Birch Aquarium

@birchaquarium

🐟 The o-fish-ial account of Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego

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Birch Aquarium@birchaquarium· 1d

fish pit > mosh pit 🐟🤘 Sardines may look like they’re moshing, but there’s a method to the madness! They move together in schools, swimming as one to navigate the ocean.

A large school of sardines swims in a circular formation against a dark blue background, creating a mesmerizing vortex-like effect in the water.

A large school of sardines swims together in deep blue water, creating a dynamic, swirling pattern. The scene is rich with movement and shades of silver and blue.

A school of silver fish swims in unison against a dark blue underwater background.

Birch Aquarium@birchaquarium· 4d

Who's your favorite Giant Kelp Forest resident? 🐑 CA Sheephead 🦈 Swell Shark 🧡 Garibaldi

A colorful California Sheephead swims near lush kelp underwater. The fish has a distinct pattern with black, white, and pinkish-orange sections.

A swell shark swimming gracefully in a blue-green underwater environment, surrounded by kelp and a few other fish.

A brightly colored orange Garibaldi fish swims among Giant Kelp in a clear blue underwater environment.

Birch Aquarium@birchaquarium· 5d

the only feet pics we’ll ever ask for .... swipe for the tube feet reveal ⭐🦶 #SeaStars move and groove along the ocean floor using thousands of tiny, flexible tube feet located beneath their arms. Tube feet help them explore their surroundings, find food and stick to almost any surface.

Birch Aquarium@birchaquarium· 9d

big fish energy 🐟 If you've ever stood in front of our Giant Kelp Forest and thought, "Whoa, that fish is BIG," you were probably looking at our #GiantSeaBass. This local species can grow to more than 7 feet long and weigh over 500 pounds, making it one of the largest bony fish in the Pacific.

A large Giant Sea Bass swims gracefully through a kelp forest underwater, surrounded by various smaller fish. The scene is vibrant with green kelp and blue water.

Birch Aquarium@birchaquarium· 22d

Ever noticed a stop sign-like object entering the water before our Leopard Sharks get fed? It’s not stopping traffic — it’s a feeding cue! 🦈 Join Aquarist Brent to learn how target training helps us care for and connect with these amazing animals.

Birch Aquarium@birchaquarium· 25d

🦐 This shrimp glow-up is WILD 👀 Red Rock Shrimp start life as tiny planktonic larvae drifting through the ocean. After several stages of development, they settle on the seafloor as transparent “shrimplets” before growing into the vibrant red crustaceans we know and love.

Close-up view of a shrimp larva with a translucent, segmented body. Long antennae and delicate legs extend from its body, while vibrant blue and red hues highlight its internal structures and intricate features.

A translucent "shrimplet" with long antennae and prominent eyes is set against a black background.

A vibrant Red Rock Shrimp with intricate white stripes is perched on seagrass against a dark background. Its long antennae extend outward, creating a striking contrast with the lighting.

Birch Aquarium@birchaquarium· Jul 7

From puzzle feeders that encourage natural foraging to new habitat features that inspire exploration, our Husbandry Team creates enrichment experiences that help our sharks and rays stay curious and engaged. Enrichment plays a vital role in their care, promoting their overall health and wellbeing!

Birch Aquarium@birchaquarium· Jul 6

These little cephalopods are leveling up every day, getting better at hiding, hunting and navigating their world. That also means we're getting ready to have one of our Red Octopuses on display at the aquarium in the coming weeks! Timing is still TBD, so stay tuned here on our socials for updates.

A Red Octopus clings to the side of its habitat, its arms extended as it displays its textured skin and intricate patterning.

Birch Aquarium@birchaquarium· Jul 6

🐙 Camouflage is getting way more advanced and complex! 🐙 Eyes are more developed and now have horizontal pupils! 🐙 No longer translucent and are more opaque as leucophores (light-reflecting cells that help produce white coloration) develop! 🐙 More defined skin papillae along the head and body!

A two-image collage shows the same Red Octopus at two stages of growth, at 6 months and 9 months.

Birch Aquarium@birchaquarium· Jul 6

We’re celebrating a big octopus milestone! Our Red Octopuses are now 9 months old and fully in their juvenile stage. They’ve moved past settlement and are showing major developmental changes.

A vibrant Red Octopus with detailed textures is set against a plain white background. The octopus's arms are spread out, showcasing its intricate pattern and structure.

Birch Aquarium@birchaquarium· Jun 29

👀 pier into the unknown 🐟

A silhouetted visitor stands in front of an aquarium habitat inspired by life beneath Scripps Pier, with fish swimming among seaweed-covered columns.

A Round Ray glides through a pier piling habitat at an aquarium.

California spiny lobster nestled among mussels on a pier piling in an aquarium habitat.

Birch Aquarium@birchaquarium· Jun 26

if “wolf down a meal” was a photo series ... feat. Pacific Angel Shark 🦈 #InternationalAngelSharkDay

Birch Aquarium@birchaquarium· Jun 22

Our Coral Care Team recently documented two Tongue Corals spawning and releasing eggs. Coral spawning is rarely observed, making each event incredibly valuable. These sightings help us better understand the cues that trigger spawning and support coral conservation in aquariums and the wild!

Birch Aquarium@birchaquarium· Jun 20

the closer you look, the more you'll discover. 👀 🐠 🪸

A vibrant underwater scene of a coral reef teeming with colorful tropical fish. The fish are varying shades of orange, blue, and purple. Corals of different shapes and sizes fill the reef, creating a lively and diverse ecosystem.

Birch Aquarium@birchaquarium· Jun 16

We like turtles. But we’re especially fond of Loggerhead Sea Turtles 🩵🐢 Happy #WorldSeaTurtleDay from our resident #seaturtle at Birch Aquarium! 📸: UC San Diego photographer ErikJepsen

Birch Aquarium@birchaquarium· Jun 11

“I never see you at the club.” Ok? But has anyone considered that my dream club just … doesn’t exist yet? Where are you headed? 🌿 Seaweed Speakeasy 🪸 Reef Rave 🐟 Deep Blue Disco

Birch Aquarium@birchaquarium· Jun 8

Happy #WorldOceanDay! 🌊 From swirling schools of #sardines to our lovely Loggerhead Sea Turtle, our Open Ocean habitat highlights the incredible life found in one of Earth’s largest ecosystems.

Birch Aquarium@birchaquarium· Jun 3

🐧 Make your visit to #BirchAquarium even more extraordinary with a Behind-the-Scenes Penguin Tour! Discover what makes Little Blue Penguins so unique, learn how you can help protect them and go behind the scenes in our Penguin Care & Conservation Center for an up-close look.

Birch Aquarium@birchaquarium· Jun 1

Even coral gets the munchies 🪸This #TongueCoral might look like a rock, but it’s very much alive! Tongue #Coral is made up of tons of tiny polyps, and each polyp has a single opening that functions as its mouth. That mouth is surrounded by tentacles that help capture food!

Birch Aquarium@birchaquarium· May 29

🪼 core memory in the making 🪼

A child stands in front of a large aquarium display, watching several jellyfish with orange and translucent bodies swimming gracefully in the water.

Birch Aquarium@birchaquarium· May 25

The perfect day doesn't exist … oh wait 🐧

A person in a denim outfit is pointing at a Little Blue Penguin swimming in an aquarium habitat.

Guests at an aquarium observe a Giant Pacific Octopus stretching its arms across a habitat.

Guests observing a large aquarium habitat featuring colorful fish and vibrant coral.

Birch Aquarium@birchaquarium· May 23

us in another universe 💙 Wonder how seahorses get a grip? It’s all thanks to their prehensile tail — a unique, flexible adaptation that lets them anchor themselves to seagrass, mangrove roots and coral, keeping them steady even in strong currents.

Two seahorses swim closely together through swaying green seagrass, their prehensile tails gently wrapped around each other as they drift in the current.

Birch Aquarium@birchaquarium· May 21

ATTN: anyone who was obsessed with sharks as a kid and never recovered 🦈 💙 Tickets are now on sale for Oceans at Night: Sharks! Join us for this 21+ after-hours night on July 9 for some sea-riously good vibes 🌊 aquarium.ucsd.edu/events/ocean...

Two guests play foosball outside Birch Aquarium during an after-hours event, with the aquarium illuminated in the background.

Three smiling people pose together while holding up two large shark jaws.

The silhouette of a band playing as the sun sinks into the ocean horizon.

Birch Aquarium@birchaquarium· May 15

Through decades of habitat restoration and collaborative conservation efforts, this immersive experience invites you to imagine a future where the Mountain Yellow-legged Frog can thrive once again. Every species has a story worth saving. Come experience theirs.

A boy looks into a Mountain Yellow-legged frog habitat at an aquarium.

A Mountain Yellow-legged Frog rests on a rock at the water’s edge, with part of its body submerged and the rest above the surface.

Birch Aquarium@birchaquarium· May 15

This #EndangeredSpeciesDay, we’re spotlighting our newest exhibition, Imagine Wild: Mountain Yellow-legged Frog. Step into a story of resilience, restoration and hope as you explore what it takes to rebuild a healthy ecosystem for these critically endangered amphibians.

A girl sits atop a colorful frog sculpture in front of a mural that reads “Imagine Wild.”

Young children jump and play across an interactive digital pond projection, with a colorful forest mural covering the wall behind them.

A wall display features a sign reading, “Imagine a wild place you love,” beside a “wishing tree” sculpture covered with handwritten paper notes responding to the prompt.

Birch Aquarium@birchaquarium· May 3

Moments that make us say “GPwhOa!” 🐙 Have you spotted our #GiantPacificOctopus exploring its habitat? Keep a sharp eye as this clever #cephalopod is a master of disguise, blending into rocks and squeezing into tiny hidden spaces. #octopus

A child observes a large octopus in an aquarium exhibit, with giant kelp, anenomes and rocks in the background.

An octopus with outstretched arms clings to the side of a rock in an aquarium habitat.

Birch Aquarium@birchaquarium· Apr 30

o-fish-al reminder that tomorrow … IT’S GONNA BE MAY 🐟

A collage of marine life, featuring a blue tang, an orange frogfish, a seahorse, an orange frogfish, and a yellow tang, under the text "NSEANC" with a sea star graphic.

Birch Aquarium@birchaquarium· Apr 27

☀️ HAVE YOU EVER STARED DIRECTLY AT THE SUN?! 👀 Us whenever we get a glimpse of a bright orange #Garibaldi swimming through a Giant Kelp Forest.

A bright orange fish swims towards the camera against a dark blue background, highlighting its vibrant color.

Birch Aquarium@birchaquarium· Apr 25

🐧 tiny torpedoes 🩵 Little Blue Penguins are built for speed in the water — their streamlined, torpedo-shaped bodies make them expert swimmers. In fact, their scientific name literally means “good little diver”! #WorldPenguinDay #LittleBluePenguin #Penguin

Two penguins are swim underwater in a penguin habitat at an aquarium.

A penguin swims gracefully underwater in a clear aquarium habitat. Sunlight filters through the water, highlighting the penguin's sleek, dark feathers and streamlined body.

A penguin swimming underwater at Birch Aquarium, surrounded by bubbles and illuminated by beams of light.

Birch Aquarium@birchaquarium· Apr 11

Roll the dice 🎲 and celebrate #NationalBoardGameDay with Monopoly: San Diego Edition! Spot #BirchAquarium on the board alongside other iconic San Diego landmarks — and grab your own copy in the aquarium’s Gift Shop!