Hermit crab ‘twin’ leaves staff shell-shocked Shell-shocked staff at Bristol Aquarium thought they were seeing double when they discovered Herman, their giant tropical hermit crab, apparently sharing his display with an identical twin. On closer inspection it became clear the ‘twin’ was in fact a rare complete moult. The delicate moult is an exact replica … Continued

Visitors to Bristol Aquarium are having the unique opportunity of watching a fish change sex before their eyes. The rarely-seen transformation is taking place to a native cuckoo wrasse in the Harbourside attraction’s UK Waters area. The 40-centimetre-long fish is changing from a female to a male. The process, which is taking place over a … Continued

A pride of venomous lionfish has gone on display at Bristol Aquarium. Six of the brown and white striped fish have taken up residence in the Harbourside wildlife attraction’s new predators’ display which is also home to pufferfish, boxfish and longhorn cowfish. Normally found living among the coral reefs of Pacific Ocean, the fish are … Continued

A septet of spiky spider crabs has gone on display at Bristol Aquarium. The impressive-looking crustaceans were transferred to the Harbourside wildlife attraction from their sister Blue Reef Aquarium in Portsmouth. The crabs have taken up residence in one of the aquarium’s native coastal-themed displays and will also play a part in daily rockpool encounter … Continued

Delighted aquarists at Bristol Aquarium are celebrating the arrival of dozens of rare phantasmal poison frogs – believed to be one of the most toxic amphibians on the planet. The World Conservation Union considers the phantasmal poison frog to be ‘Endangered’, which means that it faces a very high risk of extinction in the wild. … Continued

SMACK’ OF JELLYFISH AT BRISTOL AQUARIUM Bristol Aquarium is awash with dozens of jellyfish as part of a captive breeding programme for the mysterious ocean wanderers. The horde of moon jellyfish, the collective term is a ‘smack’, are part of a breeding programme for the marine predators – famed for their stinging tentacles. Moon jellyfish … Continued

LOW-ALCOHOL BEER’S A SURPRISE HIT WITH AQUARIUM’S SLUGS AND SNAILS Garden staff at Bristol Aquarium have been carrying out an alcohol test to try and solve their slug and snail problems. The Harbourside attraction has a large glasshouse which is home to a wide variety of exotic plants as well as a giant recreation of … Continued

A pair of European fire salamanders are settling in to a new home at Bristol Aquarium. Aquarists at the Harbourside attraction are hoping the brightly coloured amphibians, which are found throughout central and southern Europe, will eventually form a breeding pair. Noted for their extraordinary markings, which vary from individual to individual, the fire salamander … Continued

A shoal of bizarre needle-like fish that spend their lives standing on their heads is the latest attraction at Bristol Aquarium. The shrimpfish – close cousins of the seahorse and sea dragon – swim in synchronised groups with each fish in a vertical position with its snout pointing down. The fish, which can reach lengths … Continued

Bristol Aquarium’s shoal of giant catfish are enjoying a selection of special festive treat in the shape of spirulina mince pies. The giant South American freshwater fish have all been rescued by the Harbourside aquarium, after either being dumped or outgrowing their tanks. Curator Dan de Castro decided to provide them with their own Christmas … Continued