The maternal and paternal unites
We figured the Aquarium of the Pacific would be a great place to start.
The staff are really nice (and they like Jerome)
We arrived after all the school groups left, so we could take our time looking around. After a while, we caught a presenter on her way to the sea otter show.
I'm not sure if she knows what to make of Jerome
I gave the parental units an almost complete tour of the aquarium, and we managed to watch some of the staff feeding the animals in the main tropical exhibit.
Jen feeds the bonnethead sharks (they're really shy)
During the tour, we saw an unexpectedly good view of the harbor.
Palms and water...stereotypically California (but still pretty)
After the tour, we saw an opportunity too good to pass up.
BIG!
It's a Queensland grouper. Apparently, this one is small at only 200 pounds or so. A big one may weigh as much as 900 pounds. We also saw some divers feeding the fish.
Some for me?
One diver was on the other side of the glass. He seemed amused by Jerome.
Can you guess what I am?
After that, the parental units and I looked at some of the smaller exhibits.
With Jerome
Without Jerome
These little guys are kuda or oceanic seahorses. Apparently, they had babies the day before. We got to see them, but I forgot to take any pictures. So just imaging this big yellow one is brown and can fit on your thumbnail with two of its siblings, and you'll have a pretty good idea what they looked like.
Sea dragons vs. sea reptile
A funny thing happened when I took this picture. All the weedy sea dragons came over to look at Jerome. I guess they were curious.
Holy cowfish!
We also saw one of the weirdest fish in existence, the longhorn cowfish. It's little, only about two inches including the horns, but it remains one of the strangest animals at the aquarium.
Warning! Obligatory photograph!
We also saw the corals, stonefish, and a few frogs, including my sister's favorite, the White's tree frog, A.K.A the Jabba the Hutt frog. In all seriousness, some people call them pudgy frogs. They (the frogs) live up to the name.
Eventually, our party of three ended up in the Southern California/Baja Gallery, where Californian animals live.
Hello beebee...
One of the exhibits featured windowed swell shark eggs. Apparently, people can cut away a bit of the shell so guests can watch the baby shark, or pup, grow. It's a small, but very nice, exhibit.
The maternal unit's favorite exhibit
Further in, we saw an exhibit filled with pink gorgons, red anemones, and purple hydrocorals. It is the ultimate feminine exhibit. Further in, the sea lion exhibit was being cleaned.
Sea lions are still active, even when covered by apologetic signs
Outside, we saw small sharks attended by a Presenter.
Hey Kimmy!
We also saw some big sharks.
This is okay, right?
While I was distracted by taking pictures, I failed to notice the attention Jerome and I received.
What is it?
One more place behind the scenes beckoned. Apparently, the aquarium took in some penguins that were rescued off Brazil.
A classic staredown between a flightless bird and an extinct reptile
After running around the aquarium all afternoon, we were pretty hungry, so the parental units supplied dinner via a nearby restaurant.
I swear, it's the menu, not my tongue
Everyone ate a little too much, but fried fish and shrimp are very satisfying. More adventures to come tomorrow!
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