big fish energy 🐟 If you've ever stood in front of our Giant Kelp Forest and thought, "Whoa, that fish is BIG," you were probably looking at our #GiantSeaBass. This local species can grow to more than 7 feet long and weigh over 500 pounds, making it one of the largest bony fish in the Pacific.

Stingrays get checkups, too! 🩺 Birch Aquarium’s Veterinary and Animal Care Teams recently completed annual wellness exams, including measurements, weights and blood samples for analysis. These routine exams help the team understand each animal’s health and provide the best possible care.

Birch Aquarium Conducts Annual Health Exams for Rays

From measuring and weighing to collecting blood samples for analysis, Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego's Veterinary and Animal Care Teams recently completed annual wellness exams for the aquarium's stingray residents...

aquarium.ucsd.edu

An egg-citing seadragon first! A male Weedy Seadragon at Birch Aquarium is carrying a second clutch of eggs, marking the first time we've documented the same male receiving two clutches in a single breeding season. 🤯 Learn more ⬇️ https://aquarium.ucsd.edu/newsroom/second-times-charm-seadragon-eggs

Second Time's the Charm for Seadragon Eggs

A Rare Repeat for a Weedy Seadragon at Birch Aquarium

aquarium.ucsd.edu

Ever noticed a stop sign-like object entering the water before our Leopard Sharks get fed? It’s not stopping traffic — it’s a feeding cue! 🦈 Join Aquarist Brent to learn how target training helps us care for and connect with these amazing animals.

🦐 This shrimp glow-up is WILD 👀 Red Rock Shrimp start life as tiny planktonic larvae drifting through the ocean. After several stages of development, they settle on the seafloor as transparent “shrimplets” before growing into the vibrant red crustaceans we know and love.

🎉 Coming This Fall: The Axolotl’s Garden / El Jardín del Ajolote! 🌿 Step into the world of the endangered Axolotl and discover the unique species found only in Mexico. Explore their rich mythology, the threats they face and the conservation efforts working to protect these incredible animals.

From puzzle feeders that encourage natural foraging to new habitat features that inspire exploration, our Husbandry Team creates enrichment experiences that help our sharks and rays stay curious and engaged. Enrichment plays a vital role in their care, promoting their overall health and wellbeing!

We’re celebrating a big octopus milestone! Our Red Octopuses are now 9 months old and fully in their juvenile stage. They’ve moved past settlement and are showing major developmental changes.

👀 pier into the unknown 🐟

if “wolf down a meal” was a photo series ... feat. Pacific Angel Shark 🦈 #InternationalAngelSharkDay

Our Coral Care Team recently documented two Tongue Corals spawning and releasing eggs. Coral spawning is rarely observed, making each event incredibly valuable. These sightings help us better understand the cues that trigger spawning and support coral conservation in aquariums and the wild!

the closer you look, the more you'll discover. 👀 🐠 🪸

We like turtles. But we’re especially fond of Loggerhead Sea Turtles 🩵🐢 Happy #WorldSeaTurtleDay from our resident #seaturtle at Birch Aquarium! 📸: UC San Diego photographer ErikJepsen

“I never see you at the club.” Ok? But has anyone considered that my dream club just … doesn’t exist yet? Where are you headed? 🌿 Seaweed Speakeasy 🪸 Reef Rave 🐟 Deep Blue Disco

Happy #WorldOceanDay! 🌊 From swirling schools of #sardines to our lovely Loggerhead Sea Turtle, our Open Ocean habitat highlights the incredible life found in one of Earth’s largest ecosystems.

🐧 Make your visit to #BirchAquarium even more extraordinary with a Behind-the-Scenes Penguin Tour! Discover what makes Little Blue Penguins so unique, learn how you can help protect them and go behind the scenes in our Penguin Care & Conservation Center for an up-close look.

Even coral gets the munchies 🪸This #TongueCoral might look like a rock, but it’s very much alive! Tongue #Coral is made up of tons of tiny polyps, and each polyp has a single opening that functions as its mouth. That mouth is surrounded by tentacles that help capture food!

🪼 core memory in the making 🪼

The perfect day doesn't exist … oh wait 🐧

us in another universe 💙 Wonder how seahorses get a grip? It’s all thanks to their prehensile tail — a unique, flexible adaptation that lets them anchor themselves to seagrass, mangrove roots and coral, keeping them steady even in strong currents.

ATTN: anyone who was obsessed with sharks as a kid and never recovered 🦈 💙 Tickets are now on sale for Oceans at Night: Sharks! Join us for this 21+ after-hours night on July 9 for some sea-riously good vibes 🌊 aquarium.ucsd.edu/events/ocean...

This #EndangeredSpeciesDay, we’re spotlighting our newest exhibition, Imagine Wild: Mountain Yellow-legged Frog. Step into a story of resilience, restoration and hope as you explore what it takes to rebuild a healthy ecosystem for these critically endangered amphibians.

Moments that make us say “GPwhOa!” 🐙 Have you spotted our #GiantPacificOctopus exploring its habitat? Keep a sharp eye as this clever #cephalopod is a master of disguise, blending into rocks and squeezing into tiny hidden spaces. #octopus

🎓 Last week, we welcomed @ucsandiego.bsky.social alumna @ayanaeliza.bsky.social, a marine biologist, climate policy expert & bestselling author, back to campus. During her visit, she promoted community action and climate solutions, and also hosted a dance party at @birchaquarium.bsky.social!

Distinguished Scripps Alumna Finds Her Groove with Climate Movement Rooted in Joy

Last Friday night, more than 500 community members packed into Birch Aquarium at Scripps to dance, shimmy and shake off their environmental woes, while also discovering ways to advance climate solutio...

scripps.ucsd.edu

o-fish-al reminder that tomorrow … IT’S GONNA BE MAY 🐟

From funding field trips to supporting summer camp scholarships, gifts to the Birch Aquarium Education Fund help spark discovery, expand access to ocean science and more! This #TritonGivingDay, you can help make these programs possible by donating to Birch Aquarium Education Fund!

Birch Aquarium Education Fund - UC San Diego Giving Day

As part of our mission to connect understanding to protecting our ocean planet, Birch Aquarium's K-12 education program invites more than 41,000 students annually to explore ocean, Earth, and atmosphe...

tritongivingday.ucsd.edu

☀️ HAVE YOU EVER STARED DIRECTLY AT THE SUN?! 👀 Us whenever we get a glimpse of a bright orange #Garibaldi swimming through a Giant Kelp Forest.

🐧 tiny torpedoes 🩵 Little Blue Penguins are built for speed in the water — their streamlined, torpedo-shaped bodies make them expert swimmers. In fact, their scientific name literally means “good little diver”! #WorldPenguinDay #LittleBluePenguin #Penguin

🌏 💙 💚 Got love for your planet? #SpeakUp4Science! Science makes America healthier, safer and more prosperous. Tell Congress to reject proposed cuts to federal research agencies and reinvest in American science. https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/get-involved/speak-up-for-science #EarthDay

Speak up for Science

Join us in asking Congress to reject drastic cuts to research.

universityofcalifornia.edu

What if building an immersive exhibit didn’t mean building more waste? We’re excited to share that about 76% of the materials used in Imagine Wild: Mountain Yellow-legged Frog were either reclaimed or reused! Learn how we’re rethinking sustainable exhibit design ⬇️ today.ucsd.edu/story/sustai...

Sustainability Is Key in Mountain Yellow-legged Frog Exhibit

<em>Imagine Wild: Mountain Yellow-legged Frog</em> highlights decades of collaborative conservation efforts to bring these frogs back to the wild and also represents a significant step forward in sust...

today.ucsd.edu