Home to over 250 marine animals that call the warm waters of the tropics home, the Coral Seas exhibit is the main centrepiece at the heart of Bristol Aquarium.
Welcome to Coral Seas, the final zone of our aquarium, where a spectacular showcase of tropical species awaits. Our 250,000-litre warm saltwater tank is the largest display here at Bristol Aquarium, offering an adapted environment for over 50 unique tropical species – from cownose rays (Rhinoptera bonasus) to the iconic clownfish (Amphiprioninae) and regal tang (Paracanthurus hepatus), made famous, of course, thanks to Disney’s Finding Nemo.
The name for our “Coral Seas” exhibit didn’t come about through happenstance. We took inspiration from the real-life Coral Sea – a marginal sea of the South Pacific off the northeast coast of Australia.
Complete with floor-to-ceiling viewing windows and an enchanting underwater tunnel here you can learn more about our signature marine exhibit right here.
Atmosphere
As you might expect, recreating the unique marine ecosystem of the Great Barrier Reef is no mean feat, with specialist equipment needed to maintain the water at a balmy 23-27°C – the average water temperature found in the tropics.
Despite the challenges associated with recreating the exact conditions of a tropical marine ecosystem, our Coral Seas exhibit provides the ideal environment for its warm-water-loving residents. Our vast tank is not only maintained at tropical temperatures but also houses real coral and anemones – for an authentic showcase of life in one of the world’s most precious underwater habitats.
Of course, the real Coral Sea is found in one of the mildest parts of the Pacific Ocean, where the warm salt water is ideal for sustaining the tropical species that live among the region’s coral reef systems. The climate here remains stable for much of the year, with air temperatures averaging 21°C in the winter months and 30°C in the summer – the kind of climate we can only dream about here in Bristol.
Who lives here?
Coral Seas at Bristol Aquarium is home to over 50 tropical species, from the deceptively deadly but very beautiful lionfish (Pterois volitans) to the easy-to-spot honeycomb moray eel (Gymnothorax favagineus) and the star of the show, Sheila, our beloved giant grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus). We selected the species to include in our Coral Seas exhibit with great care, both to do justice to the diversity of life in our tropical oceans and to ensure that all our animals live as harmoniously as possible in a single display tank.
Some other colourful friends you’ll find here are Piper, our cute-as-a-button porcupine pufferfish (Diodon holocanthus); our oriental sweetlips (Plectorhinchus vittatus) fish beloved for his vividly striped skin; and Angel Face, a banded smooth hound shark (Triakis scyllium) that has become a firm favourite with our visitors and keepers alike.
While it’s virtually impossible to list and describe all the species on display in Coral Seas, we can’t not mention our resident clownfish and regal tang. The stars of Finding Nemo, these tropical species are a must-see for most visitors who pass through our Coral Seas exhibit – can you spot them?
Here’s a closer look at some of the fascinating tropical creatures to be found in Coral Seas…
Goodness Gracious Grouper!
Often found sitting in the spotlight by the huge final window of the aquarium is our giant Queensland grouper, Sheila. Arriving with us in 2019 she has grown from a. An ambush predator, her species enjoys lying in wait on the Coral floor until it’s time to hunt. Here at the aquarium we use something called target training to teach her how to feed. At feeding time a special target is placed in the water that she is taught to recognise. This tells her that her food is ready to grab and keeps her fed and happy every day.
Giant grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus)
Did you know? Some groupers can live up to 50 years!