Shark Reef Aquarium is a nice AZA-accredited facility located inside the massive Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino on the Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is an indoor attraction and features 15 exhibits (for some reason they claim 14 in their materials). Although the number of exhibits qualifies it as a small-to-mid-sized aquarium, the total gallon count contained within the exhibits is 1,600,000 making it a large aquatic showcase. The majority of this liquid volume is saltwater and is distributed among 8 of the exhibits; one of them is a major habitat containing 1,300,000 gallons! 65,250 gallons of freshwater is distributed among 6 other exhibits, while one additional exhibit contains no water. The aquarium entrance is located next to a small food court and the large convention center that is part of the hotel; it is a short walk from one outdoor entrance to the convention center along the Strip but a long walk from the main entrance of the hotel or parking garages. Much of the hotel property surrounds a huge swimming pool complex that also features one additional animal habitat at the property, a rather large shallow pond on the edge of a restaurant and formal cascading fountain for an unidentified swan species. It is a standard habitat for them but appears to have very limited areas of dry land provided. This habitat is not directly along the paths that most visitors would take to reach the aquarium however. The aquarium entrance itself is rather unremarkable, a plain flat wall that matches the color of the vague tropical resort décor of the large hallway it faces that links to the convention center and eventually the hotel and casino. Several small ticket windows comprise the admissions area, and they are next to a pair of open double doors that appear to be emergency exits from the meeting rooms nearby. However they are actually the entrance and exit, and a very large sign on the wall in the two-story hall above the doors proclaims the attraction name. Between the doors is another sign forming the logo ‘Accredited by the Asoociation of Zoos and Aquariums’ and is the most obvious use of this fact I can recall. Stepping inside the doors, the plain walls are left behind and the rest of the attraction is a detailed themed environment. The two-story entry/exit room is a Mayan-esque themed temple interior, with rustic simulated stone block walls and columns and planters filled with simulated tropical foliage. The planters rise in steps on either side of an escalator and stairway that rise to the upper level, while an elevator doorway is also available and tucked around a corner. The upper level acts as the foyer of the attraction and is lit with large exotic fixtures as well as smaller downlights recessed in the simulated stone beams. A thatched hut divides the foyer; to the left is the attraction entrance, to the right is the attraction exit and a booth for puchasing souvenir posed photographs. The hut has a staffed counter where tickets are collected and the audio wand is obtained. Like many large museums, Shark Reef features a self-paced audio tour, included with admission in this case. Along the one-way path through the attraction, each exhibit has a consistent sign on an adjacent wall. At the top of each is a large number in a box, and many of them have several numbers. Each number corresponds to the number pad on the audio wand, and typing the number on the pad immediately begins the earphone narration that pertains to the exhibit. Each narrated segment is 1 or 2 minutes long. The information is accurate, mature, and scientific rather than sensational or idiotic. This form of dispersing information allows the number and size of the signs to be minimal, an asset for reducing the visual intrusions to the exhibits and theming. However, it also reduces the effectiveness that certain illustrative graphics can add. Below the numbers on each sign are consistent elements in smaller type: the exhibit number, the number of gallons and type of water it contains (I do not recall ever seeing this clearly stated for every exhibit at any other facility), and a simple list of featured inhabitants with their scientific and common names and origin. There are no pictures on these small signs. Some of the exhibits have additional signs that do have pictures and more complete information about the inhabitants; they are mounted on boards attached to the walls and appear to be later additions but are not intrusive. In general, the system of limited signs and audio wand tours works well for this facility. Of course, while visitors fumble with picking up the wands and learning how they work, they are interrupted by the photo staff beyond the counter as they try to pose visitors in front of a screen in the temple foyer for purchasing later. Once past them, a small temple-like hallway is reached that has statues and bas-reliefs of crocodiles that set the stage for the exhibits to come and help theme what is claimed to be ‘North America’s only predator-based aquarium’. The attraction is divided in three themed areas: Jungle, Temple, and Shipwreck. Jungle contains 7 exhibits; all 6 freshwater ones and the 1 that has no water. This entire section is housed within a large room covered with a high barrel-vaulted conservatory skylight that has opaque glazing to light the room brightly but prevent views outside. Its interior is a gradually descending path contained with simulated stone temple walls that also contain the exhibits. Most viewing areas are open to the ceiling and the lush tropical jungle of live plants that is seemingly taking over the temple and reclaiming civilization for nature. Creeping plants spill over the tops of walls as fishtail palms emerge from the verdure and reach for the ceiling. Several statues and bas-reliefs in the stone are scattered along the route but it is not overdone. It is nicely planted and convincingly realized, although the aging of the stonework could have been exaggerated for even greater effect. The first exhibit is reached after going through the entry hallway and emerging in this bright room. It is for golden crocodile, which is a hybrid of saltwater and Siamese crocodiles and is a light yellow color. There is only one inhabitant, and the enclosure would not be very comfortable for another. It is a rectangular-shaped enclosure formed by high temple walls with no overhead containment; viewing windows are on three sides of it. The first two windows on two different sides are above water, while the last and largest viewing area is two large windows with partial underwater views of the 12,000-gallon pool that dominates the interior. The pool is about 5 feet deep and the croc was enjoying submerging down to the depths occasionally. The edges of the habitat have small stone shelves, some angled to look like fallen temple ceiling beams, and one area provides a shelf in the water for shallow resting. A larger dry land area with a contained natural substrate resting area would have made this a better enclosure for an animal that can reach 18 feet (is currently about 9 feet?). Sharing a wall of this enclosure is a similar-sized enclosure around the corner for Komodo dragon. It also has one inhabitant, but its much smaller 4,000-gallon pool does not occupy much space. This habitat is viewed through two large windows in the wall and has no containment overhead as well; sloping rock surfaces and a contained area of natural substrate are provided but the total area probably makes this the smallest habitat for this species I have seen. Across from the first two exhibits is a square pond exhibit for African cichlid brichardi with 750 gallons. It is contained with low window panels on two sides with a railing in front; visitors could lean over and touch the water easily. The other two sides of it are contained in low stone walls with lush shrubs hanging over and a small waterfall spilling in the water, making a nice little exhibit for fish from Lake Tanganyika. A small window to the next exhibit gives a glimpse into it, but its main view is in an enclosed dark hallway in the temple walls around the corner. It is a mixed species exhibit that is mostly above water, with a narrow deep pool of 12,000 gallons for Asian arrowana, Fly River turtle, pignose turtle, and a few small unidentified fish species. Unfortunately the long viewing window only features a sliver of underwater view so this part of the exhibit is unimpressive. The main focus of the habitat is the above water area, a scenic temple room for a Burmese python. A narrow window in the back of the room provides a view to an exhibit that will be seen later. At the end of the dark hall, visitors emerge back ‘outside’ next to three viewing windows set in a tall angled temple wall for the next exhibit, the 35,000-gallon Amazon Predators tank. Inside, the habitat is contained in more temple walls and features a submerged simulated stone staircase as well as pottery urns scattered on the floor. This exhibit is rather dark inside, with some dramatic backlighting highlighting a niche beyond the stairway…kind of creepy but memorable. It is inhabited by arapaima, silver arrowana, black pacu, tiger shovelnose, redtail catfish, peacock cichlid, Motoro stingray, and a few unidentified smaller fish. It has some nice large specimens and is a good representation of Amazon species, but is certainly not a good representation of a natural Amazon tributary! An adjoining temple wall features the final freshwater exhibit, this time for five species of piranha: black, black spot, black diamond, red belly, and (confusingly) red-belly. The 1,500-gallon tank occupies a rectangular niche in the wall and is a shallow pond contained on the visitor side with a low glass viewing panel. A metal railing keeps visitors a few feet back from the tank and from leaning over to touch the water; a staff member is always stationed next to it to prevent this as well, and to answer questions. The back of this pond is contained in the temple wall niche which is adorned with a small waterfall and climbing plants. This is the only open-top piranha exhibit I can recall; it is not especially thrilling and the viewing requires an adult to bend down to see in the pond but it is nice to have a few unusual features like this. Next, the path turns another corner, passes beneath a jungle-choked arbor, and reaches the backside of the python exhibit seen earlier. Rather than seeing directly into it, there is a tall narrow exhibit behind glass in front of it for green tree monitor with a thin branching trunk for the two inhabitants to climb. This is the exhibit with no water. The back of it is a window that adjoins the python exhibit, but visitors from this lower vantage point cannot see much of it. This ends the Jungle section, but visitors are still in the large themed skylit room; the next section begins in this room as well. The first trio of exhibits in Jungle: Golden Crocodile on the right, Komodo Dragon in the background, and African cichlid brichardi on the left: Amazon Predators Exhibit in Jungle: Temple contains 7 exhibits and all of them are saltwater. The first exhibit seen is the Reef Tunnel; visitors do not enter the tunnel here, but three windows preview this large exhibit from the end of the Jungle section. The three preview windows actually provide good viewing into the habitat and are set along a flat wall of the temple theming with thatched awnings shading the glazed panels from skylight glare. The habitat is 140,000 gallons, the second-largest one at the aquarium. It features black tip reef shark, grey reef shark, zebra shark, humphead wrasse (a huge specimen larger than any of the sharks I saw in this tank!), blue-striped snapper, lookdown, stars and stripes pufferfish, unicorn tang, Sohal tang, blue moon angelfish, and grey angelfish; there is considerable activity here and probably many more unidentified smaller species. The habitat is a complex simulated reef with several outcrops rising from the sandy bottom. It is a convincing scene and provides a good variety of spaces for various inhabitants. The tunnel through it is at a slightly lower level from the preview windows and it is barely seen from here. The path then leaves the windows and descends a few more gentle ramps through the jungle before it reaches the tall formal façade of the temple and enters inside. Beyond this point, the rest of the attraction is not skylit and is seen in dim rooms. The first room in Temple is a formal square room with simulated stone walls and a low ceiling. It has a mosaic tile floor with an octopus design. The entire right side of the room is composed of three floor-to-ceiling windows that view the next exhibit, Caribbean Reef. This 44,000-gallon habitat is rather narrow and simulates a vertical reef wall. A smaller version of a stone statue seen previously in Jungle is submerged in the tank. It contains an average assortment of blue parrotfish, midnight parrotfish, porcupine puffer, sergeant major, French grunt, and Creole wrasse; again, I think there are more small unidentified species too, although the activity inside is more subdued than the Reef Tunnel. The opposite wall of this first room has the doorway that leads into the tunnel part of the Reef Tunnel exhibit described previously; the vertical reef wall is very close to the right side of the tunnel while the left side faces the bulk of the nice habitat. As tunnels go, this one is not especially long, perhaps 30 feet? It ends by emerging into a larger temple room than the first, again lined with rustic stone walls. The middle of the room contains the next exhibit, a shallow rectangular tank contained within a low stone wall that visitors can reach over to touch a variety of small rays and horseshoe crabs. I forgot to note the gallons and species of this average exhibit that features a sandy bottom with a few rock piles in the middle. An adjoining wall has a 2,500-gallon tank for lionfish and sea urchin with an angled window protruding out of the wall and a simulated reef backdrop. A fat round column tank nearby is for West Coast sea nettle; I also forgot to note the gallons of this tank, it is about 8 feet diameter and 6 feet tall. It does not feature any scenery inside, recreating a slice of open ocean typical of exhibits for jellies such as these. Unfortunately, the placement of this tank crowds the two remaining exhibits in the Temple section, which adjoin one another in a large corner of the room. The first is a nice 35,000-gallon simulated reef environment containing Southern stingray, cownose ray, white-spotted bamboo shark, epaulette shark, and Port Jackson shark. A single large window views the habitat from the visitor side, while another large window on the opposite side of the habitat views the exhibit from a classroom reserved for education groups. The classroom is not visible from the visitor side…at least not when I visited, perhaps the lights were off. The dark backdrop of the window probably makes this tank seem larger than if it were a simulated reef wall instead. Next to this exhibit is one for Pacific giant octopus, which is a long curved window viewing a 1,500-gallon rocky wall exhibit. It is one of the better exhibits I have seen for this species. Caribbean Reef Exhibit in Temple: Reef Tunnel Exhibit in Temple: Shipwreck contains 1 exhibit and it is the 1,300,000 gallon saltwater main attraction. It is entered through a portal in a large simulated sunken ship which comprises the main viewing area, a large dark room that recreates the lower deck of an old sailing ship. It has large curved beams on the outer edge with large viewing windows into the huge tank. Simulated cargo boxes are stacked in the center for sitting; toward the bow is a window looking down to the sandy bottom a few feet below with an open treasure chest prop. Directly above the floor window is an equal-sized one looking up to the surface. The entire bow of the ship is a window that views the habitat, with the ruined remains of the ship’s bow structure extending into the habitat and creating a dramatic foreground. The starboard windows look out to the largest part of the tank, which only has a few low reef outcrops before becoming a sandy expanse with a dimly lit open ocean scene beyond that effectively recreates an abyss. The bow view is similar, but reef outcrops become larger and form an increasingly visible back wall. On the port side, the backwall of reef is much closer and forms a convincing reason for this ‘shipwreck’. Several viewing windows are set in the reef wall in the distance that are not part of the visitor experience; according to a staff member, these were intended to be for a few suites in a part of the hotel that was never completed and instead they are just a few storage rooms! The habitat contains a great collection, including schools, and is full of activity. Featured inhabitants include sandtiger shark, sandbar shark, nurse shark, grey reef shark, white tip reef shark, Galapagos shark, bowmouth guitarfish, green sawfish, Southern stingray, green sea turtle, great barracuda, tarpon, potato cod, Malabar cod, Crevalle jack, blue runner jack, scat, Pacific creole fish, and Fiji blue devil damselfish; I suspect there are quite a few unidentified smaller species as well. The port side of the ship has a doorway that leads to a short clear tunnel that goes through the exhibit and acts as the exit fot it; the tunnel features nice views of the reef and has clear floor panels looking down as well. This is the end of the attraction, and visitors must climb a stairway in a temple-like space with a few columns wrapped with snake statues to reach the attractive temple-like gift shop upstairs that empties into the foyer where the journey started. Viewing Area in Shipwreck: Bow view in Shipwreck: Shark Reef Aquarium is a worthwhile experience to visit. It would benefit from some additional smaller scattered exhibits highlighting small predators; it is a quality facility but its low exhibit count lands it at number 21 of the 45 aquarium facilities I have visited. The Shipwreck exhibit is certainly impressive and is number 17 in my top 25 individual exhibits for fish. General adult admission is $16.95 ($13.95 for Nevada residents) which is well-priced, only a dollar or so beyond what it should be. I have posted additional pictures in the gallery.
great review. shark reef at one point had 2 juvenile tiger sharks, i'm taking that you didn't see them since you didn't mention it in your review
lee456, yes that would be cool if you have pictures! I believe I saw the hammerhead the first time I visited, in Spring 2004, but if so I certainly did not get any pictures. This recent visit was my second time there.
If I remember correctly, there is one in the Forest of Uco at the Phoenix Zoo. And it does NOT have a railing (or a staff member) - you could just reach right in.
There are not piranha in the Forest of Uco. The open-top aquarium houses pacu, oscars, plecostomus catfish, and river rays.
I wish Forest of Uco had been open when I was at Phoenix Zoo in November, but it was closed for monitoring the Andean bears. I would be surprised if they had an unmonitored open-top exhibit for piranha! But come to think of it, I do not recall ever seeing an easily-reached open-top exhibit for pacu either.
