1 and only Drew
Well-Known Member
First up, there is an old thread (here it is) - this is a fresh start to that thread. There was some confusion, as it was originally a "Florida Native Aquarium". It is now an aquarium, with a very large focus on native Florida species as well as tropical species and exotic birds (hence the second part of the name). I'll start the first post by giving a full species list, by exhibit.
Manatee Lagoon Complex
Before you walk into the building, you pass a bridge over a pond with a few american crocodiles inside of it. Natural birds will come and go as they please, but some may not make it out!
The main feature of this building is the outdoor manatee lagoon. The lagoon has indoor viewing and outdoor viewing, underwater and above-water. There is freshwater in the lagoon. The west indian manatees are the stars of this exhibit. The spotted gar, florida gar, longnose gar, channel catfish, largemouth bass, and bowfin will keep the smaller fish species (discussed in a minute) from taking over the lagoon. The redear sunfish, bluegill, and grass carp will keep insects at a minimum, including mosquitoes. The florida softshell turtles will also keep smaller fish at a controlled level. Roseate spoonbill, white ibis, black crowned night heron, yellow crowned night heron, great blue heron, green heron, tri-colored heron, little blue heron, great egret, snowy egret, cattle egret, and wood stork will be enclosed in this large exhibit as well. Antique-looking wooden bridges will be crossed over the water for visitors to walk through, and large cypress trees and fine netting over the top will keep the birds in and provide them natural nesting and roosting places.
As you move around the indoor section, a large exhibit has indoor viewing, and contains american alligator, alligator gar, blue catfish, redear sunfish, and golden shiners.
A large tank inside the building features mississippi map turtle, western pond turtle, florida cooter, barbour's map turtle,, and western mosquitofish.
There are individual indoor exhibits with glass viewing windows for the following species:
As you pass through a hallway out, you see large tanks in the wall. These are surrounded by informational signs featuring things about invasive species in Florida. The species per tank are:
I'll end this post here. That will conclude the Florida native building. I'll just do these reviews by complex. If you read through the older thread, there are a lot of changes, so be sure to pay attention to the lists
Manatee Lagoon Complex
Before you walk into the building, you pass a bridge over a pond with a few american crocodiles inside of it. Natural birds will come and go as they please, but some may not make it out!
The main feature of this building is the outdoor manatee lagoon. The lagoon has indoor viewing and outdoor viewing, underwater and above-water. There is freshwater in the lagoon. The west indian manatees are the stars of this exhibit. The spotted gar, florida gar, longnose gar, channel catfish, largemouth bass, and bowfin will keep the smaller fish species (discussed in a minute) from taking over the lagoon. The redear sunfish, bluegill, and grass carp will keep insects at a minimum, including mosquitoes. The florida softshell turtles will also keep smaller fish at a controlled level. Roseate spoonbill, white ibis, black crowned night heron, yellow crowned night heron, great blue heron, green heron, tri-colored heron, little blue heron, great egret, snowy egret, cattle egret, and wood stork will be enclosed in this large exhibit as well. Antique-looking wooden bridges will be crossed over the water for visitors to walk through, and large cypress trees and fine netting over the top will keep the birds in and provide them natural nesting and roosting places.
As you move around the indoor section, a large exhibit has indoor viewing, and contains american alligator, alligator gar, blue catfish, redear sunfish, and golden shiners.
A large tank inside the building features mississippi map turtle, western pond turtle, florida cooter, barbour's map turtle,, and western mosquitofish.
There are individual indoor exhibits with glass viewing windows for the following species:
- Baltimore oriole
- Land hermit crab
- Florida pine snake
- Two-toed amphiuma
- Grey rat snake
- Green tree frog
- Greater siren
- Loggerhead musk turtle and western mosquitofish
- Eastern diamondback rattlesnake
- Corn snake and yellow rat snake
- Alligator snapping turlte
- Water moccasin
- Everglades rat snake
- Timber rattlesnake and copperhead
- Black rat snake
As you pass through a hallway out, you see large tanks in the wall. These are surrounded by informational signs featuring things about invasive species in Florida. The species per tank are:
- Argentine black and white tegu
- African rock python
- Green iguana
- Burmese python
- Nile monitor
- Cane toad
- Green basilisk lizard and knight anole
- Cuban tree frog and brown anole
- Blue tilapia and spotted tilapia
- Bullseye snakehead
- Mayan cichlid, midas cichlid, oscar, jaguar cichlid, butterfly peacock bass, and sailfin pleco
I'll end this post here. That will conclude the Florida native building. I'll just do these reviews by complex. If you read through the older thread, there are a lot of changes, so be sure to pay attention to the lists
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