Aquarium Enhancing Two Galleries

The Oklahoma Aquarium is remodeling sections of the first two galleries. The first project is underway in the Biodiversity Gallery which features invertebrates, aquatic animals without spines.

The back third of small tanks are being replaced with a large shrimp boat structure which will house shrimp, horseshoe crabs and other animals. The shrimp boat will be an interactive station with the opportunity for guests to both feed and touch these animals. Animals in the eliminated tanks have been relocated to other tanks in the Aquarium.

The shrimp boat is expected to be completed by March 2009.

The second project is slated for the Adaptation Gallery. A central bank of tanks will be replaced with a large floor to ceiling tank with crawl-through tunnels and "pop-ups" for children and adults, to literally come eye-to-eye with fish.

The Adaptation Gallery features fish that change behaviorally or physically, or adapt, to survive. The crawl-through tank will house arapaima, the largest freshwater fish in the world, also freshwater stingrays and iguanas on an island in the exhibit. Any fish in outmoded tanks will be relocated.

"The first five years has been a critical period for building a solid foundation," said Kenny Alexopoulos, Deputy Director and designer of the projects, "but now we can improve upon that base with these exciting changes."

The yet-to-be named crawl through tank is projected for completion in March 2010.