TROPICAL REEF AQUARIUM

The blacktip reef sharks are speedy, fast, and the zebra sharks are covered in remarkable spots.

It’s the Outer Reef, which mimics the sandy ocean drop-off of a real reef, complete with sharks.

Look for the bowmouth guitarfish and charismatic potato grouper surrounded by spectacular fish ranging from emperor red snapper and sailfin tang to blue-lined surgeonfish and blue devil damselfish.

Bask in the warmth and beauty of a tropical lagoon right here in Tacoma, with replica mangrove trees, colorful coral, blue water, and a sandy beach.

Get up close to butterflyfish, angelfish, tangs, clownfish, goatfish, and rabbitfish. And see if you can spot the epaulette sharks and white-spotted bamboo sharks swimming and nestling into the corals and sandy bottom.

Be mesmerized by tropical marine reef fish and invertebrates, like a birdnose wrasse, freckled porcupinefish, bigscale soldierfish, longfin bannerfish, and American spiny lobster.

The Tropical Shallows habitat, surrounded by artificial mangrove trees to simulate a silty mud bank, is a hands-on, immersive experience.

Touch tropical invertebrates, like sea stars, sea cucumbers, urchins, and snails. And feel the sensation of skunk cleaner shrimp gently crawling up your fingers and hands.

A variety of reef fish uniquely adapted to life among the corals darts about within the habitat. Guests can spot bicolor and redfin anthias, razorfish, copperband butterflyfish, and a lawnmower blenny. Plus, meet the reef’s essential caretakers like hermit crabs, snails, and banded coral shrimp who help maintain the delicate balance of reef life.