aquariumpacific

[aquariumpacific]

LITERALLY where our lore started, these photos were taken a few months before we officially opened in 1998! How long have you been visiting AOP? ⏳

[aquariumpacific]

Aquarium Staff Help Two Green Sea Turtles

Aquarium of the Pacific staff were able to free an entangled green sea turtle and rescue another green sea turtle that needed immediate medical attention in early March thanks to a partnership and permit with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service’s (NMFS) West Coast Region.

The turtle found in critical condition came to the Aquarium with its front right flipper 90% necrotic due to a severe fishing line injury that had cut off all circulation to the rest of the flipper. X-rays also showed a fishing hook lodged in the back of its mouth. The turtle has since undergone two surgeries, amputation and fishing hook removal.

The turtle is now receiving world-class care in our Molina Animal Care Center while it recovers. We’ll continue to share updates on this incredibly resilient animal.

Working in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, the Aquarium of the Pacific’s veterinary staff members regularly help to rehabilitate ill or injured sea turtles for release back into the ocean. The Aquarium has cared for turtles since 2000, including green, olive ridley, and loggerhead sea turtles.

All seven of the world’s sea turtle species are endangered. If you see a stranded sea turtle in the San Gabriel River or elsewhere, please call the West Coast Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding Network 24/7 hotline at 562-506-4315.

[aquariumpacific]

Introducing...CAPYBARA LAGOON! 🤎

The new IT animal has overtaken our former Shark Lagoon touch pools for a limited time. Don't worry, all sharks have been relocated to other touch pools to allow the capybaras to chill and vibe. Sharks don't prey on capybaras, but there is a weird rivalry between these two species that we're learning how to manage. Anyways, happy April 1st! 😜

[aquariumpacific]

Get your tissues ready! Our 2025 CELP Scholars were notified of their acceptance into the program via phone call a few weeks ago. Here’s how it went! 📞🥹

Visit pacific.to/celp25 to learn more about this program and meet our 2025 scholars!

The CELP Scholar Program is supported by contributions. The public is invited to make a donation at pacific.to/celpfund

[aquariumpacific]

When your outie is an Aquarium of the Pacific fan 💙🛗🔢🪇

[aquariumpacific]

Weighing an octopus! 🐙⚖️

[aquariumpacific]

Signing off for the day, thanks for your questions! Drop them anytime for a future Tumblr Tuesday.

HAPPY TUMBLR TUESDAY!

Tuesday again? No problem! Taking some time today to answer your questions. Ask away!

[aquariumpacific]

Lumpfish?

Lumpsuckers my beloved...

[aquariumpacific]

Please tell us your otter crimes. What mischief and mayhem do they get up to?

Constant mischief, constant mayhem. This one took an entire ice cake for herself and started banging it on the wall to break it up into smaller pieces during a treast session. They aren't great at sharing...

[aquariumpacific]

any skills/abilities one of your animals have that a lot of people don’t know about? (Like how some octopi can camouflage or how anemones sting their prey)

Penguins have goggles!

[aquariumpacific]

What animal doesn't get enough credit for being particularly smart? Outside of the usual dolphins, octopi, sea lions, and others.

I think fish in general! We have several fish that are target trained and showcase their intelligence and personalities. This is Freddie the Queensland grouper, he is trained to go to a target during feeding time daily!

[aquariumpacific]

Lung fish?

We don't have any but they are very cool!

[aquariumpacific]

What is the biggest misconception about cephalopods?

Oooh great question. It's probably the discourse around tentacles! Octopuses don't have tentacles, they have arms. Cuttlefish and squid have tentacles and arms. The easy way to remember the difference between the two is tentacles retract and arms do not!

Here's a video of a flamboyant cuttlefish using its tentacles to catch. prey:

Thanks for coming to my Tentacle Talk!

[aquariumpacific]

Actually I should say that we're pretty sure Ghost the giant Pacific octopus (and her GPO predecessors) can tell the difference between people. The way they act with their main aquarist, Brooke, is so different than anyone else. We know they have amazing eyesight, but she can also TASTE with her suction cups, so it's likely she can tell the difference between people by the way they look and taste!

Can any on your non-mammal animals differentiate between different humans? I would assume some birds can but not sure about other aquatic friends like fish.

I've asked our husbandry staff about this and it's really hard to say. They think some animals can differentiate between people in Aquarium uniforms and regular clothes, but it depends on the animal!

[aquariumpacific]

Can any on your non-mammal animals differentiate between different humans? I would assume some birds can but not sure about other aquatic friends like fish.

I've asked our husbandry staff about this and it's really hard to say. They think some animals can differentiate between people in Aquarium uniforms and regular clothes, but it depends on the animal!

[aquariumpacific]

can we get more photos of your octopi? they’re so pretty.

I don't think I've introduced Tumblr to Charlie Darwin yet! Charlie is a beautiful common octopus in our Tropical Pacific Gallery.

[aquariumpacific]

can we get some rainbow lorikeet content 🌈🦜

Of course! Here's what they look like as babies...

then their feathers start to come in...

and eventually, these little dinosaurs turn into THIS

STUNNING.