I visited this esteemed institute on Sunday August 6th. I arrived just before opening, so I was one of the first people inside the aquarium. The facility recently reopened after a major renovation that brought the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas and Audubon Insectarium into the same building.
I visited the aquarium in 1998 or so, but this was my first time back since then. I don’t remember exactly how the aquarium looked at that time, but I do remember liking it and enjoying my time there.
Previously you entered from the ground floor, now one pays for tickets on the ground floor and then goes upstairs to start the tour of either the aquarium or insectarium. The entries are beside one another (aquarium to the left, insectarium to the right) - but they are separate tickets that can be bought individually or as a package with the choice of two or three of their facilities (zoo, aquarium, insectarium). I will be doing a separate trip report on the new insectarium.
I went to the aquarium first. At the entry is a standard size tank for Pacific sea nettles, which is a bit out of place as you make an immediate entry from there into the Down on the Bayou area.
The whole Bayou area is nicely lit from skylights. Down on the Bayou starts with a small enclosure for a white American alligator. It’s not a terrible enclosure, just small for an animal that size. However, it is just one animal so it is adequate. This area also has tanks for various snakes, turtles, and inverts like crawfish and blue crabs (coming soon). The largest tank is a recreation of what it may look like under a bayou shack. The stars here are the American paddlefish. After this large tank one comes to a set of small aviaries for red tailed hawk, screech and barred owls, and a low enclosure for turtles. The birds are honestly just out of place and I don’t see the need to have them there at all. The red tailed hawk aviary reminded me of the perch at Wildlife World, albeit with at least some space to fly (assuming it can). For a brand new build in the AZA this is not really acceptable to me.
Next one goes “inside” and comes upon the first overlook of the Gulf tank - the star of the aquarium. One views down into the tank via a glass overlook and floor. Facing the Gulf tank overlook is the ray and shark touch tank. It is a large tank, but a standard touch tank overall. The overlook is really cool, you can overlook via the open top into the gulf tank and see all the fish and sea turtles swimming around the simulated gulf oil rig. This was a special and unique view that most aquariums don’t have.
After leaving the overlook one comes upon an African Penguin tank. It is a good size the the approximately 30 birds. Of interest is the inclusion of African Hartlaub's Duck (Pteronetta hartlaubi), thanks to @SusScrofa for identifying them for me. According to a keeper I chatted with they are one of only two AZA zoos to exhibit the ducks with the penguins, she was not sure who the other holder that mixes them is.
Leaving the penguins takes you to Amazon Rainforest. This is the exhibit area that is seen from the outside via the large glass structure. I don’t think much, if anything, was changed here in the remodel. It is a nice area - the trees and tanks mix really well. However, everything is pretty standard and nothing really stood out. The one sore spot was the green anaconda in a under-sized dark tank. The snake was un-signed as well, strangely.
Descending the escalator takes you into the Great Mayan Reef. This area is where the aquarium of the “Americas” takes root as the theming is heavy and the lighting is done really well. One first encounters a tank of lionfish surrounding a sculpture. Surrounding this area are various small tanks for eels and fish. The star is the Great Mayan Reef tank which has the aquarium’s walk through tunnel. It’s a smaller tunnel as they go, but the reef colors are fantastic and the fish are abundant.
After the Great Mayan Reef you pass through some VR kiosks and the photo kiosk. Rushing past these takes you to the star celebrity of the aquarium - the main Gulf tank. This are is themed around a oil rig and the theming extends from the aquarium into the visitor area. Everything is dark and lit by blue and purple hues. This is done extremely well. The main inhabitants in the tank are brown, nurse, and sand tiger sharks, a green sea turtle, some large jacks and tarpon as well as gar.
Opposite the main tank are small side tanks for jellyfish. Jelly tanks seem to be run of the mill in large aquariums these days, and they don’t disappoint here. There is not much to say about them, but they are nicely lit and look good.
Passing the jellys takes you to the exit and gift shop. I will be honest, it is not a great gift shop - I could not find any shirts for adults which was a disappointment as I generally buy a t-shirt when I go to zoos and aquariums.
In conclusion this is a really nice aquarium. However, it is not as large or does not take as long to tour as I thought it would. I went through twice and spent about 1.25 hours. The remodel is nice, but overall there is nothing about this aquarium that is a “must see” that would draw one to this aquarium for a special trip - not like the other great aquariums in the country. The most unique aspect is the inclusion of the insectarium in the same building.
Entry is $35 for an adult for any single facility (zoo, aquarium or insectarium) which is honestly steep for any one of these places. A two park ticket is $50 and a three park is $60. So, if you can do all three that is the best deal. $50 for the Insectarium and Aquarium, which is the most common since they are in the same building, is a bit steep still. I feel $45 for that combo would be more reasonable. They do not offer AZA discounts.
Would I go back? Yeah, if I find myself in New Orleans again I can see going back.
I visited the aquarium in 1998 or so, but this was my first time back since then. I don’t remember exactly how the aquarium looked at that time, but I do remember liking it and enjoying my time there.
Previously you entered from the ground floor, now one pays for tickets on the ground floor and then goes upstairs to start the tour of either the aquarium or insectarium. The entries are beside one another (aquarium to the left, insectarium to the right) - but they are separate tickets that can be bought individually or as a package with the choice of two or three of their facilities (zoo, aquarium, insectarium). I will be doing a separate trip report on the new insectarium.
I went to the aquarium first. At the entry is a standard size tank for Pacific sea nettles, which is a bit out of place as you make an immediate entry from there into the Down on the Bayou area.
The whole Bayou area is nicely lit from skylights. Down on the Bayou starts with a small enclosure for a white American alligator. It’s not a terrible enclosure, just small for an animal that size. However, it is just one animal so it is adequate. This area also has tanks for various snakes, turtles, and inverts like crawfish and blue crabs (coming soon). The largest tank is a recreation of what it may look like under a bayou shack. The stars here are the American paddlefish. After this large tank one comes to a set of small aviaries for red tailed hawk, screech and barred owls, and a low enclosure for turtles. The birds are honestly just out of place and I don’t see the need to have them there at all. The red tailed hawk aviary reminded me of the perch at Wildlife World, albeit with at least some space to fly (assuming it can). For a brand new build in the AZA this is not really acceptable to me.
Next one goes “inside” and comes upon the first overlook of the Gulf tank - the star of the aquarium. One views down into the tank via a glass overlook and floor. Facing the Gulf tank overlook is the ray and shark touch tank. It is a large tank, but a standard touch tank overall. The overlook is really cool, you can overlook via the open top into the gulf tank and see all the fish and sea turtles swimming around the simulated gulf oil rig. This was a special and unique view that most aquariums don’t have.
After leaving the overlook one comes upon an African Penguin tank. It is a good size the the approximately 30 birds. Of interest is the inclusion of African Hartlaub's Duck (Pteronetta hartlaubi), thanks to @SusScrofa for identifying them for me. According to a keeper I chatted with they are one of only two AZA zoos to exhibit the ducks with the penguins, she was not sure who the other holder that mixes them is.
Leaving the penguins takes you to Amazon Rainforest. This is the exhibit area that is seen from the outside via the large glass structure. I don’t think much, if anything, was changed here in the remodel. It is a nice area - the trees and tanks mix really well. However, everything is pretty standard and nothing really stood out. The one sore spot was the green anaconda in a under-sized dark tank. The snake was un-signed as well, strangely.
Descending the escalator takes you into the Great Mayan Reef. This area is where the aquarium of the “Americas” takes root as the theming is heavy and the lighting is done really well. One first encounters a tank of lionfish surrounding a sculpture. Surrounding this area are various small tanks for eels and fish. The star is the Great Mayan Reef tank which has the aquarium’s walk through tunnel. It’s a smaller tunnel as they go, but the reef colors are fantastic and the fish are abundant.
After the Great Mayan Reef you pass through some VR kiosks and the photo kiosk. Rushing past these takes you to the star celebrity of the aquarium - the main Gulf tank. This are is themed around a oil rig and the theming extends from the aquarium into the visitor area. Everything is dark and lit by blue and purple hues. This is done extremely well. The main inhabitants in the tank are brown, nurse, and sand tiger sharks, a green sea turtle, some large jacks and tarpon as well as gar.
Opposite the main tank are small side tanks for jellyfish. Jelly tanks seem to be run of the mill in large aquariums these days, and they don’t disappoint here. There is not much to say about them, but they are nicely lit and look good.
Passing the jellys takes you to the exit and gift shop. I will be honest, it is not a great gift shop - I could not find any shirts for adults which was a disappointment as I generally buy a t-shirt when I go to zoos and aquariums.
In conclusion this is a really nice aquarium. However, it is not as large or does not take as long to tour as I thought it would. I went through twice and spent about 1.25 hours. The remodel is nice, but overall there is nothing about this aquarium that is a “must see” that would draw one to this aquarium for a special trip - not like the other great aquariums in the country. The most unique aspect is the inclusion of the insectarium in the same building.
Entry is $35 for an adult for any single facility (zoo, aquarium or insectarium) which is honestly steep for any one of these places. A two park ticket is $50 and a three park is $60. So, if you can do all three that is the best deal. $50 for the Insectarium and Aquarium, which is the most common since they are in the same building, is a bit steep still. I feel $45 for that combo would be more reasonable. They do not offer AZA discounts.
Would I go back? Yeah, if I find myself in New Orleans again I can see going back.
