@devilfish: thanks for posting the pictures from this aquarium and "underwater zoo". What was your overall impression of the place? From your pictures and reading the website it looks like they have an impressive, very large tank with sharks in the mall and an okay aquarium attached. Were there any unique species here? The species listed on the website (Humboldt penguin, small-clawed otter, leafy sea dragon, spider crabs, etc.) looked like a good basic aquarium list, but without any really spectacular species (e.g., whale sharks, belugas, etc.). I would guess that just constructing a good basic aquarium alone is a major accomplishment.
Thanks DavidBrown. I really liked the place overall and wish I had more time there. The giant tank is visible from the ground through to the second floor of the mall; although it lacks a superstar species, the scale of the tank and viewing windows and the quantity of life make it fantastic to look into. A lot of different viewing opportunities are offered; you can watch from the mall itself (for free), walk through the tunnel, take a glass-bottom boat ride, snorkel in the shark cage or scuba dive around the tank (all for different prices). Although giant manta rays or a whale shark would add an extra 'wow' factor to the main tank, I can't realistically see it drawing in that many more visitors, or increasing the average time spent in front of the tank (as the majority of visitors just watch from afar without paying). Financially and ethically, it doesn't seem to be worth the fuss at the moment.
The underwater zoo on the second floor is excellently themed, and a pleasure to walk through. Although the underwater zoo contained no cetaceans, giant elasmobranchs or other marine mammals, I think the species list caters quite well to the normal visitor as well as to the 'expert'. For instance, the average visitor will be impressed with giant crabs & isopods, nautilus, two penguin species, otters, and nutrias (labelled as 'water rats'); whereas the zoo nerd will be after the Siamese giant carp, Mekong giant catfish, tigerfish, giant freshwater stingray and would be pleased to see paddlefish and the native reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates on the upper floor.
The main tank also has an impressive species list, including several trevally, moray eel and shark/ray species (including spotted wobbegongs and at least two different guitarfish species). A few new species (at least in captivity) for me too, including rainbow runners and bulbnose unicornfish.
