Georgia aquarium

[spazmattik]

I just got back from a nice long road trip to New Orleans a couple weeks ago. We stopped at birmingham zoo in Alabama on the way down. We walked the streets of bourbon, had our fill of beignets at cafe Du monde as well as gumbo. We checked out the insectarium and the aquarium. We went on voodoo and haunted tours that even led us to the grave of one Nicholas Cage...wait, he's still alive right? Yes... and if you think its expensive to live in the DMV area, you should see the cost of NOT living in the heart of New Orleans. Between the two lots he bought for his grave, the payments for upkeep, restoring his soon(ish) to be neighbors tombs, and the cost of the crazy pyramid that will be his forever home it was estimated to be about 3 million....crazy...

Anyways, one of the coolest parts of our trip was on the way back where we stopped in Atlanta to visit the Georgia aquarium to see the whale sharks. It is worth a road trip if you haven't already seen it. They might not have much in the way of cichlids aside from the thousand or so mixed africans or the sa/ca community. But, its all about the whale sharks!

 

[HoleyRockofTex]

it is an amazing aquarium

 

[dogofwar]

One of my favorites!

Matt

 

[chriscoli]

Wow, I didn't realize that any aquarium was keeping whale sharks.

 

[dogofwar]

Georgia Aquarium's been at it for quite awhile. I think one in Japan as well.

The viewing pane at GA Aquarium is the second largest in the world. As big as it is, the main tank is almost the size of a football field!

Simply mind-blowing, especially when you realize that they have to make and maintain their own saltwater (vs. pump from the ocean like the Monterey Aquarium). I was on a behind-the-scenes tour a few years ago and it was just really impressive.

Matt

 

[blkmjk]

Lord knows I need to make a trip to the ATL! Holy moly. AWESOME!
Drew

 

[spazmattik]

Georgia Aquarium's been at it for quite awhile. I think one in Japan as well.

The viewing pane at GA Aquarium is the second largest in the world. As big as it is, the main tank is almost the size of a football field!

Simply mind-blowing, especially when you realize that they have to make and maintain their own saltwater (vs. pump from the ocean like the Monterey Aquarium). I was on a behind-the-scenes tour a few years ago and it was just really impressive.

Matt

Didnt you just love the dolphin show? LoL

 

[spazmattik]

Wow, I didn't realize that any aquarium was keeping whale sharks.

Only two or 3 do. Japan like Matt said and one of the staff members said he thinks thailand does and thats where the ones they have came from.

 

[dogofwar]

I don't think I caught the dolphin show. It's been a couple of years since I've been there and not really a fan of captive dolphins...

Matt

 

[spazmattik]

trust me, you would remember this guy. lol

 

[guarddog5]

One of my favorites!

Matt

Been there a couple times myself, it also is one of my favorites. The Monterrey aquarium also rocks!

 

[Digital]

Tennessee aquarium in Chattanooga is also nice. If passing through it is worth the stop.

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[spazmattik]

Tennessee aquarium in Chattanooga is also nice. If passing through it is worth the stop.

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We were going to stop there also on the way back but by that point we were kind of exhausted and just wanted to get home.

 

[HermsTheWord]

I used to live in Chattanooga, and I'd highly recommend the Tennessee Aquarium! Before it added a saltwater wing in 2008 or thereabouts, it was a freshwater-only aquarium, and the majority of the aquarium features freshwater fish from around the world. That sets it apart from most of the other aquariums in the country.

 

[blkmjk]

trust me, you would remember this guy. lol

I can't stand that kind of stuff. Self aware animals to me shouldn't be kept like that. It really bothers me. But not a discussion for the forum I think.

Drew

 

[spazmattik]

I can't stand that kind of stuff. Self aware animals to me shouldn't be kept like that. It really bothers me. But not a discussion for the forum I think.

Drew

true. My comment was more about the questionable theatrics. The dolphins themselves, a whole other can of worms

 

[blkmjk]

Yeah thinking about how smart those animals are and how close their families are it kills me to think of children or juveniles being ripped away from their families. And I never felt that way until I had kids of my own. Crazy how perspective can change.

Drew

 

[dogofwar]

I think the cheesy dolphin show theatrics are relatively new. Totally pointless, in my perspective.

The dolphin show at the Baltimore Aquarium is entertaining and edifying, mostly without the cheese.

My discussions with Sam L. definitely pushed me over the edge on why keeping dolphins, whales, etc. in captivity is just not a good thing.

Matt

 

[Tony]

I've been to Monterrey, Waikiki, Atlanta and the Shedd and it's really really tough to pick a favorite. Monterrey's open ocean tank is off the hook as well as their kelp forest you see when you first enter. The Shedd has that old feel institutional "Smithsonian-y" feel to it and their flooded Amazon wing is incredible. Atlanta has the monster SW tank with the whale sharks as well as the beluga whales (one of which was "displaying" for us when we were there, but that's another story all together). Waikiki is small, but has the largest collection of coral in the world.

Tennessee aquarium in Chattanooga is also nice. If passing through it is worth the stop.

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Next on the list for sure. Maria has family in Nashville, so last time we went, I was pumped about hitting it up... and then I realized just what a giant state Tennessee is, lol.

My discussions with Sam L. definitely pushed me over the edge on why keeping dolphins, whales, etc. in captivity is just not a good thing.

I miss that guy.

 

[guarddog5]

Forgot about the Shedd aquarium with the gang on our way to the ACA 2010 convention, that place was also cool!


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