The Florida Aquarium Unveils Stunning Transformation of its Second-Largest Habitat

Tampa, FL (June 21, 2024) — Today, The Florida Aquarium is unveiling the successful transformation of its second-largest habitat into a vibrant Indo-Pacific wonderland. Over the past week, the Aquarium has said “g’day” to thousands of new fish, introducing them into the Heart of the Sea, creating a captivating new exhibit that showcases the rich diversity of marine life from Australia.

“These are some of the most amazing fish our guests may ever see in their lifetimes,” said Cristy Barrett, Associate Curator at The Florida Aquarium. “They’re from Australia and their colors are so vibrant. Some of them actually help clean the other fish—including inside their mouths! We’re delighted with how well they are adjusting. It’s incredibly rewarding to see them thriving and interacting in their new environment.”

Among the new inhabitants are 26 different species, many of which are rarely seen in this part of the world, including:

• Māori wrasse
• Gold goatfish
• Spotted unicornfish
• Blue speckled grouper
• Emperor angelfish
• Giant squirrelfish
• Various species of butterfly fish
• A large school of fusiliers

More than 20 dedicated team members worked late into the night to ensure the safe acclimation of the fish as they arrived in April 2024. The fish underwent rigorous quarantine procedures to ensure their health and well-being before being introduced to their new permanent home in the Heart of the Sea habitat this week.

“It was definitely a team effort,” added Barrett. “It took dozens of people to get these animals from their homes in quarantine and into the habitat. It’s just one of the best days of my career here at The Florida Aquarium to work together and to have everybody cheering and so excited to see these new animals.”

The transformation process also involved relocating many of the native fish previously housed in the Heart of the Sea habitat. Over the past two months, species such as tarpon, yellowtail snapper, and rooster hogfish have been carefully moved to the Aquarium’s largest habitat—Coral Reef. Some original residents of the habitat, including bonnethead sharks, honeycomb stingrays, a southern stingray, and a loggerhead sea turtle, remain in the exhibit, now cohabiting with their new Indo-Pacific neighbors.

The Heart of the Sea is back open today after being closed to the public for a few days to allow for the careful acclimation of the new fish and to ensure their well-being. To learn more about The Florida Aquarium and its habitats, click here.

Contact The Florida Aquarium communications@flaquarium.org