

Conclusion​

As the only AZA-accredited facility in Nevada, it's a nice aquarium despite being not big. It does have some rarities like Galapagos Sharks which are cool. For me, this was my 4th visit here and it never fails to excite me.

Here is the species breakdown.

Total Species Count - 64

Spoiler: Fish - 55

• Perch-like Fishes (Order Perciformes) - 14
• Ground Sharks (Order Carcharhiniformes) - 8
• Stingrays (Order Myliobatiformes) - 6
• Surgeonfishes and Ponyfishes (Order Acanthuriformes) - 6
• Cobia, Dolphinfish, Jacks, Moon Fishes, Remoras, and Roosterfish (Order Carangiformes) - 4
• Characins (Order Characiformes) - 3
• Bonytongues (Order Osteoglossiformes) - 2
• Catfish (Order Siluriformes) - 2
• Pufferfishes (Order Tetraodontiformes) - 2
• Alfonsinos, Nannygais, Pricklefishes, Ridgeheads, and Whalefishes (Order Beryciformes) - 1
• Bullhead Sharks (Order Heterodontiformes) - 1
• Carpet Sharks (Order Orectolobiformes) - 1
• Mackerel Sharks (Order Lamniformes) - 1
• Mail-Cheeked Fishes (Order Scorpaeniformes) - 1
• Sawfish (Order Pristiformes) - 1
• Shovelnose Rays (Order Rhinopristiformes) - 1
• Toothcarps (Order Cyprinodontiformes) - 1

Spoiler: Reptiles - 6

• Lizards and Snakes (Order Squamata) - 3
• Turtles (Order Testudines) - 2
  
• Crocodiles (Order Crocodilia) - 1

Spoiler: Invertebrates - 3

• Flag Mouths (Order Semaeostomeae) - 1
• Horseshoe Crabs (Order Xiphosura) - 1
• Octopuses (Order Octopoda) - 1

As this is an aquarium, it was expected that fish would be the most dominant species, having at least 55 of them. There is likely a lot more species but there was a big lack of sufficient signage for the exhibits. Perch-like Fishes have the most representation, mainly because of the Temple exhibits such as the tunnel and the Caribbean reef enclosure. Sharks are second, having representation in the Shark Tunnel, the smaller Shark enclosure and the Reef Tunnel.

Reptiles come in a very, very distance 2nd because of the Jungle section with Squamates making up half of them. The only reptile species outside of the Jungle are the 3 sea turtles in the Shipwreck enclosure.

Finally, invertebrates are last in the signed panels but there are likely a lot more invertebrates. For example, I saw many sea urchins and Seastar but they weren't signed. I would expect a lot of inverts in the reef tunnel.

This zoo lacks amphibians, birds, and mammals on-show though according to Zootierliste, they have Linne's sloth which was on a USDA inspection report but they are notoriously incorrect. They could put Solomon Islands Leaf Frog in the skink enclosure to have at least one amphibian on-show but because the crocodile and komodo enclosures are open-topped, I think it would be best to have no birds.

I hope you find this review and species list helpful and l also hope you like this new format. On the same day I was at Mandalay Bay, I also saw the large aquarium in the Caesars Palace Forum Sharks which I recommend, having some notable species such as Leopard Sharks, Cownose Rays, and Lookdown. This will likely be my last review of the year with several coming in the future (hopefully Roger Williams.) If there are any mistakes, please state them as I want this species list to be as up to date and accurate as possible

 

[Coelacanth18]

Thanks for the review @MOG2012. Shark Reef is definitely a "Vegas" aquarium - heavily themed throughout and mainly focused on the big-draw stuff - but overall it's not bad, and the Shipwreck tank is actually really cool. On my visit last year I spent about 2 hours at the aquarium and half of that was just sitting in the Shipwreck viewing area looking at all the sharks.

they have Linne's sloth which was on a USDA inspection report but they are notoriously incorrect.

A lot of zoos and aquariums keep sloths behind-the-scenes; they are frequently used for outreach, special events and VIP tours.

 

[MOG2012]

Thanks for the review @MOG2012. Shark Reef is definitely a "Vegas" aquarium - heavily themed throughout and mainly focused on the big-draw stuff - but overall it's not bad, and the Shipwreck tank is actually really cool. On my visit last year I spent about 2 hours at the aquarium and half of that was just sitting in the Shipwreck viewing area looking at all the sharks.



A lot of zoos and aquariums keep sloths behind-the-scenes; they are frequently used for outreach, special events and VIP tours.

I just don’t think usda reports are that reliable and I can’t find anything about a sloth there online

 

[Coelacanth18]

I just don’t think usda reports are that reliable and I can’t find anything about a sloth there online

They are reliable to a certain point. It's pretty unlikely that a sloth would be confused with any other animal in a USDA report. I also didn't find anything online about them having one, though, so in any case it seems like someone wanting to see a sloth at the aquarium is out of luck.

 

[Local_Shark]

@MOG2012 How did the Galapagos shark appear to be doing when you saw it? I know it's getting up there in years, but looked quite healthy when I was visiting this year in March.

 

[MOG2012]

@MOG2012 How did the Galapagos shark appear to be doing when you saw it? I know it's getting up there in years, but looked quite healthy when I was visiting this year in March.

It looked healthy. It took a while to distinguish it from the other Carcharhinus species. It looked as if it was socializing of some sorts, following/stalking a smaller shark though it might have been trying to "hunt" it

 

[Local_Shark]

It looked healthy. It took a while to distinguish it from the other Carcharhinus species. It looked as if it was socializing of some sorts, following/stalking a smaller shark though it might have been trying to "hunt" it

That’s great to hear. The species is so rare in captivity now, so I’m hoping I can get a good few more visits in with this individual.