Non-Fish That You'll Often Find At An Aquarium

When you and your family decide to visit a local aquarium, you might primarily be expecting to see a variety of fish. While it's true that your aquarium will have a long list of fish species, you might not realize that many other animals are often present. Seeing different animals can not only be educational but can also help to create variety during your visit as you walk from exhibit to exhibit. While the exact animals that are present will vary from aquarium to aquarium, here are some non-fish that you'll often find. 

Penguins

Some aquariums have penguin displays, featuring one or more species of this aquatic bird. This might be one of the first times that you're seeing penguins in person, although you've perhaps watched documentaries about them in the past. It can be enthralling to watch penguins go about their routine. Their enclosure typically features both water and a snowy/icy solid environment, so you can expect to see some of these birds walking around and others swimming. Some penguin enclosures even have sloped areas that access the water, so you may see some penguins sliding into the water.

Otters

Otters are a fixture at many zoos, but they can also be present at lots of aquariums. People of all ages can enjoy watching these mammals. You might be surprised at the fun-loving nature of otters. They spend a lot of their time swimming, and many will float on their backs in a relaxed position. Otter enclosures often have slides, and you may see otters playing together as they slide into the water. Children will love watching the otters and you can expect to hear your kids laughing a lot as these animals go about their routine.

Alligators

There are some aquariums that have alligators. Although these large reptiles are a fairly common sight in certain parts of the country, a lot of people have never seen them in person — and would much rather observe them in an aquarium than encounter one in the wild. You and your children will enjoy marveling at the size of these animals. You'll watch them glide silently through the water, barely visible, and then climb up on land where they'll be on full display. If you're lucky enough to visit during a feeding, you'll be amazed at the speed and strength that they exhibit as they devour their food.

Browse your local aquarium to see what animals it has on display.