South Carolina Aquarium

A Bald Eagle is not necessarily what we expected to see when we visited the South Carolina Aquarium last weekend, but as well as many fish and sea creatures from the local coastline, there were also birds, mammals and reptiles from the State.

Each of these creatures had a reason for being there in the relevant habitat section - mountain, swamp, river or sea.  They were animals who through accident or damage could not live in the wild.  

The Bald Eagle, for example, had been hit by a car and was unable to fly due to a badly damaged wing.

This alligator was albino and hence had a dark tank and conditions to meet his needs.

We met this Leatherback Turtle on a behind the scenes tour - one of the hundreds of creatures living in the 42 foot 'Deep Water Tank'.  

We had the opportunity to feed Stingrays in a shallow tank. A strange experience involving holding a small fish between your fingers and putting a flat hand wrist deep in the water in order for the fish to reach the mouth of the Stingray..

Fortunately they have soft mouths and teeth and we just got rather wet with the enthusiastic splashing and competition for the food.

Some of the other fish and sea creatures that we saw..

This Moray Eel was not my favourite.  He really was this green too!