The Key West Aquarium, located just a few steps away from the Mel Fisher Museum, is a great place to go and immerse yourself in the wonders of the oceans creatures. Complete with a touch tank, a stingray and nurse shark pool, the aquarium houses a variety of aquatic animals ranging from sea horses, exotic fish and sea turtles. Latch onto a tour and watch nurse sharks and stingrays lap at their pools sides, eager for food - you also have the chance to feed the sharks! Join in on the fun for the possibility of touching a baby nurse shark and hear about how they are actually docile unless provoked.
The aquarium is quaint and composed of 3 main sections. Three main pools rest in the center of the aquarium, flanked on both sides by aisles of brightly colored fish ; leading out to the back at the end of the pools is a boardwalk encircling an even large pool of sharks all pertaining to a different species.
The boardwalk is complete with two small pools of sea turtles and smaller sharks as well as a touch tank for young stingrays. Perched around the fence surrounding the sharks are little dispensers for fish food, and, for only a quarter you can watch a flurry of fish thrash madly beneath you as they each try to get a piece of food.
To the right of one of the main pools, is another exhibit housing the largest pool in the aquarium. This pool contains barracudas, parrot fish and bonnet headed sharks. The pool is flanked by smaller exhibits containing alligators, a parrot and an albino python. Once you have circled this pool, the exit is found at the end where you are introduced into the aquariums gift shop and the entrance to Mallory Square. The aquarium is also a rehabilitation centre for injured sea turtles. The Key West Aquarium is a family friendly environment and perfect for all ages, there is no age restriction for enjoying the ocean's creatures!
Buy your tickets before you go here.
