The waters of the Northeast Atlantic are absolutely teeming with the Lesser Spotted Catshark, a family of shark with over 150 species – a number that makes them the largest family of sharks in the world. And though that might sound pretty scary, don’t fret: they’re actually among the smallest and most harmless fish in … Continued
Join us as we uncover the captivating traits of the majestic lionfish and dive into their mesmerizing world! The Lionfish’s Striking Appearance Known for their dramatic and ornate appearance, these fish boast a unique and captivating presence. With their vibrant colours, intricate patterns, and long, flowing fins lionfish truly stand out. One of the most … Continued
Having been around for over 250 million years, it seems crocodilians are perfectly adapted to life on Earth. These are some of the most resilient animals ever to walk (or, of course, swim) the planet, so what’s the secret to their success? Well, aside from their powerful bite, thick, armour-like scales and formidable jaws, sheer … Continued
Meet the Curled Octopus If you’ve paid us a visit over the last couples weeks, you will have spotted our fantastic five curled octopuses. These cephalopods are renowned for their unique appearance and intriguing behaviours. It’s a good idea to make sure you walk around the aquarium more than once, so you can see them … Continued
Plastic pollution is a big issue that is affecting thousands of marine animals. We have seen this first hand with one of the loggerhead turtles that we have been rehabilitating. Luckily, our team managed to safely remove the plastic from the juvenile loggerhead turtle and hope it will now be able to eat more and … Continued
We’ve been rehabilitating three stranded juvenile loggerhead sea turtles! Last month, Jason, the first of the three turtles, was found by locals on Friday 13th January. As our team of Aquarists was caring for Jason, two more turtles were found stranded on beaches in the South West, one at Widemouth Bay near Bude and the … Continued
Last week, Omiros, our rescue Loggerhead Sea Turtle, (Caretta caretta), had his bi-annual vet visit. Rescued off the coast of Greece in 2007, the 40 plus year old turtle has been living with us at Blue Reef Aquarium Newquay since 2009. It’s important for Omiros to have regular health checks so we know he’s healthy. … Continued
Deeply Creepy is well underway at the aquarium this October half-term! We hope everyone has been enjoying our spooky fun so far discovering the deeply creepy trail, finding sunken cauldrons, and dressing up. Our amazing aquarists have been dressing up too… We have lots of creepy creatures you can come face-to-face with. Our Red-bellied Piranhas … Continued
Our giant Pacific octopus, Scooby, (Enteroctopus dofleini) tricked one of our aquarists into giving him two dinners! Scooby is a 2-and-a-half-year-old giant Pacific octopus who is one of our well-known residents here. Giant Pacific octopuses have large, complex brains and well-developed nervous systems, with the capacity for long-term memory, learning, tool use and problem-solving. While … Continued
The Giant Pacific Octopus needs little introduction. Famed for its size and strength, it’s one of the biggest molluscs on Earth. And yet there’s more to these remarkable animals than sheer scale and brute force, as scientists continue to discover.