The admission fee is $34.95/adults; but if you purchase tickets on-line for a visit Monday through Friday, the cost is $29.95. That’s what we did, and then you can use your phone to show proof of purchase at the entrance.
Exhibits are both inside (on multiple levels) and outside. We began our visit at the Caribbean Journey exhibit the second floor.
Various habitats are shown in the displays in this part of the aquarium. The first is of a cenote, an underground sinkhole formed by rain that seeps through cracks in the underlying limestone. (We have seen them on the Yucatán peninsula in Mexico where they are quite common). The Jungle habitat features exotic birds, reptiles, and this shy two-toed sloth (who was sleeping in a tiki hut). Can you see that furry fellow?
The brilliant feathers of these three were gorgeous: scarlet ibis, Caribbean flamingo, scarlet macaw, and white ibis.
Steps to the third floor take you to the Jungle Overlook.
The Mesoamerican reef is the second largest coral reef in the world. Tropical fish, sea turtles, manatees, and sharks make it their home. I loved the vibrant colors of the fish in this exhibit.
The spiny lobster looks like an alien from another planet!
The Caribbean Sea exhibit features a 68’ window providing expansive views of the 400,000 gallon tank with reef sharks, sting rays, barracudas and other aquatic species swimming in and around the Spanish galleon shipwreck.
We were at the exhibit during feeding time so it was interesting to see the sandbar sharks snatching fish off the poles extended from a small boat in the exhibit. The sharks are well fed (3 x week) to keep them from eating other marine life in the tank.
Below is a porcupinefish (aka pufferfish) also found in the Caribbean Sea.
The southern sting rays were so interesting. They eat from the bottom of the ocean floor (that horizontal slit is its mouth).
Exhibits about protecting our precious marine life are located near the Caribbean Sea exhibit.
Aquarium staff were in the lobby area with a great green macaw and a cooper’s hawk for an up close look.
Shark: A 4-D Experience is shown every hour (10 am to 4 pm) daily. We really enjoyed the educational movie with fun special effects. A second show, Ice Age (an animated 4-D movie) is shown on the half hour (10:30 am - 4:30 pm).
Walking through the gift shop, we went to the outside exhibits.
Two shows a day are provided at Dolphin Bay (11:30 am and 3:30 pm).
Two dolphins (around 25 years old) are the stars of the show. They were incredible and entertained us with lots of tricks, jumps, and other aquatic acrobatics. What beautiful and intelligent creatures.
They could catch and throw a basketball and football!
Here they are saying good bye at the end of the show. It was great!
Below is Otter Creek and Sting Ray Lagoon (where you can touch the rays’ silky wings.
Tortuga Cay is the habitat here for non-releasable sea turtles (due to medical issues). During the recent cold weather in the area, the Texas State Aquarium picked up and cared for 1,000 cold-stunned green sea turtles and kept them in rehab until the water of the Gulf reached warmer temperatures. All have been now been released to their natural environment.
The Swamp Tales exhibit is home to Bo, an American Alligator.
The Eagle Pass exhibit is where you can see Bonnie and Grace. Both are American Bald Eagles who have sustained left wing injuries preventing their return to the wild.
You can compare your wingspan to that of many large birds at a nearby display.
Two other museums, The Art Museum of South Texas (www.artmuseumofsouthtexas.org) and the USS Lexington, an Essex-class aircraft carrier built during WWII are located nearby (www.usslexington.com).
We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the Texas State Aquarium. It is educational, interesting, and has beautiful aquatic exhibits. Check it out if you have the time when you say re in the Corpus Christi area. It was worth the price of admission!
Website: www.texasstateaquarium.org
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