Mystic Aquarium
The
Mystic Aquarium is a nice size aquarium. It has lovely landscaping as well
as some nice aquatic animals. A wide variety of different types of fish
and sea animals. The aquarium set up is not the best, but you can
get a close look to some of the animals. Once you enter the aquarium you
have the beluga whale tank. Where they have two whales. Then next to the
whales you have a tank with just one seal swimming around. The end of the
tank is not closed off. Just pieces of wood and limbs from trees to block
the end of the tank. Also some hidden pipes spraying water mist to give
the area a nice effect.
Then go alone a long walkway across a small little pond/swamp.
At the fork in the walkway you can go right to see the penguins
or go left to go inside the aquarium and look at all the different fish
and animals. I felt that this was nice but, they could have used the area
better and possibly add a few more tanks.
Once inside you have small little tanks with different types of
fish and animals. In the middle of the floor, you have a big coral area.....Unfortunately
too dark for picture to come out clear....dam
As you walk around you will be able to see the bottoms of the sea
lion tank, the beluga whale tank as well as the dolphin
tank, where they have the dolphin show. In the middle of the
floor they have a large hexagon shaped tank where sting rays and exotic
fish swim around. If you go up to the second level, you can look
down into this hectic shaped tank. The only real disappointment with
this section of the aquarium is they have two shark tanks. One where they
have sand sharks with other fish. They really don't do anything and poor
lighting on the tank...sometimes I could not even see them. Then
they have a tank in the wall with 3 tiger sharks. The sharks are nice size
but not hugh. The tank is pitch blank and nothing around inside the tank.
The sharks are all by themselves and just swim back and forth, back and
forth, back and forth.....It's about as exciting as reading about it.
I expected more with the sharks and I expected a better set up for the
sharks....that is the real reason people go to aquariums to see the
big scary sharks.
Then Finally the last exhibit of the aquarium is a deep sea diving sub called the Turtle. It's a small sub that at one time went to the very depths of the ocean. You can't go on the Turtle but you can go into the control area and see video of it's journey. It's nice but kind of boring. If you like museums about the sea or like to see what the deep deep ocean might be like, you might enjoy this exhibit.
Also they put on a dolphin show. The dolphin show tickets are free. The show was short and not much to it but it was nice. Here are a few shots from the show......Dolphin having a ball.........Dolphin Jumping.
So over all the aquarium is nice...not as great as some others. But if you like aquariums and you are in Mystic Connecticut, then I suggest that you go. It will cost you about $15 per person.