Florida Aquarium Florida Aquarium News & Notes

Some updates in my visit log from this past weekend.

Shorelines -
  • Clinging crab tank has been replaced with a great tank holding emerald crab, banded coral shrimp, cardinal fish, arrow crab, and giant Caribbean anemone.
MODPH'D -
  • The Caribbean octopus is gone, the tank is empty and has a sign "New Species Coming Soon".
  • Electric catfish have been replaced by painted frogfish.
  • A new tank for four-fingered lipsuckers has been added across from the mudskippers.
  • Arowana tank now houses freshwater stingrays with the arowana.

Wetlands -
  • Python seems to have been replaced with caracara. The bird was visible but un-signed, but python signs have been removed.
 
SwampDonkey said:
Some updates in my visit log from this past weekend.

Shorelines -
  • Clinging crab tank has been replaced with a great tank holding emerald crab, banded coral shrimp, cardinal fish, arrow crab, and giant Caribbean anemone.
MODPH'D -
  • The Caribbean octopus is gone, the tank is empty and has a sign "New Species Coming Soon".
  • Electric catfish have been replaced by painted frogfish.
  • A new tank for four-fingered lipsuckers has been added across from the mudskippers.
  • Arowana tank now houses freshwater stingrays with the arowana.
Wetlands -
  • Python seems to have been replaced with caracara. The bird was visible but un-signed, but python signs have been removed.
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Disappointing about the octopus and catfish.
 
 
The outdoor kids area has re-opened post hurricane Milton. From the newsletter:
This festive area is the perfect place for family fun, featuring soft climb-on play areas, giant Jenga, cornhole, and the dreidel game, all with stunning views of Tampa Bay. It’s a fantastic spot to relax, play, and enjoy the holiday spirit!
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It is very underwhelming, but it is temporary until they start building the sealion and penguin habitats late next year.
 
On February 13th, 2025, the aquarium announced they rehabilitated and released a green sea turtle back into the wild.

10K views · 214 reactions | Yesterday, Buckley - a resilient green sea turtle- returned home. Found stranded more than a mile from the ocean in November, Buckley’s journey has... | By The Florida Aquarium | Facebook

On February 25th, 2025, the aquarium announced they acquired a peacock mantis shrimp which is now on display in the Reef Secrets gallery.

1.4K views · 31 reactions | We're excited to share about our newest resident in Reef Secrets, a beautiful peacock mantis shrimp! Did you know, peacock mantis shrimp can strike their prey with a punch up to 50 miles per hour! Be sure to stop by and say hi to welcome them! | The Florida Aquarium
 
On February 27th, the aquarium announced they acquired and subsequently released 2 Kemp's ridley sea turtles that were rehabbed by the New England Aquarium in Massachusetts back into the wild.

3.8K views · 87 reactions | We’re facing an unprecedented challenge as a record number of cold-stressed sea turtles arrive at our Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center in Apollo Beach.... | By The Florida Aquarium | Facebook

On March 18th, the aquarium announced they acquired a blue-spotted ribbon tail stingray which is now on display in the Shorelines gallery.

43 reactions | Join us in welcoming our new blue-spotted stingray! You can check them out at our Shorelines Gallery. ️ | The Florida Aquarium
 
Ebirah766 said:
Millet butterflyfish and Potter's angelfish are both very rare species.
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Smaggledagle said:
On February 25th, 2025, the aquarium announced they acquired a peacock mantis shrimp which is now on display in the Reef Secrets gallery.
Click to expand...
Smaggledagle said:
On March 18th, the aquarium announced they acquired a blue-spotted ribbon tail stingray which is now on display in the Shorelines gallery.
Click to expand...

I visited this past week, here are a few pictures and impressions:

Reef Secrets:
Probably the most "exciting" change is the addition of milletseed butterflyfish, raccoon butterflyfish, potter's angelfish, yellow tang, and flame angelfish (both unsigned). The tank held lots of the two butterflyfish and tangs, but only one each of the flame and potter's angelfish. There is a separate tank for peacock mantis shrimp:
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Ray touch tank:
Spiny lobsters moved here and there is a new bluespotted ribbontailed ray:
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More updates and impressions in my ongoing visit thread:
SwampDonkey's Florida Aquarium updates and visit log
 
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SwampDonkey said:
I visited this past week, here are a few pictures and impressions:

Ray touch tank:
Spiny lobsters moved here and there is a new bluespotted ribbontailed ray:
full
full



More updates and impressions in my ongoing visit thread:
SwampDonkey's Florida Aquarium updates and visit log
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That little fella is a bluespotted or Kuhl’s maskray (Neotrygon kuhlii)! They’re even cooler than ribbontails imo, slightly rarer in captivity and with their own funny personality (they often love to hide and can barely be spotted with their tiny eyes poking out of the sand). Cool to see another aquarium holding them!
 
Local_Shark said:
That little fella is a bluespotted or Kuhl’s maskray (Neotrygon kuhlii)! They’re even cooler than ribbontails imo, slightly rarer in captivity and with their own funny personality (they often love to hide and can barely be spotted with their tiny eyes poking out of the sand). Cool to see another aquarium holding them!
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Interesting, I wonder why they announced it that way? Thanks for letting me know, it is cool!
 
SwampDonkey said:
Interesting, I wonder why they announced it that way? Thanks for letting me know, it is cool!
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The two species can get mixed up sometimes lol. Not necessarily their fault, both of them have bluespotted in the name and look similar-ish. Sometimes they’re even sold by the opposite names.
 
Local_Shark said:
The two species can get mixed up sometimes lol. Not necessarily their fault, both of them have bluespotted in the name and look similar-ish. Sometimes they’re even sold by the opposite names.
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Fascinating! I adjusted the media text to reflect the change, thanks again! How many other holders are in the USA, if you know?
 
SwampDonkey said:
Fascinating! I adjusted the media text to reflect the change, thanks again! How many other holders are in the USA, if you know?
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It’s a relatively common species albeit a little rarer than bluespotted ribbontails, I know of probably 6 or 7 aquaria that have them at least. On the West Coast, Aquarium of the Pacific and Steinhart have them for sure, and I’m fairly certain Shark Reef, Living Planet and Odysea still do as well even though my last visits to those were a couple years back.
 
 
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