Shark Tank at the Greensboro Science Center Aquarium - SciQuarium

Last stop on my visit to the Greensboro Science Center's new "SciQuarium" aquarium was the shark tank. This very large tank houses several sharks as well as schools of fish in varying sizes. Since sharks are always active and swimming around, this is a very interesting exhibit to watch, although it was admittedly rather hard to get a decent picture of the swiftly-moving sharks with my phone. 

This section of the SciQuarium is rather dimly lit, so that the tank, which is lit from within, stands out even more. It's kind of like watching an ever-changing movie or live show. There are benches provided so that you can sit and rest while watching the fish swim at length. It is very relaxing, just like having a nice aquarium at home, but with far less trouble about cleaning and feeding and water changes. If you want to sit, though, prepare to be patient, because a lot of people want to stand right up next to the glass to get a good, close-up view!


This could be a different shark, or the same one swimming in a different direction.

They seemed to all be the same kind. This photo is the best one of the other fish in the tank.In this picture, you can see another one of the sharks in the background (upper left corner--click photo for a larger view), which will give you an idea of the great size of the tank.

All photos taken, rather poorly, by me. Clicking will get you a larger view, which might help!

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Rays and Skates in the Touch Tank at the Greensboro Science Center Aquarium - The SciQuarium

I've already introduced you to the penguins at the SciQuarium  http://whatsgoodingreensboro.blogspot.com/2014/08/penguins-at-greensboro-science-center.html, but while you can get a pretty close look at the penguins, you can't actually touch them. However, you can satisfy your urge to interact with the marine creatures by visiting the SciQuarium's touch tank, a large, attractive pool that winds through the center of it all, allowing aquarium attendees access to touch and pet the resident skates and rays as they swim by. 

Rays and skates are relatives of sharks, and a definite resemblance can be readily seen in the cownose rays, who look very much like bonnethead sharks. These critters don't mind being touched, and most will swim up so closely to the wall that they flop up out of the water, as can be seen in both the photos (in the top photo, one of the cownose rays has a "wingtip" protruding from the water surface. Any animals who aren't feeling sociable at the moment are certainly welcome to stay deeper in the water or more toward the center of the tank.

This skate looks like he's ready to come out of the tank completely! Definitely very social.

Like their shark relatives, rays and skates do tend to stay in motion, which makes this an interesting exhibit to look at, and as they continually circle the tank, they provide multiple opportunities to reach out and touch them. I have petted rays and skates and even a shark, before. Have you visited a touch tank and petted a stingray?

You can also find What's Good in Greensbroro? on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Whats-Good-in-Greensboro-848569635208317/ . See you there!

All photos taken by me at the SciQuarium. Click the pictures for a larger view! 

Penguins at the Greensboro Science Center SciQuarium

I went to the Greensboro Science Center (formerly known as the Natural Science Center) to check out the new SciQuarium, which is housed in a brand new building added to the existing one. One of my favorite exhibits in the new SciQuarium was the penguins. They are so cute! This is one of the most interesting displays to watch, because there are plenty of birds in the exhibit--about a dozen or so--and so there is always some activity to watch. As you can see by the pictures, some are standing, some are swimming, and some are even diving! 

Penguins are very engaging animals, because besides being very cute, they are very social, and they interact with you to the extent they can. They come look at you and follow your hand movements if you wave. This particular exhibit really lets you see the birds quite close as they dive and swim up against the glass. It was a very nice display! 

Please excuse my photos, as one of the reasons penguins are great to watch is also what makes them hard to photograph--all that movement!

You can also find What's Good in Greensbroro? on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Whats-Good-in-Greensboro-848569635208317/ . See you there!

All photographs (c) Ali McCartney. Not to be used without permission.