Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Instagram Photo Contest #SEALIFEMN


Show us your SEA LIFE pride! Share your favorite sea creature or aquatic photo via Instagram (a popular photo-sharing app on the iPhone) with the hashtag #SEALIFEMN to be entered to win a family four-pack of tickets to the aquarium! The photo could be of your favorite animal at SEA LIFE Minnesota or just a cool sea creature you have at home.


The photos will be sent to our instagrid #hashtag gallery so make sure you use the tag #SEALIFEMN with the photo to be entered to win a family four-pack of tickets!

To view the photos in the gallery visit http://instagrid.me/tag/sealifemn/ 

The contest will run until June 7th so act fast!

Also, make sure to come check out Turtle Fest here at the aquarium which runs until June 8th which includes discounted tickets, fun for the family, and sea life conservation awareness. WOW!

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

SEA LIFE Celebrates Turtle Fest


SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium will be celebrating Turtle Fest May 23rd- June 8th with TURTALLY awesome events throughout the aquarium starting today!

To kick-off Turtle Fest, our team will be giving Oyster, one of SEA LIFE's two Kemp's Ridley sea turtles, her annual physical. In honor of Turtle Fest, SEA LIFE wants to make sure that Oyster is in spectacular health by getting her blood work, weighing and measuring her to see how much she has grown, and checking her eyes and mouth to make sure she can live a long lasting life. 

Turtle Tidbits: Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles are the most endangered species in the world. 

Come into SEA LIFE Minnesota to celebrate Turtle Fest with our terrific turtles. 
Guests can purchase discounted admission tickets to SEA LIFE Minnesota for $9.99 ( regularly $19.99 +tax ) at TurtleFestMinnesota.com. $1.00 will be donated to The Turtle Hospital in Florida for every ticket purchased. Our TURTALLY awesome events will include a turtle quiz trail with turtle-related trivia along with an up close and personal look at a Sea Turtle's annual check up! Look out for more Turtle Tidbits in future posts. 



Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Underwater Proposal



Today at SEA LIFE we were able to host a very special event for one couple.


Nick and April were visiting the aquarium when one of our divers pulled out a sign asking "Will You Marry Me?" Nick then got down on one knee and pulled out a gorgeous ring to a very excited "YES!" and a kiss.


Intern Anna and I were center stage for the proposal and were able to shoot a video of the event. We did our best not to give away the surprise but we were extremely anxious and excited!



Here at the aquarium we are often the hosts of proposals and even weddings. Back in February of 2006 we even had a couple who tied the knot underwater!



Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Sea Turtle Gains Weight

As most people try to shed off those last few pounds before the summer swimsuit season, SEA LIFE Minnesota's Giant Green Sea Turtle, Bubbles, hopes to gain weight - or a weight to be exact.

Today, Bubbles is undergoing a procedure to correct her Bubble Butt, a condition causing unwanted air to become trapped under her shell which prevents the turtle from swimming to the surface for air. The procedure involves a very strong epoxy to re-attach a customized weight to Bubbles' shell.

A similar weight was previously attached to Bubbles after she arrived at SEA LIFE Minnesota over a year ago, but last week it was dislodged after a little turtle drama in the tanks. Today's procedure involves an even stronger epoxy which will hopefully prevent it from falling off or becoming lunch for one of Bubbles' fishy friends.

Watch the procedure on our YouTube page: youtube.com/sealifemn

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Megalodon

The Carcharodon Megalodon, more commonly called Megalodon, is a species of shark that has been extinct for millions of years. The Megalodon shark was similar to the modern day great white shark, although much larger, weighing almost 100 tons and capable of growing to almost 67 feet in length with teeth as long as 7 inches. The Megalodon is said to have had the strongest bite of any creature that ever lived.

The picture on the right shows the maximum size of the Megalodon represented in gray, the average size of a Megalodon in red, the average Whale Shark in purple (currently the largest shark in existence), the average Great White in Green, and the average human in blue.

Fossils from the Megalodon have been found in oceans around the world ranging from near North America to near Europe to the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean. Scientists have yet to figure out what caused the Megalodons to become extinct although there are many theories including a drop in food supply, oceanic temperature change, and new competition.

Take a piece of history home with you. Megalodon tooth fossils are now available in the SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium gift store!