Page 153 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2020

guests along with going behind the scenes with animal care experts to learn how the staff is working towards protecting precious species. All featured experiences require a general admission ticket plus an experience ticket.
Then there are the educational programs allowing students and teachers on-site exploration and hands-
on lessons in interactive classrooms. An example is the Trainer for a Day program in which guests can build relationships with marine animals just as a certified trainer would.
Looking behind the scenes, operating Mississippi Aquarium requires specialized systems and trained professionals. “A lot of engineering goes into the life support and water filtration systems that provide healthy environments for the animals in our care to thrive,” Allen said. “It takes an exact balance of salt, temperature, water flow and filtration to ensure the ideal environments for the animals that call our habitats home.”
The nutritional needs of the animals are overseen by the veterinary and animal care departments to ensure the proper type of food is being offered. This team prepares diets and feeds the animals daily, keeping track of how much each animal eats.
“If they notice a problem with the animal’s eating, or
if the animal is losing or gaining weight, they alert the veterinary department, which will evaluate the animal’s health and diet. The diets in general are evaluated by the veterinary team to ensure they are nutritionally balanced,” Allen said. “Most of the animals at Mississippi Aquarium eat some form of fish. Some also eat prepared diets similar to what you would feed a dog or cat. The animals are trained to come to a station to eat. Others may be fed by broadcasting a known amount of food into their habitat, a common method for feeding small fish.”
The wellness of the animals is monitored by the veterinary team who schedule annual exams for all of them. “During an exam, the animal is weighed, has a physical exam performed to check all body systems, has x-rays and ultrasound performed, and samples taken for analysis (blood, fecal, other),” Allen said. “If an animal is very small – for example, some of the tiny fish – they are treated as a group. By performing routine examinations we have a good understanding of what the animal looks like when it’s healthy, which helps us understand and treat the animal when it becomes sick or injured.”
2100 E. Beach Blvd., Gulfport, MS 228.241.1300 www.msaquarium.org
LEFT: Collin Caranna and son, Eddie, enjoying “The Big Window” at Mississippi Aquarium. ABOVE: Outdoor River Fishes Habitat.
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living | www.smliving.net
September 2020 | 153
THE OPENING EXHIBITS INCLUDE:
• Aviary
• Crocodilian habitat • Aquatic Wonders
• 360-degree acrylic tunnel surrounded by sharks, turtles and more
• Shark and Ray Touch Encounter • Invertebrate Touch Encounter • Penguin Encounter
• Bottlenose Dolphin Habitat
• Swirl Experience
• River Fishes Habitat
TICKET PRICING:
Adult (ages 13-64) $29.95 Children (ages 3-12) $24.95 Seniors (age 65+) $26.95 Infants (age 2 and under) FREE
MEMBERSHIPS:
Individual $95.00
Four or More $86.00 each Save 10% when you buy four or more individual memberships
MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS:
• Unlimited admission for 12 months
• Skip the lines with member express entry
• Invitation to members only events
• Subscription to the members only newsletter • Reduced individual guest tickets when accompanied by a member
• 10% off birthday parties, summer camps
& children’s events
• 10% off at the Gulf Shop and Pelican Point Café
• Discounts with the Aquarium’s Community Partners
• 15% off Centennial Plaza
(Call for Details)