The Texas State Aquarium

What a fun, interesting day!   Our new friend, Phyllis, so graciously took us to the Texas State Aquarium during the first week of our stay.  Just a short distance from our condo, the aquarium is where Phyllis has been volunteering for over the last 25 years.  Wow!  Are they lucky to have her!  That little lady holds so much information about every species in the place!  You name it, turtles, sharks, fish, birds, etc. - she's a book of knowledge!

Upon entering the aquarium, we took an immediate left where we started our tour viewing a multitude of fish. How fascinating!  There were fish of all sizes and all colors.  I personally was attracted to the seahorses, as I had never ever seen one in real life.  It was interesting to watch the little guys swim around their tank,  just like a child on a stick horse, bouncing up and down.  And when they needed to rest, they just wrapped their tails around the stalks of weeds that blanketed their tank. I could have spent hours watching them.

The other fish were quite interesting also.  I was quite amused by the young visitor who skipped in front of me, going from tank to tank, naming each species as he went.  I complimented him on his knowledge and of course that spurred him on to further impress me.  Tiger fish!  Angel fish!  Star fish!  And on and on.  Oh to have his energy!  And his knowledge!  Those little kids are so smart these days!

Knowing the ins and outs of the aquarium, Phyllis suggested that we attend the stingray feeding at the lagoon.  It was such a thrill watching the stingray circle around the tank, anxiously waiting for their dinner.  They certainly were, as I call it - "hung-RAY"!  Hung-RAY!  Get it? So imagine my delight when we were invited to join in the feeding frenzy!  Each of us were handed a small shrimp which we placed between our middle and forefingers.  The stingray swooped by each one of us looking for food, then up popped their smooth, slimy heads and boom!  Down they sucked the shrimp.  Right out of our hands!  Eww!  But cool!  That's not something we typically do every day in Iowa! 

Next we went on to the wild flight show. The young presenter really knew her stuff and it was really quite entertaining to sit there as wild birds fly right over our heads, a spotted leopard stalked right past us (thank goodness he was on a leash) and even a few well trained rats slithered on a rope right in front of us! Again, ewww- but oh, so very, very cool!

Then it was on to the turtle show, where several large sea turtles playfully swam in the tank.  It was feeding time for them also, so they knew exactly where to go for the handout. And, just like us, they would get back in line for seconds.  Funny how animals can be so similar to humans!

Interesting enough, all the turtles at the aquarium are refuge turtles.  Recovered from the beach, they are now housed at the aquarium, deemed too unfit to return to natural waters.  One feisty turtle named Einstein has quite a story.  He had been captured and released.  Captured and released. And then captured a third time.  Upon examination by the on-sight veterinarians, no reason could be found as to why Einstein kept washing ashore.  Obviously something had to be wrong or surely he would return to his natural habitat.  Hmm?  Clean water, a healthy meal three times a day, plenty of room to swim with his friends...  now you know why his name is Einstein!  He's not so dumb after all!

Our time was limited but I had to make one more swing by the fish exhibits.  I had finally gathered up enough courage and this time, by golly, I was going to do it!  So I stopped by the shark (yes!  I said SHARK) tank.  I inserted my hand .......and....... I petted a SHARK!  Wowzers!  My Iowa friends are never going to believe this!  But hey- who knows what will happen the next time I return to the Texas State Aquarium?  Phyllis, you better have your camera ready.  I may just be catchin' a ride on a whale!