At the Key West Aquarium you can discover the mangrove habitats that provide a nursery for sharks, turtles and big game fish. Watch graceful cow nose rays, see young American alligators and touch sea stars and cucumbers. The Key West Aquarium opened in the 1930s and is the oldest in Florida. Its aim is to delight and educate. Set aside a few hours to explore the aquarium and enjoy the diversity of species on show.
For a truly educational experience you can join one of the four shark-feeding tours held throughout the day. Learn about the sharks’ life cycle and how to distinguish between nurse sharks, sandbar sharks and bonnethead sharks as they are fed by staff. After the feeding you’ll get a chance to touch a juvenile nurse shark. Take this opportunity to feel their sandpapery skin. There’s more fun to be had in the Touch Tank, where children and children-at-heart can handle giant hermit crabs, sea urchins, conches and starfish.
With the guidance of staff members, you can also touch and hand feed the friendly cow nose rays in Stingray Bay. These brown rays have been de-barbed so they can’t sting. The graceful creatures don’t have teeth but rather crushing plates for grinding through clam shells.
Discover the diverse wildlife of the mangrove ecosystem in the Atlantic Shores exhibit. Here you will see brilliantly coloured tropical fish and big game fish such as tarpon and cobia. Look out for the bonnethead sharks, a smaller shark from the hammerhead family. Watch for the beautiful green sea turtles that also paddle through the mangroves.
You’ll find the Key West Aquarium in the old town district, on the waterfront near Mallory Square Dock. Drive and park in off-street pay-and-display car parks.
The aquarium is open every day. Group tours can be organised in addition to the four daily shark feeding tours. Buy tickets online in advance to receive a small discount.
