Public Aquariums in So California?
- Thread starter *ITGUY*
- Start date
Aquarium of Pacific at Long Beach should be your focal point. California coast receives water coming down from Alaska, the average water temp is 55F. I don't think you will have luck finding reef type stuff in our water way. There are no public aquarium on the Catalina Island anyway. But if you are interested in seeing garibaldi swimming around the kelp forest, Catalina Island has glass bottom boat which may interest you.
I think seaworld is worth the visit.
I think seaworld is worth the visit.
The Long Beach Aquarium of Pacific is worth visiting for their unique jelly-fish exhibit. It is about 25 miles / 20 mins drive from Newport Beach.
The Sea World is worth visiting for killer-whale and dolphin shows. It is about 80 miles / 60 mins drive from Newport Beach.
Catalina Island is less interesting, especially out of season. It is 1 to 2 hours away (depending on the boat speed).
LeoR
P.S.
Yes, I've been to all these places several times.
The Sea World is worth visiting for killer-whale and dolphin shows. It is about 80 miles / 60 mins drive from Newport Beach.
Catalina Island is less interesting, especially out of season. It is 1 to 2 hours away (depending on the boat speed).
LeoR
P.S.
Yes, I've been to all these places several times.
"Black Coral" wholesaler in Santa Ana is much closer to NB than Jeff's (4 mi vs. 20+ mi) and has better selection and lower prices.
You may have to pay a membership fee at "Black Coral" and they are open to non-retail members only Thu-Sat.
"Fish 2000" in Tustin (10 mi from NB) carries very few corals, but has lowest prices on equipment (and everything else) in SoCal. Many of their prices are lower than even mail-order.
LeoR
You may have to pay a membership fee at "Black Coral" and they are open to non-retail members only Thu-Sat.
"Fish 2000" in Tustin (10 mi from NB) carries very few corals, but has lowest prices on equipment (and everything else) in SoCal. Many of their prices are lower than even mail-order.
LeoR
Sea World in San Diego has a couple of reef tanks. They are not that impressive though.
Scripps aquarium in La Jolla has better reef tanks. They have about 5 or six different tropical tanks that aren't too bad. Nothing like the Waikiki aquarium, but I would guess, not much is.
I was in La Jolla in August so my info is pretty recent.
Sea World did have a tank of cuttlefish which was pretty cool!
Scripps aquarium in La Jolla has better reef tanks. They have about 5 or six different tropical tanks that aren't too bad. Nothing like the Waikiki aquarium, but I would guess, not much is.
I was in La Jolla in August so my info is pretty recent.
Sea World did have a tank of cuttlefish which was pretty cool!
hi.
Last time when I visited the "Black Coral," I was not particularly impressed. I usually go to Jeff's Exotic Fish for corals even though I need to drive 10X as far. Personally, I feel it is worth the drive. Is Black Coral still in business?!?
Fish 2000 is OK, and sometime they do have excellent price on livestocks and hardwares. Other places to visit are Tong's in Fountain Valley, another right by the beach in Hunting Beach (don't remember the name, but take a look at the Yellow Pages if you want....).
There is a local reef society that you can contact (SCMAS), and they maybe able to arrange some private visit. There is also a private institute in Southern OC (~25 minutes from NB), but I don't know if I should mention the name because they are still setting up, and most of the exhibits are local (cold water).
Last time when I visited the "Black Coral," I was not particularly impressed. I usually go to Jeff's Exotic Fish for corals even though I need to drive 10X as far. Personally, I feel it is worth the drive. Is Black Coral still in business?!?
Fish 2000 is OK, and sometime they do have excellent price on livestocks and hardwares. Other places to visit are Tong's in Fountain Valley, another right by the beach in Hunting Beach (don't remember the name, but take a look at the Yellow Pages if you want....).
There is a local reef society that you can contact (SCMAS), and they maybe able to arrange some private visit. There is also a private institute in Southern OC (~25 minutes from NB), but I don't know if I should mention the name because they are still setting up, and most of the exhibits are local (cold water).
*ITGUY*":3r0u69eo said:
Hey ITGUY,
It's been a while since I've been to the Scripps Aquarium (in San Diego about 1.25 hr south of Newport...it's part of UCSD), but I think that's my favorite "public" aquarium in So. Cal.. I think Aquarium of the Pacific (in Long Beach about 45 min. north of Newport) is OK but I wasn't too impressed with it (but it might be because I went there about 1 month after visiting the Monterey Aquarium
). Sea World is OK if you like whales, birds, and the circus, but I don't remember seeing any kind of reef stuff there (Sea World is more of a theme park rather than a public aquarium...sorry, don't mean to offend any Shamu-philes). It's like $40 or something to get in.If you want to visit stores, I'd recommend Tong's in Fountain Valley (probably about 35 min. north of Newport) and Petown in El Toro (probably around 15 or 20 min. from Newport). If you want to see a really clean and nice saltwater fish store, also check out Aquatic Fantasy in Redondo Beach (about 1.5 hr north of Newport)...it's kind of far from where you'll be, and their prices aren't the cheapest, but I've had good luck finding "rare" fish there and it's impressive how they post the dates that they get every single fish in and their tanks are always immaculate.
Oh, those distances are only estimates...get ready to fight some traffic if you're heading north from Newport.
Have fun, and hope this helps!
Scripps is really cool. They have big jellyfish tanks (sides are painted black and the lighting is strong, so it looks like something from an acid trip), sharks, seahorse, pipefish, and the biggest grouper I've ever seen. I'd call them to find out what time the shark feedings are and go then. I don't remember seeing any coral only tanks, but I know there is some coral in most of them.
i like the aquarium of the pacific in long beach. nice little area to hang out and walk around, too. the last time i visited scripps, i wasn't too impressed with it - but it's been about 2 years since i was there last. and sea world - well, i just love it myself. but my true passion has always been cetaceans. :wink:
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