Austin Aquarium

3.2 (1.1k reviews)

Aquariums

Open • 10:00 am - 7:00 pm

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Austin Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Davidm A.

This place is just amazing.It seems like all that animals are treated right.The places kept clean.The animals are fed and the staff here is great. We had the great pleasure of meeting lee, one on one when he gave us the wallaby exhibit, and he was just outstanding guy, very personable, how to al answered questions made you feel comfortable?May the kids feel comfortable at the same time kept by the rules.It was really an experience that you have to come and see for yourself.I would suggest bringing your little ones here and checking it out. It's fairly reason to be priced as well.And they have tokens where you can feed the animals and interact with the animals, turtles, fishes, surf.Turf it's so fun

Susan W.

I really can't say enough good things about the Austin Aquarium. I have been coming for years with my grand kids who all have enjoyed it! Today we met team member Cody-(sp.) who was nice enough to chat with us. He was feeding some of the ?lizards live crickets and I offered a general compliment about the atmosphere and what a great hands on experience they provide! My grand children all love snakes -and the fact that I'm totally afraid of them . Invariably -they (and especially the youngest g-son) will request to hold a snake of get the ginormous, largest reptile there out of her environment so he can " cuddle" with her. Don't hesitate to go-it's affordable and appropriate for ALL ages!!!

Daniel C.

The Austin Aquarium is a combination of a party center, petting zoo, aquarium, and indoor zoo. It is a bit pricey compared to a regular zoo and they have a separate token purchase system for little rides, petting or feeding different animals, or for partying with the mermaids. They also have a small cafeteria with a bunch of seating to host a party. On the way out they have a huge gift store. You can probably see everything in 30 min if you don't want to spend extra tokens. My 4yo son wasn't too fond of this place - maybe it was too dark and felt claustrophobic for him. I did enjoy seeing some unique animals not too common at other zoos, like wallabys, capybara, and the extremely rare axolotl. For kids, one benefit of checking out the Austin Aquarium is that they have Indigo Indoor Playground right next door and its a short drive to an awesome Japanese restaurant - Midori Sushi.

Mads A.

Only positive about this aquarium is there is a few places for actual interaction. But I'm not sure the water is being properly filtered? I'm not sure any of these exhibits are being properly cared for. Air circulation is stale. The whole place needs to be reconstructed and updated, especially at the price and token rate you're paying. You feel like you're walking into the tiger king version of an aquarium. Staff were nice though. Don't come on the weekends it's packed as hell.

Woody W.

We went to the Austin aquarium for the first time today. My wife and I, our son and daughter-in-law and grandson all went. It was a great experience and I think well worth the money. We we were fortunate that a young man by the name of Markus Greeted us at the counter when we came in. He helped us to figure out what was the best package to buy. We ended up with the annual pass for my wife and I and that allowed us to get our kids in as guests for the same money that it would've cost us. This allows my wife and I to go back to the aquarium once every month or so and to take other guests with us when we go. The establishment was extremely clean and I think well organized. I also would like to thank a young man by the name of Lee, who was very helpful to us both in the Wallaby encounter as well as one of the bird encounters that we did. All of the staff that we engaged with, and that we saw helping others were extremely good.

Treacy N.

The Austin Aquarium was such a fun experience, especially for little ones! While the building itself is on the smaller side, all the animals and fish looked beautiful and well cared for. They had a great variety of creatures including stingrays, ducks, turtles, chickens, wallabies, and of course, plenty of fish. One of the highlights was how interactive it is. Kids and guests get the chance to feed and interact with the animals, which made the visit extra special. The workers were all friendly and helpful, making sure everyone had a good time. It's the perfect quick outing, especially for toddlers. We spent about 30 minutes there, which felt just right for younger kids. A great little spot for hands-on fun and learning! It's on the pricier side compared to the Austin zoo that's way bigger

Jeff U.

Really didn't expect much BUT I was surprised You can touch, feed, multiple animals such as lemurs, sloths, sting rays, and more For extra fee, you buy tokens to pet animals and buy food to feed others They have a concession stand and big gift shop Look at the yearly pass Might be cheaper Kids and adults alike were all around Staff was very nice and they will carry animals around for you to pet-for a token I recommend you go check this out

Jennifer W.

The Austin Aquarium is a decent option if you need something to entertain your kids for an hour. It's fairly small, but almost all the exhibits are interactive...for a cost. In addition to general admission, you have to buy tokens that you can use to buy fish food, ray food, shark food, or animal encounters. Animal food is one token per container-which depending on the animal you are feeding may contain only one piece of food. Animal encounters range from 2-20 tokens. There are also a lot of touch tanks and opportunities for visitors to touch starfish, snakes, macaws, and lizards. Despite the cost and small size, it is frequently very crowded, so be aware. Staff is very friendly and helpful. If you are local to the area and a family of four, a membership will pay for itself with 2 visits in a year.

Melina R.

Saddest tanks I've ever seen, I'm a fish enthusiast with my own tank at home and wow these tanks are not cared for. They are over stocked in some tanks. The tanks they are in are also incredibly filthy , every animal I saw looked like they were in a prison in there home. The tengus were stacked on top of each other in a little corner. Felt like this was borderline animal abuse they had an eel in a vertical tank? Who does that!! They need allot of maintenance done in every tank . For $25 per ticket I would expect them to have better care for all aquatic life.

Lina L.

Please don't give this place your business. We came here on Sat and the minute we walked in, we saw parrots flying freely around and one of the parrots looked visibly unwell. The feathers on its head is almost all plucked off. I don't know about you, but that's a first red sign to me that the animals here may not be well taken care of. And we had parrots flying really close to us a few times, which is a little unnerving. We checked out the lemurs that are close to the entrance and one of the lemurs jumped at us, hitting the glass that stood between us and startling us. I can see the appeal of this place to children. There are a lot of interactive opportunities for kids to feed, pet the animals. However, none of these stations seemed to be managed by any of the staff so it feels kinda like "pet/feed at your own risk." There are a few places where you need to pay tokens in order to interact or touch the animals but once again, I hardly saw any staff member at any of these stations, which seems concerning to me. Are they just expecting visitors to know how to handle animals with care? There is a bird aviary that does not require tokens but it is the saddest aviary that I have ever seen. No windows, and the space looks really depressing. We didn't go in. I was not comfortable bringing my two young kids into anywhere where there is a obvious lack of supervision. There was another station where there's macaws who were not supervised and there was no barrier between them and us. But there is a sign that says "Don't hold these birds. Strictly enforced." Enforced by who? There was no staff there, and hardly anything stopping a curious kid lunging forward to try to hold those birds. The place looks pretty unkept and floors were wet in a lot of places we walked by. Overall, we felt the place was very poorly managed, dirty (my husband calls it a dirty dungeon) and the animals we saw seemed depressed. Even the plant that was sitting next to the tortoise was dying. I did not feel safe in this place with my kids and we left after 20 mins or so. I read later on that a women was attacked by a lemur in May this year and that Austin's Animal Advisory Commission is looking to recommend new rules pertaining to interaction with wild animals that will impact Austin Aquarium. This place needs to be shut down, and the animals moved to somewhere where they are properly taken care of.

Katlyn P.

I think it's awesome that teachers get in for free! This made me so happy to get to experience this and possibly consider this as a field trip in the future. This places was packed on a Saturday! There was lots to see and so many different ways to feed the animals. I was enjoying watching others go into the cages and feed them. The iguana likes to get out of his area. It was quite funny and entertaining! I chose to feed the koi fish because they are so funny to watch! There's lot of different photo opportunities and plenty of parking as well. They have a food court in the back to purchase more items and food tokens. Loved it and I'm glad I was able to experience it!

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Yvonne C.

7 years ago

Not a typical aquarium. The kids really enjoyed it (ages 9, 10, 13) but as an adult I thought it was small. My favorite part was the caricature (which isn't even a normal aquarium feature). We've been to see and probably won't return. read more

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Trixie L.

4 years ago

Absolutely one of the worst cases of treatment of animals that I've experienced in a long, long time. Please, please do not patronize this awful place. It is a literal House of Horrors. The monkeys were so traumatized that they kept screaming out. (Not fun and happy and content Monkey sounds, but the screams of pain.) Other animals were so lethargic and despondent that they just slept the whole time. I have never seen such hideous enclosures for animals. I kept hoping that there was a larger facility attached to the building so that the animals could exercise and breath fresh air, and this is not the case. When I visited during the recent July 4th holiday I have to say that it was one of my worst experiences ever visiting Austin. I beseech all animal lovers in the Austin community to contact local animal protection nonprofits. I'll be honest and say that so far local agencies have not been cooperative, but I am not giving up. In 2014 there was a protest to stop the opening of Austin Aquarium, so I'm wondering why the Austin community is turning a blind eye to the treatment of the animals at this God awful place. read more

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Rhonda K.

5 years ago

So much fun!!!! We have been there many times!! Can't wait to go back. This place is so awesome for the kids. And also it's a good place to go in the summer when it's so hot outside. read more

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Angelina S.

246

6 years ago

I felt guilty for supporting a clear neglect of exotic animals. Cages were small, dirty, and overcrowded. This poor octopus was stuck in the tiniest aquarium. Such an intelligent species shouldn't be limited to a tank just barely bigger than the span of its tentacles. Whoever owns this place is just as selfish as those at SeaWorld. Tokens are ridiculously overpriced and it barely gets you anything. $14 for 5 tokens and one token gets you a pinch of food for animals. Then the unique experiences are upwards of 10 tokens. Animals aren't watched over around small children leaving them vulnerable to injury or even death. Iguanas tried to escape and several times had door bashed in on their feet when unaware customers tried to come in. Based on how starving the fish and turtles are (who hurt each other in the enormity of bodies racing to food), you can tell their diet is solely from customers resulting in the many who don't get to the top during feeding are malnourished. Many animals are mixed with other species when they clearly do not get along. You can tell the employees care for them but can not fix things themselves. Sad place for these magnificent species. read more

Austin Aquarium - Small tank for this octopus :( - Aquariums Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Julie N.

5 years ago

I have had several experiences here, and each and every encounter has been nothing shy of incredible thanks to Ryan! My high rating is, hands-down, all due to this passionate and extremely competent keeper. This smaller aquarium is probably not quite like others you've experienced, as it offers chances for high-levels of interaction. What makes an interaction fulfilling for me is how much I can come from it with newfound knowledge of the animals, but even more significantly- confidence that the animals are in caring, knowledgeable hands. To which I feel that Ryan has gone above and beyond in both categories. From the beginning to the end, Ryan handles each encounter as a chance for him to create a rare, tailor-made relationship/experience between the animal and the attendee. He transcends giving basic facts and instead answers/offers information in a way that allows the attendee to understand and respect the animal's unique adaptations, environment, and ways of survival. And this reigned true for all the animals I was shown by Ryan. Above all, he shows respect and a concern for safety for both parties by adhering to and standing strong by set regulations in a manner that is far from shrewish and does not take away from the experience at all. You never feel like you are in a rush or that Ryan is in it purely for the compensation. But rather, he cares deeply that the attendees gets as much out of the experience as is possible in the present conditions/what is in his hands. Every aquarium, zoo, or similar place of facility in which animals are exhibited should, at the least, hold strongly a mission of public education. To not display animals just as "entertainment", but as a means to preserve and inform its viewers of species that make our universe as diverse and habitable as it is. You can tell Ryan holds that ideal to heart and he would be an asset to any facility by providing a voice and platform for the animals. read more

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Mishi B.

6 years ago

Our family loves coming to the aquarium! Amazing staff who is very knowledgeable about the animals.

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Natalie W.

8 years ago

Great experience! the trainers were super helpful and make you feel really comfortable with the animals read more

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Alisa M.

159

6 years ago

Came in the beginning of March. Took my 7 year old daughter and we really had a great time. The employees are really nice and seem to enjoy working there. Love that everything is interactive. We will definitely be back once Covid dies down. read more

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Matt W.

8 years ago

Really had a great time with my family here! We visited a few years back and left with a fairly blah feeling. However they have really done a great job renovating everything. So yes, maybe a bit pricey to get a cup of fish to feed the sharks but they are really investing the money very wisely in order to offer a great experience. Go support this place and let's get an amazing aquarium here in Austin! Oh and the lemur exhibit is worth every penny. Staff is polite, knowledgeable, and very courteous! Keep up the good work, can't wait to see what is in store in the future!! read more

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Nanis R.

8 years ago

It's alright. You won't get the 'wow' factor from it. It's small and the entrance is a mess there is no order specially when it's busy. It's great for when you need an indoor activity with kids. Feeding the rays is pretty cool. But that's about it. Should offer more for the prize. read more

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Natalie H.

8 years ago

Today we visited the Austin Aquarium! I have visited this aquarium 3 times now & the staff are all friendly & amazing! We love it, especially the coatimundi's with Will. You can tell that all of the staff love & take care of these animals! It's a great experience. My little one (16 months) loves it here. We always take family here when they are visiting. We will probably end up getting a membership & coming all year long! read more

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Elise T.

Elite 19

100

179

9 years ago

So, I love my aquarium. I have two at home (one saltwater, one freshwater), and have been known to spend my time staring at the inhabitants of both. I also love aquariums in general - my local aquarium, Shedd, is among the best in the world. That said, Shedd won't let me cuddle their octopus. Austin Aquarium will. Sometimes, you make sacrifices. So Spouse and I spent his last day in Austin getting brunch at Kerbey, then heading across the street to the Austin Aquarium. When I walked in, the scent was, as others described, immediately that of aquarium store. I expected that. All of the employees I interacted with were helpful and delightful. In terms of animal welfare, I'd give it a solid B+. I only saw one problem tank (it had some green bubble algae), and most of the fish and animals seemed happy. However, I noticed that the eels had no place to hide (poor eels), and that any fish that had the ability to get food from people was behaving unnaturally. Stingrays don't act like hungry puppies in the wild, for example. So we toured around, looked at fish, and then headed over to the octopus tank. Hank is still the resident octopus, and he's middle-aged. Their aquarium director, Mike, has known Hank since they were both in the Pacific Northwest. According to the employee who was helping us, when Hank gets old, he'll be released back into the Pacific to - hopefully - meet up with a Lady Octopus. Go Hank, you get you some. Anyway, petting Hank was absolutely magical. He was probably asleep when we walked up, but with some encouragement (e.g., food), he woke up and explored my arm. The water was quite cold, as it should be, so feeling much of his tentacled explorations wasn't in the books, but it was awesome all the same. So, if you want to pet an octopus, head to Austin Aquarium. Then, if you have concerns about the for-profit nature of the place, make a charitable donation to the closest nonprofit aquarium. read more

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Soraya V.

Elite 26 All-Star

127

345

8 years ago

If you have 30 minutes to kill then come here. Staff are polite, helpful, and knowledgeable. The price is cheap, it's something to do indoors, and you get to feed and pet the animals. I hope they add more eye catching displays. For example it needs vertical, cylinder, and/or other shaped aquariums. read more

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Mandie T.

Soraya,…

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Samantha K.

Elite 19

6 years ago

It was just kinda sad. Tanks were small for the population and they don't regulate how much visitors feed them. They've got mammals stuck in pretty small enclosures inside all day. It smells awful and is in the middle of a strip mall. They don't enforce hand washing and let you put your hands in most of the tanks. It just wasn't a great time. read more

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Stephani L.

194

8 years ago

We had such an amazing experience, there are so many species of animals to see and interact with. Alex and his team were very informative and gave us such a wonderful tour. We fed sharks, stingray, turtles, ducks, chickens, lizards. We played with lemurs and held a huge snake. So worth it!! read more

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James B.

Elite 26

265

134

11 years ago

This is Not you big time aquarium, but you and your kids will probably have more fun here. We pet lizards, sting rays, fish, and birds. You can also feed alligators and a giant turtle (watch your fingers). They have other stuff you can do for a little more money too. Prices aren't great, but it's definitely the thing to do if you have kids. Age 2+ will have fun. I had fun too. Buy your tickets online to save $3 per ticket. You can just show them the email on your smart phone. read more

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Bobbi O.

9 years ago

So Austin aquarium you are really a terrible place. When I went there with my boyfriend last week we were having a somewhat wonderful time. But when I saw a rat in a corner of the place I freaked out, my boyfriend went to tell you guys what we saw. but of course your staff members didn't even make it look like they cared about our concerns, all they did was nod their head up and down, and not actually look at my boyfriend. Then we went to the gift shop trying to forget what happend we saw feces in one of baskets that held stuffed animals. We didnt buy anything of course and I wrote a review on their Facebook. This morning I found out you didn't respond back to that reveiw, you just deleted it off your site. Do you think that would just make it go away? It didn't and it won't. read more

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Mandie T.

I am sorry for that experience. We do have an exterminator on the…

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Anissa V.

7 years ago

Fun fun fun! Always something new when we come here and YAYY TO KANGAROOS! we get to sit touch them :) love it here! And my kids do too read more

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Karie C.

7 years ago

This place is a hell hole for animals. No windows, no natural light light, no fresh air. There are two kangaroos on-site (not sure what kangaroos have to do with an aquarium). They are confined with no room to run/bounce/play. The staff was not very friendly and definitely not chid-friendly. read more

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Angie S.

8 years ago

The Lemur Experience with Will was AMAZING!! Honestly I've never had a lemur on my head... so great!! read more

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Morgan F.

7 years ago

Absolutely loved our time here! Just wished there were some type of schedule for the joeys!! Clean, and great customer service!

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Euni B.

Elite 26

148

366

8 years ago

I have visited many aquariums in my life and of course, after seeing Monterey Bay Aquarium nothing really seems to compare. First of all, just the location of this aquarium made me not want to go inside. It looked like it used to be an old Ross store. $15 for an adult ticket was way too overpriced and that was with military discount. The tokens to feed the animals should have been included but it was a separate charge. It was like a glorified Petco. The large iguana was the star of the show. If you have young kids, this would be a great place to waste some time but it's not worth the travel and cost for people who don't live in the city. read more

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Gina T.

100

6 years ago

This place was amazing! We took our 2 kids and we all had a blast. My daughter and I really loved getting to be in the cage with all the parakeets. Very cool! read more

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Amy J.

5 years ago

Run away from this place. There is zero natural sunlight. The conditions here are so sad and depressing. It feels like something you would see on a documentary of how terrible zoo conditions used to be back 30 years ago but some how it's happening right now and no one is going to shut it down??? I am really at a loss of how this is allowed to be open. I'm telling you right now, one day this is going to be a scandal when someone important decides to give a damn do something about this. Why really why. Why is this allowed in this day and age. read more

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Mike M.

5 years ago

Could not recommend this place more. Everyone was incredibly kind and clearly passionate about the animals and about sharing them with guests. Nearly every creature was available to interact with. Once in a lifetime experiences, that you can actually have over and over. Will absolutely be back! read more

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Mike M.

6 years ago

Delightful afternoon, granddaughter loved feeding the fish, feeding the giant lizard and petting the sting rays. I'd get the membership if I lived in the area, terrific place to take children. read more

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Sheila S.

186

6 years ago

We love the aquarium! The rays are so much fun to feed and the shrimp were a kick! Got to feed the lemurs which was so amazing.

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Chris B.

9 years ago

This place is horrible. It's in a strip mall next to a Salvation Army. If I hadn't bought the tickets online already, I would have turned around and left. I was expecting a big venue like the aquarium in New Orleans or Chicago. Instead, this felt like someone's personal collection of fish. There was nothing to wow my daughter and we walked through it in 30 minutes. Total rip off. $5/person would be fine but I spent $30 for my daughter and I on a weekend visit. Wish I had come on here to read reviews beforehand. Being the sole aquarium in Austin, I expected much better. read more

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heather b.

7 years ago

Not really an aquarium but someone's personal collection on display. Most of the tanks were overcrowded. It's a sad place to visit.

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Ruby F.

Elite 19

102

8 years ago

Myself and my husband visited today for my 22nd birthday. We had a lovely day out! There are many animals and creatures to see, alongside friendly staff. The gift store has a lot of cool items to choose from to remember your trip by. We will definitely be coming back and would highly recommend! read more

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Coy T.

343

6 years ago

We had a wonderful time and our three year old loved it also! They took reasonable precautions for safety! We went early to avoid crowds. Everyone was very nice! read more

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Danielle C.

903

6 years ago

Not a big fan of their token system. There are unique animals and cool opportunities but none of those are included in the price of admission. The bird house areas were my favorite. Food and drink prices are ridiculously high. read more

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Jennifer D.

Elite 26

219

337

1572

9 years ago

More like a strip mall with fish tanks and bird cages. lol I had no idea what we were getting into when we decided to take our 5 year old to this place. She obviously loved it, but she also didn't have to pay for it and hasn't seen what a REAL Aquarium looks like. This place was kind of sad, honestly. Also, if you're wearing white pants, for the love DO NOT go in the BIRD CAGE. You'll get orange poo all over your derriere and somebody will wonder what the hell you had for lunch that day. lol read more

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Raheema M.

8 years ago

Looks are deceiving, but this was an awesome experience. We read all the bad reviews after pulling up into the strip mall, but we are really happy we came in. It was fun the feed all the animals especially the sting rays, parakeets, and being in the cage with the coatimundi twins, Zach and Cody. Will was awesome and knowledgeable. The kids really enjoyed their time! I'm really happy we took a chance, ignored the bad reviews, and experienced it for ourselves! read more

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Heather W.

7 years ago

STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE! MY CHILD GOT SICK! VERY SICK!....... Me and my family visited the aquarium on june 30th. Needless to say my family will never be going back. My son has been sick for weeks on end. Having a fever of 103.5, shitting himself because he cant make it to the bathroom in time (my poor little guy), and the vomiting hasnt been fun either. It has been hell. Half of our summer was taken away from us because of a bad case of Giardia that I know he got at austin aquarium because we hadn't gone anywhere else. Lol and We washed his hands repeatedly there.We did everything we could to keep him clean but he is four. There is only so much a parent can do to keep a child clean in a place like this. It is just not well kept. Even the sanitation stations were covered in filth. Dirty paper towels all of the place. Water on the ground made the floor slimy. It's just gross. I was against going in the first place but My husband just couldn't resist. Idiot. My son went in the bird enclosures, fed the sting Ray's, the coy fish, the turtles. My daughter is 11 and was with me in the background. She didnt like it there either. She just felt bad for all the animals. We just helped wash hands when the little one was done getting dirty. It is now July 22 and he still has stomach problems but we finally broke his fever yesterday. I havent slept in weeks now having to wake up 3 to 5 times a night to take care of my son. The tortoise enclosure made me cry considering that this huge old animal was trying so hard to get out and it looked like he was hurting himself in the process. (I dont believe in places like this and this is why I didnt want to go) The money we spent there was more then we spend when we go to most places because of course my son wanted to feed all the animals and of course both kids wanted to visit the gift shop. What dumbass's we felt like when we realized we actually ended up paying a shit ton of money to get our child sick. Not to mention the hospital Bills, copays, and antibiotics we have had to pay for. Wish I could do something about it and get this place in trouble but when you first buy your tickets you have to sign a waiver making us responsible for anything that happened there. I feel stupid for even entering this place and more stupid for supporting such a disgraceful and inhumane animal jail. Please think twice before you go here seriously. It is just not worth all the risk. read more

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Kate M.

5 years ago

Terrible. How can a place like this be open? The animals looked miserable, it goes against all reputable zoo keeping practices. It smells, there was a layer of dust so thick on most surfaces. The employees look like a bunch of high school kids that don't have the training to handle exotic animals. If tiger king wanted to be in the aquarium business, this is what he would produce. I could not find one positive thing about that place. Maybe if you want to teach kids it's okay to treat wild animals like puppies, sure. read more

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Michael J.

138

8 years ago

I think ya'll are being a little too hard on the aquarium. After reading some of the reviews, I was prepared for a big disappointment. When we got there, we were greeted by smiling staff, entertaining (for kids anyway) exhibits, and an overall clean facility. And not to sound like a perv, but the mermaids added a nice touch. A couple of small observations for any management reading this 1) There's one too many rows of tables in the concessions area. Way too much furniture for that compact of a space made it difficult to even get from one side to the other. 2) Some healthier food options besides candy, chips, and soda would be nice. Austin is supposed to be a healthy city. read more

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Mandie T.

Michael, thank you so much for your review! We certainly appreciate…

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Jackie G.

7 years ago

I've never seen such horrible conditions for animals. A GIANT octopus was kept in a tank comparative to a prison cell with a piece of coral to cling to. Another exhibit had moray eels and other large fish in an incredibly tiny tank. The giant tortoise had a pen of 20 square feet lined with straw shared with ducks. The stingrays swam in a circle in a laughable pool begging for treats. this is essentially a circus. They should be shut down. read more

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Paul W.

120

8 years ago

Avast there, ye landlubbers! I wish to transcribe our tales of adventure aboard the Sea Worthy Austin Aquarium. My wife and I came to finish off our 10 year wedding anniversary by visiting this aquarium. We had attempted to come a few years back but, a giant school had overtaken the premises, at that moment. Well, it was worth the wait to return. I won't waste your time discussing appearances, as others have filled you in but, it's what's inside that counts. For starters, you will encounter a young staff that cares about what their doing, are knowledgeable about the variety of the creatures dwelling here and make your visit a delight! While the inside area is smaller than the usual aquarium, they make good use of the space. Plus, it gives a sense of intimacy along with the key ingredient that Austin Aquarium provides: interaction. My wife and I enjoyed the time with the Lemurs above all. Devin does a tremendous job insuring that you will enjoy the experience. He explains some basic facts concerning their species while guiding them to sit anywhere from your head, shoulders to your lap. While you cannot touch or handle them, no worries, for these Lemurs are far from shy. You will get a chance to be very close to most of them. Of course, the Craisins they eat are good motivators for being near you. This aquarium, overall, has a variety of birds, fish and reptiles, along with mammals. You have the chance to personally feed many of them. For example, I could not believe that I could touch and feed the Sting Rays they have. These big kids enjoyed our time here. God has created so many awesome species and I am amazed we get to meet a few close up and personal. The general admission is reasonable and you pay small fees for tokens to feed the animals. Plus, you have the opportunity to buy a membership and save. Finally, Kudos to the staff for making the experience so pleasant! read more

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Megan G.

8 years ago

What an awesome place! You can pet all kinds of little critters! Stingrays, little sharks, lizards, and lots more. read more

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Page 10 of 27

13530 US-183
Ste 101
Austin, TX 78750
Directions
(512) 222-5586
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.austinaquarium.com

View classes

Hours

What time does Austin Aquarium open?

Austin Aquarium opens at 10:00 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

What time does Austin Aquarium close?

Austin Aquarium closes at 6:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.Austin Aquarium closes at 8:00 PM on Friday and Saturday.Austin Aquarium closes at 7:00 PM on Sunday.

Mon-Thu 10:00 AM - 6:00 PMFri-Sat 10:00 AM - 8:00 PMSun 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM

Payment methods

Does Austin Aquarium take credit cards?

Yes, Austin Aquarium takes credit cards.

Indoor Amenities

Does Austin Aquarium allow dogs?

No, Austin Aquarium does not allow dogs.

Outdoor Amenities

Does Austin Aquarium have bike parking?

Yes, Austin Aquarium has bike parking.

Does Austin Aquarium have parking?

Yes, Austin Aquarium has parking options. Private Lot Parking

Other Amenities

Is Austin Aquarium wheelchair accessible?

Yes, Austin Aquarium is wheelchair accessible.

From the Business

Specialties

Our aquarium is home to thousands of species within dozens of exhibits! Whether you are local, or in town for a visit, your family and friends will have a blast at one of Austin's best attractions. Many of our exhibits are interactive and fun to engage with. Daily shows highlight our marine life, reptiles from desert and rain forest and exotic tropical birds. Our space is perfect for birthday parties and field trips. We even have some fun activities like Octopus Encounters, Morning Rounds, and more! Check out our website for more information and plan your next visit to our amazing aquarium attraction!

History

Established in 2013.

This aquarium was opened with families in mind. Featuring thousands of species, reptiles, warm and cold water fish and various exotic birds are there to touch, interact with and learn about. We are adding to our offerings continuously, both in terms of the animals featured and the programming. Listen to our Daily Talks, where our biologists provide you snippets of information about the species in the exhibits. Our facility is available for your private events, birthday parties, or join us for a night Sleeping with the Sharks.

Meet the Manager: Susan E.

Susan Elcox is the Marketing Director of the Portland Aquarium. With a 30 year background in marketing, she works with the aquarium team to introduce you to the aquarium in advertising, through the aquarium website, social media forums, and more. Susan appreciates your Yelp reviews and takes your feedback to the aquarium for improvement.

Austin Aquarium Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Austin Aquarium

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Review Highlights - Austin Aquarium

“This is a nice little aquarium that actually has a lot more to offer than it may seem from the outside.”

Mentioned in 13 reviews

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Claire J.

10 years ago

Waking in I was greeted by a young employee who look a little overwhelmed which seemed understandable, there were tons of people trying to ask questions or buy things at the same time, but she seemed to handle it pretty well. I would reckoned having some one else up there to help when it gets so busy. I paid for my adult ticket, I should have bought it online since it would have been cheaper, but compared to the prices of other aquariums the price wasn't that bad, especially since they offer it cheaper online. For people on here who complain about the walk in price, they offer great deals online, take advantage of it, If I had been thinking I would have walked outside and bought it on my phone then walked in. I would give 3 stars to the first room which had the large green iguana and some to uh tanks. It would get more stars if they had more information about the animals included In the tanks. I knew most of he information already, but I have a degree in this stuff and most people don't. So I suggest adding more labels or have someone standing there to share information. The green iguana was beautiful and ate some lettuce right out of my hand. I've seen reviews which people say he doesn't look happy. Obviously they don't know anything about animals since you can't infer that kind of information from reptiles. Besides the iguana had a massive area to roam in, if he didn't want to be pet he just climbed up on his rocks. The next room, the tropical fish and the sting rays I would give 4 stars. It would have 5 but I really feel that there could be more information about he animals, there weren't any kind of signs identifying all the different Stingrays and fish in there. However feeding them was fantastic and I would do it again and again. I've seen reviews of people who again know nothing of animal behavior talk about the sting rays trying to beach themselves. They are not trying to beach themselves. They have figured out that People have food and so they climb the glass to get the food The next exhibit was one of my favorites but sadly I have to give it 3 stars. The black throated monitor andcaiman exhibit was excellent. I really loved the way they incorporated the two species together along with the catfish in the exhibit. Excellent job on the husbandry team who did that. I give it 3 stars for again the lack of information about them. There is a screen at the top, but it doesn't include much information. I think they should have wooden post signs either next to you above with tons of information on all the species included in the exhibit. The iguana and baby Caiman exhibit gets 5 stars. It was very clean, the iguanas were eating an excellent looking plate of fresh veggies when I saw them. Very good job in my opinion for whoever feeds them and cleans The koi pond gets 3 stars. I have to agree there are too many koi in there. The water is clean. It's not crystal clear, but you can tell that it's not dirty. People are expecting ocean looking water when they look at it. Koi are fresh water it's basically a nice pond. Again I really feel that there are tons of places they could have information but they don't. The two turtles in there looked very healthyand well fed, the yellow bellied slider was basking in a ledge under a lamp, which was cool to see. Thelorikeet exhibit I would give 4 stars ( oh and my stars are based out of 5 I'm didn't clarify earlier) it was very clean, I'm not an expert on birds, but they all their feathers looked to be in good condition and they seemed very energetic which is good when it comes to birds. Next to it was a good amount of information about the birds do I was satisfied with that. The parakeets are 3 stars. Very clean, but absolutely no information. The Sharks are 4 stars but again little information on the different species. Employee care and knowledge is 10 out of 5 stars. I started asking one of the employees named Charlie as he was feeding the macaws tons of questions about the birds. He was extremely knowledgeable. I feel like this guy was an awesome textbook or something. He knew so much about the Birds and bird behavior. He talked me through how to train large birds and how to care for them and their origins and endangered statuses.A few small children next to me asked him lots of silly questions but he was so sweet and energetic when answering all of their questions. I wouldn't have been able to do that .He even showed us Clyde the cockatoo' tricks and let us pet Clyde He was super interactive with the kids and me, he showed ushow to get the birds to speak to us, and do cool tricks like dancing. He was seriously able to answer any question we asked about the birds with an intelligent and informative answer without being boring to the kids. I Really enjoyed the aquarium and I will definitely be coming back with some more friends for a guided tour and the morning rounds options and if I'm able I'd love to request Charlie as our guide!! read more

Stan B.

13 years ago

When we found out about this place we bought the family annual membership for $70. With annual passes for four of us for a year at that price we didn't have really high expectations since that's around than $18 per person for an annual pass. Our kids are teenagers, for the record. We went last Sat., 12/14. The space was a furniture store previously, so it's not a huge indoor space. It's a little too dark. The low lighting helps to see the smaller aquariums, but for the larger exhibits like the shark and ray pools more light would be nice, and they could use more light in some other areas. They haven't got all their stock in yet - the otters, jellyfish, and a few other really cool creatures are coming soon. The touch tank is still in progress. The seals and sea turtles are coming soon. The place doesn't feel finished yet, they obviously are still working on a lot of the displays now, and it feels like they might have rushed to get things opened and haven't got everything worked out. So it's still too early to give a complete review, but the kids and I liked what we saw. It probably will be a few more months before we really know what it's going to be like. We're planning to drop in next weekend for an hour or two since we live relatively nearby. It feels like the people who run this thing were amateur aquarists who tried to make their hobby a business. There are a lot of smaller display tanks where they have amazing fish species (the giant octopus is awesome), but the tanks aren't the centerpiece, the fish are. I have a few aquariums and was really excited at seeing some of the fish in those tanks. But if you are trying to entertain a very young child, they might be less interested in them. For instance there have amazing tiny Garden Eels, but you need to sit still to see them as they'll hide when they see movement. The shark and ray touch tanks were well done with a lot of space so the creatures could keep their space and wouldn't get stressed by not having a safe domain. The reptile area felt more finished and was really nice. They had Caimans, Jackson's Chameleons, Poison Dart Frogs, Iguanas, geckos, snakes, tortoises, and other reptiles and amphibians. They have a Macaw and a Toucan that they bring out at times. They don't let them out for too long since the exposure to crowds and noise would stress the birds, so we saw the Macaw but not the Toucan. They also have a Lorikeet area where you can feed the Lorikeets nectar. Lorikeets are very sweet and docile birds, and will drink nectar from hand held cups, so that's a must-do part of the exhibit. The caretakers were friendly and liked telling us about their animals, but might be less interesting to small kids - we were talking about habitat and care. All the folks I talked to were knowledgable and seemed excited to be able to work with the animals so they added a lot to the experience for us. There are some online allegations that the owners didn't take care of their stock at the Portland Aquarium (something to be taken very seriously), so I talked to the caretakers at length to get a sense of how things were being run. The three I talked to seemed very knowledgable about the animals they were responsible for and seemed to know a lot about proper care of the animals. They all said that they had final care decisions and could veto the owners requests if it was in the animals interest, and that some of the displays weren't as impressive looking to people to accommodate the well being of the animals. I was carefully watching for any animals showing signs of stress or illness and didn't spot anything like that, which was a relief. Honestly, the claim that the owners were in it for the money so they were letting tens of thousands of dollars worth of stock die to save a few pennies never made sense, but I felt better after seeing the way they were running things in person. Any reviews of this place earlier than 12/14 are meaningless since it didn't open until then. There is a PETA-type anti-Austin Aquarium group who believe all aquariums and zoos are immoral, and have been getting their members to create negative press/reviews. They have a Facebook group and I just checked and saw they were sending members to Yelp, so take some of the negativity with a grain of salt since some people have more of an agenda than just wanting to see the animals well cared for. The place doesn't have a polished feel, and they probably opened earlier than they should have since they don't have all their tanks going yet, but these seem like temporary issues. I really enjoyed the displays that they did have going, and liked the employees, I might have given the place a 3 in its current incomplete form but went with 4 since he aquarium shows promise, and since there was at least one reviewer with a 1 star review making false claims about sick/dead fish. read more

Allie D.

10 years ago

I LOVED this place and its employees! I loved it so much that I made a yelp account just so i could leave a review. We went there about on Tuesday about a week ago Overall I had a great experience here with my daughters ages 12 and 9. It was very interactive with was AWESOME where else can my daughters pet a full grown Iguana and a sting ray?! When we did our first walk through the Aquarium I wasn't sure what we were able to touch or do but one of the employee's which I neer asked for his name but my daughter insist his name was Corey was super helpful! He told us what we could touch and feed and even gave my daughters some free Koi food and they loved it! He even offered to bring out a snake for my girls but they were a little to scared of snakes. Haha we were HOOKED on feeding the animals after that. I think we ended up feeding every animal there TWICE it was great!. And we fed the parakeets at least 5 times! The next great part of our visit was the bird show! It was SO COOL! It was super educational, funny and interactive! One of my daughters even got chosen to be a helper in the show and the white bird they have I think his name was clapper FLEW to my daughter said HI then FLEW back to the trainer it was so AWESOME. It reminded me of like a SeaWorld show but BETTER because my daughters were able to actually interact WITH the birds. My daughter was in absolute bliss! After the show the Trainer I believe his name was Charlie hung around with the birds and continued to talk to my daughters and show them other cool bird tricks and even let my daughters HOLD each bird. If you go to the Aquarium I deifintly recommend watching the bird show and then Talking to the bird trainer afterwards. He was so passionate about what he was doing and you could tell he loves those birds. My daughter is even saying she wants to work with birds when she grows up! I'm hoping you guys have a volunteer option because my daughters would LOVE to learn more about caring for animals. So all in all it was GREAT 10/5 We are checking out their sister aquarium tomorrow in San Antonio and I'll keep you guys updated! read more

Brian S.

12 years ago

So many negative reviews on this place, and yet we still decided to give it a shot. Not again...! So where to begin? The place is overpriced for what it is, and that is reason enough to never go again. The exhibits were mostly lame and the entire place felt cheap and kinda scummy. The signage wasn't all that helpful in letting the kids know what they were looking at, and there was a decided lack of enthusiasm by the few staff members that were working on the Saturday that I was there. On top of that, there is a weird concession area in the very back of the aquarium... but no staff member working there. Not that I wanted to give them any more of my money, but geez! And they also get you for some overpriced lorikeet food and koi food in the back of the place. The lorikeet nectar was $3 and you would think that there would be enough in the cup that it would last more than 30 seconds. The brds got tired of me and my son pretty quickly when we ran out of food, which was just about immediately. And the koi food was another $2 and wasn't much better in terms of value for the money. But the worst part of this is the entry way / exit / ticketing area and the very overpriced gift shop area. There was only one person working the whole area, covering 2 registers (one for people coming in, one for people buying stuff at the gift store) and she was going back and forth trying to deal with two lines. It was embarrassing. And after touring the poor excuse for an aquarium (more like a glorified pet store but creepier), you end up in this weird looking gift shop area where just about everything is overpriced and the paint on the floor is so old that it is peeling up. I'm not sure what kkind of vibe the owners are going for in this location, but if they were going for dark, dank, creepy and overpriced, they got it right. read more

Lindsey S.

12 years ago

This aquarium is very lack luster and disappointing. There are a few touch tanks which is the coolest thing about this place but everything else in the aquarium you could pretty much see for free, in larger cooler tanks, from one of the many quality local fish stores. The Fish Gallery on Lamar comes to mind. The largest aquarium I saw outside of the touch tanks was maybe 200 gallons. Pathetically small for a for-profit aquarium. The aquarium has an "open layout" which makes it noisy and distracting, unlike most other aquariums which try to maintain peaceful and calm surroundings. On top of all that, it's small. Very small. It took us about 45 minutes to get through the whole thing including feeding the sting rays and parrotlets. It's also expensive when compared to Sea Life in Grapevine which is easily three times the size for the same price. Over all I'm very disappointed that we spent the money on a year long membership to this place and even at half price! I was thinking that it would be a good place to take my baby but the lack of large viewing aquariums makes this place no good for small babies and the open layout makes it hard for me with two other kids and then a baby. We will go back, only because of the darn membership but after that is used up I don't think we will. Edit 5/1/14: I finally got bored enough to take my children back here since I was duped into buying the year long family pass and it was free. The second time around was equally as disappointing as the first time except this time the Aquarium smelled like a dirty fish tank. That mildewy, dirty, gross smell from a tank that hasn't been cleaned in a long while is exactly what this whole Aquarium smelled like. The floors were dirty and sticky. Luckily it only took us 30 minutes to walk through the whole place. read more

Ashley T.

10 years ago

I recently moved to Austin and was chatting with a friend about things to do in Austin. I mentioned wanting to go to the aquarium since I have been to many in multiple states. She immediately without any hesitation said, "I have two free tickets, don't pay! It's totally not worth it." Skeptical, I took the tickets. I used the GPS to get there and I'm shocked that its so far north from downtown, it's so far north it almost isn't in Austin. As I am following the last few directions my GPS is giving me I am very confused to see I am pulling up to a strip mall. I am looking for something large but it is very small and nestled between other businesses. I realize this may be as disappointing as my friend suggested. I walk in and the smell hits me in the face. It's bad. Really bad. There is only one employee there and she looks like she's barely 18. I notice the prices posted next to her and am suddenly very thankful I am not paying for admission. The tanks were murky and foggy, there was sludge all over the edges and on the water pumps. The stingrays were trying to jump out of the tanks which I had never seen before. There wasn't anyone monitoring the people or the animals in either the sting ray or shark petting tanks, which I again have never seen. There were two large ducks in a small contained area with a tortoise, it was dirty, dark, and depressing. The koi tank was over crowded and disgusting. I could go on and on. Essentially I left feeling very very badly for the animals and very thankful I didn't pay to see that dirty depressing place. There were LCD screen with some information about some of the animals they had. That's the only good thing I can think of. Don't waste your money. This place should be shut down. read more

Cee D.

7 years ago

I took my kids ONCE to this "Aquarium" a couple years ago and NEVER again will I set foot in this appalling place ever again. It is straight up animal cruelty. These are birds, marine mammals and fish who are enclosed in small spaces under artificial lighting and never see sunlight. That is gross negligence and mistreatment. If you still go there please don't!! Thinking of doing a bday party there?? JUST SAY NO. the conditions are appalling. Notice the malnourished tortoise all by himself? The birds resting on top of that overcrowded fish tank that is holding about 4x it's maximal capacity?? Did you have a sick feeling as you left that place?? Yah it's bc you're a decent person and you know something is sooooo wrong about this place. And if you didn't I highly recommend you reevaluate what you saw in there. Why are there exhibits that are unsupervised? The interaction with animals should be a respected one, not a FREE FOR ALL. There needs to be rules about safety and how to properly handle these animals. Please don't support this SHAM of a place. It's a FOR-PROFIT business. They've gotten into hot water before, including prison time for one of the owners and former manager for acquiring marine mammals ILLEGALLY. They're glorified poachers. I am so shocked this place is still open. It's because people are still giving it business. Just last week a child was bitten by a lemur there. what in the world!! that should raise red flags right there. why is there a friggin lemur in this place, not in an outdoor environment?? stop giving this place business so they can shut down and these animals can be taken to a REAL aquarium. read more

Kristen M.

6 years ago

If you REALLY love and care about animals do not support this place. This is more of an indoor zoo housing many exotic animals that need to be living outdoors to maintain optimal health. These are not good living conditions for these animals and many of the animals are under extreme stress due to the living conditions and so many visitors. These are wild animals and their nervous systems cannot take this without causing them stress which effects their health. They need to live in an environment that is more natural with a diet close to what they eat in the wild. A small cage indoors is nowhere close to natural. Can you imagine being kept inside a cage, under un-natural light, with no fresh air or sun day in and day out while people come in looking at you and even come into the cage with you and handle you? Animals need hiding places so they can protect themselves from this type of stress, this is why good zoos offer these kinds of environments. I know how amazing it is to have close encounters with wildlife, but this is not the way to do it and you are causing harm to many animals by forcing them to live in these conditions. Please re-consider what it's like for the animals over what you want, and think of their quality of life first. Ex-employees of this place have spoken out about how many animals get sick and die. The owner has gone to prison many times for procurement wild animals illegally. http://www.actionforanimalsaustin.org/anti-circus-campaign/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-austin-aquarium/ https://www.peta.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/CovinoFamilyFactsheet.pdf read more

Gary L.

12 years ago

My wife and I took our 4 yr old daughter to see the Austin Aquarium yesterday and she had a blast. It was so awesome that there were so many petting tanks and the fish would come right up to you. My daughter loved petting the rays and sharks and we had a hard time getting her to leave because she wanted to keep petting them. I was so excited that an aquarium was coming to Austin because we love fish and its so hard to drive all the way to Corpus. Then I read the reviews and was really disappointed. I finally decided to go anyway and was pleasantly surprised. I love that it is smaller and more intimate and that its so interactive with kids. Everyone that was there was having fun and most had kids. They even have a play area and slide to give the kids a break and let them get their wiggles out. They also have moving dinosaurs right now. I don't understand why people are complaining about the price. I have been to many of the larger aquariums and though they are much bigger and have shows they charge close to $50 a person. I paid less then that for my whole family. Maybe people don't understand how much it costs to keep and feed saltwater fish. I'm glad they are here and I hope more people support it so that it can get bigger but for now its a wonderful thing to do with your family. I am giving them 5 stars not because its the nicest aquarium I have seen but because they did a great job for being small. I read many reviews that said that they enjoyed it but it was small. I am not going to penalize them for being small. I am rating on how much I enjoyed it and for what it is. read more

Alexa S.

328

4 years ago

DO NOT GO HERE!!! This is a "legal" aquarium actually run by a convicted wildlife trafficker, AMMON COVINO, who served years in prison, was released, & sent back after violating prohibition of involvement with wildlife. Despite this, he STILL used his poor wife's name (hence the "legal") to avoid detection when opening this aquarium and its sisters in San Antonio & Houston. They have told employees to avoid reporting animal bites on staff AND CUSTOMERS often saying a "stray animal is responsible", even after said bites turned the victims veins black. Everything from sloths, iguanas, lemurs, snakes etc. often go ignored for weeks before their deaths because their injuries from cramped enclosures, stress and/or abuse were deemed "too expensive" and forced to die a slow death in horrible, dirty conditions (not to mention the faulty AC they refuse to fix) or BLUDGEONED TO DEATH just because "it's only an sloth...etc.". Odd considering they report several days with $10K-60K in revenue. If you have or know of someone how has been bit or witnessed their "business practices" please report them! Some have been reported but they need to be out of business and imprisoned for good. And that starts with taking your dollar elsewhere! To help I've added the link to file a complaint with the state for unlawful business practices: https://txoag.secure.force.com/CPDOnlineForm/ & pictures of poor Igor the Iguana who was left outside to die after COVINO refused vet care for his injuries. Rest In Peace Igor and all who met their worst fears in their facilities. read more

Brenda S.

8 years ago

Visited on Friday, August 3rd, 2018. I must say that from the time of walking in the door of the Austin Aquarium to walking out the door after a couple of hours visiting; the experience was totally fun, fun, fun, interactive, pleasant, well-worth the trip, cost and a total exciting experience. The new Lemur "hands on" exhibit was the highlight of my grandkids (13-girl & 15-boy years old) an neighbor kid (12 years old-girl) day. The Lemur's were very well trained and interacted amazingly well leaving my grandkids and neighbor kid talking for the next several hours how they now want a Lemur as a pet and that we MUST go back real soon. Mr. Ammon C. - Owner was personable and really showed that he cared about our experience; and this made the trip all the more exciting. Even my grandkids commented on how nice the owner was during our visit. We will definitely be going again as the first experience was off the charts for fun and excitement. Every room was filled with hands-on fun and excitement - to feeding the fish, interacting with the many other types of animals, birds, and even the special exhibits with the employees, and shopping in the gift shop was welcoming and fun. This event was none like any of the other events we had visited. As stated "it was over the top fun, fun, fun and hands-on!!" I would highly recommend young people of all ages, mom's/dad's, mature, but young at heart go to the Austin Aquarium. You won't be disappointed. read more

Simon O.

12 years ago

The owner of this place, Ammon Covino, also owns Portland Aquarium in Oregon. He was arrested for "illegally harvesting marine animals"... so who knows how these animals were come by. He was sentenced to a year in prison. The Oregon Aquarium recently released it's "death log" where they logged over 200 animal deaths in a 3 month period. Google the owner's name to learn more fun facts. If that's not enough... This place is disgusting. The tanks on the "exhibits" are smeared up and greasy. The water is disgusting from all the grubby kid hands in it. True, they tell you to wash your hands before you stick them into the "petting tanks", but since they make everyone use the same filthy "reusable" towel at the sinks, the hands that go through there are probably more filthy than before they were washed. The octopus is in a tank that is barely large enough to contain him. He's squished in there like a goldfish. Octopus have the intelligence of a six year old child. Must be nice for him in there. This place is in a shopping center inside of an old furniture store building. It's a disgrace for an "aquarium". They charge prices that are in line with real aquariums ($60 for 2 adults + 1 kid), but they have a dime store ghetto setup. Truly wretched. Stay away. You'll have a better time at Petsmart. I'm truly sorry I took my 8 year old daughter here. I feel like I owe her an apology for subjecting her to this place. read more

Kiah D.

4 years ago

This is not an aquarium. This is an exotic animal petting zoo arcade in a strip mall. I'm not sure how or why it is legal. It is one of the saddest places I have ever been. Tokens to touch and feed the animals. Kids poking fish in the face, running around playing and eating while otters do little tricky flips in their tiny pen corners and parents check out the VR headsets. A few macaws swooping through the air, iguana poop on a phone, a deeply depressed gigantic yellow snake curled in a glass box twice her folded size. How could she stretch out? And there is obviously no sun for these animals, trapped in a dark building next to a Kobe Steakhouse. I was too distraught to look at every cage and who else was there. A sign/door for sloths and a giant guinea pig type creature were in my periphery as I quickly exited after saying my goodbyes...Balloon art, caricatures, playscape, gift shop, snack bar...I can see why people come here: a one-stop-shop for your novel Saturday outing and daily dose of cognitive "animal-loving" dissonance. I was there for a child's birthday party, otherwise I never would have known. I had no idea what I was walking into. I just can't believe places like this exist. If you really love animals, please don't support this for-profit sleezy place. Go to an accredited animal sanctuary that actually cares about the well being of animals. Do your research! read more

Amber C.

11 years ago

Thank you for these priceless moments. We had such a blast today! My daughter is diagnosed with being on the Autism spectrum and there's so many things that she is able to touch. The sensory process is just unbelievable! The little underground block, it's like you are one with sea life. She had the best time. My husband and I enjoyed every single part of your aquarium! Even the caymans have a awesome slide!! Thank you guys for bringing this to Austin. I know you got so much crap at first.. but, we have been anxious about going since day 1. I was lucky enough as a kid to go to live in Washington D.C. and see the aquarium and even the moody gardens, and their zoo. As a mom, knowing I've seen something so cool I have always wanted her to see such a sight! Man, you guys may be small.. yet, not one animal was cramped, or in tight spots. The inside is actually pretty big. Here it's all about families having priceless moments, great experiences, learning, staff were walking around and educating all of us, hands on learning. Inside this place is filled with huge opportunities of knowledge, and more priceless moments. You guys have given her the experience I have never dreamed of. Your staff is so knowledgeable. They care! Again, thank you guys for this! It was beyond amazing! read more

Kathy N.

12 years ago

I am very disappointed in the unfair negative reviews. Since moving here years ago from California and having the opportunity to visit many Aquariums with my family and as a child myself, the learning experience alone was unforgettable. I didn't expect much since the Aquarium in Austin hasn't been open that long. Our boyscout troop had a sleep over in the Aquarium. The boys were so excited and the staff bent over backwards to make sure everyone had a great time. We were separated into small groups and given a tour. The staff was patient with all the questions and very knowledgeable. The boys enjoyed petting and actually feeling the different ocean life. What really sold me was the interaction with the staff and the animals. You could see how much the animals and care takers really cared for one another and no it wasn't feeding time. I would like to commend Zach Rogers, Jay Bowles, Ryan Campbell, Alan Carter and Roy Valdez on doing such a great job of giving the children and the adults an awesome learning experience where many would never have had otherwise. I know our little guy is talking about becoming an oceanographer when he grows up. Obviously he was pretty impressed! I know they plan to add more to the aquarium. I personally look forward to our next visit. read more

Jason B.

11 years ago

My name is jason i just wanted to say the place is nice for my first time being there i had a bad situation me andy nephew went there the first time i say again some people with special needs were going in and me and my nephew looked around and bought some things we checked out and the lady said yall didnt pay wright we said we didnr know that it was our first time there we can pay know thats fine didnt know i told the lady shw was sweet she replied no im not so we left me and nephew went to book store down the sidewalk in store two guys approach us cussing at us saying they r gonna kick our asses and said i grabbed my private area to the lady then another guy says we got u on camera i said if u did then u know i didnt do that and if u knew that i didnt pay y didn't u say anything then when inside then they leave biok stor and go to my truck in parking lot and mess with it all i have to say they also had another employee talking us about on octopus say foul language i mean cussing some buisness it must b for me to make a mistake then get people to talk shit to u i mean management for something u didnt do when the mistake could of been fixed long ago overall place is excellent but employees really suck read more

Sarah R.

7 years ago

Animals are all in enclosures that are too small and filthy. Turtles kept in the same exhibit as koi (including fish-eating turtle species) with tattered fins clearly from being bitten, birds overcrowded in tiny aviaries, bedraggled looking parrots with nothing to do and nothing to prevent them from biting someone. Many animals are underfed, almost all are in far-too-small enclosures and with improper tankmates. Koi tank is hugely overcrowded and I'm surprised they haven't all died. HEALTH RISK from the multiple animal species that guests are allowed to interact with, most of which are not suitable for interaction- komodo dragons are venomous, and lemurs and other primates can carry or catch diseases from humans. Had axolotls (with very fragile gills, should never be kept with fish) in the same tank as aggressive fish, with the axolotl gills bitten down to stumps by said fish. I'm shocked they could still breathe. Overcrowded, smelly, cramped, dark, sad, for humans and animals alike. Shocked more people haven't gotten sick from there. Don't want to know how many animals have died there. Horribly overpriced. Do not go, do not give them your money, report them for animal cruelty. read more

Nicole W.

365

11 years ago

I took my 6-yr-old niece to visit here last month, & we both fell in love with this place! I'd heard it was tiny, so I was surprised when it was bigger than I expected. I didn't realize that it also housed multiple types of birds and a tortoise, & the stingray exhibit was awesome! We fed stingrays, koi, lorikeets, parakeets, & several other animals, & my niece went back to the stingray exhibit at least 5 times. We spent 3 1/2 hours in it & could easily have spent another hour. There was also a birthday party going on at the time, with plenty of room for kiddos to run around. There were multiple places for photo ops, of which my niece took full advantage, & she enjoyed playing on the large playset at the back of the building. As a veterinarian's daughter with a life-long love of animals, I was impressed by the condition of the exhibits and how the employees interacted with the animals. I've since purchased an annual membership for myself with the intent to go on a regular basis. Do yourself and your family a favor, & do the same! I would especially encourage purchasing memberships right now, as they appear to be running a 25% off special. Loved it, loved it, loved it! :-) read more

Phil H.

10 years ago

THANKS Carrie for teaching my kids about the snakes and letting them hold Houston, the Python!! They loved it and can't wait to come back. The Austin Aquarium is a must see for everyone with kids living and visiting Austin. It is small but intimate with the staff there to talk about all the fish, birds, snakes, and other animals. You are allowed to touch almost everything giving kids a more intimate look at the animals than just through a looking glass. My kids and I visit several times a year always leaving there knowing more than when we walked in. Great place for kids summer camp visits and field trips also. In response to some other reviews - we have been there at least a dozen times in the last 3 years and not once have we had any kind of bad experience with the employees, smell, or physical condition of the aquarium. It is small but done very nicely. We used to live in Tampa so we know what a large expansive aquarium is. This isn't one of those, but a small intimate setting that kids love. It is always clean and the gift shop has always been neat...I always let my kids get a little something as I know it is a donation to keep the place running. read more

Gianna C.

8 years ago

My kids and me have been there twice and each time has been lots of fun. It's not a huge facility which is good for the fact that there are a lot of small kids there. It is a simple yet well put together. The entry is fun and then it leads to an area of viewing sea life such as an amazing octopus, star fish, sting rays etc. There is a delightful iguana that sits there enjoying lettuce and being petted. Then it opens up to a big area where stingrays can be touched and fed. The fun goes on as you circle around the entire faculty seeing anything from lemurs, to exotic birds, lizards, eels, snakes, ducks, sharks and a magnificent array of sea life that we've never heard of! There is a food area there beside a fun play area for kids to play while parents can rest and all can get refreshments. The employees are cordial and knowledgeable. I saw the employee, named Tess that sold us our membership. She recognized us and greeted us back and was very helpful by introducing us to the sting ray food along with answering questions we had. I give this place 5 stars because my kids love it and we will definitely be back. @austinaquarium #austinaquarium read more

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265 Austin Aquarium reviews that are not currently recommended

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