NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher

09/06/2026

Why did the snake chase after the jewel thief? 🐍

Because he wanted his diamondback! 😄💎

09/05/2026

Atlantic spadefish are daytime diners with a taste for the ocean’s buffet. 🐟✨

They snack on crustaceans, mollusks, algae, and even jellyfish — and while they’ll forage all day long, lunchtime is their favorite. 🌊🍽️

Midday munchies? Spadefish totally get it. 😄

09/05/2026

Did you know…? 🐸✨

Cope’s gray treefrogs and common gray treefrogs look exactly alike — same warty skin, bright orange‑yellow patches on their hind legs, and even matching white spots under each eye. They’re basically frog twins!

But hidden beneath that identical appearance is a big difference: the common gray treefrog has twice as many chromosomes as Cope’s gray treefrog. 🧬 Out in the wild, the way to tell them apart is by their breeding calls. Plot twist! 🌿🎶

09/04/2026

🐢💙

Sea turtles may spend almost their entire lives in the ocean, but they’re still air‑breathers! Under natural conditions, they can stay underwater for hours — they even sleep down there. 😴🌊

Most sea turtles only return to land when it’s time to nest, but green sea turtles in the Pacific Islands break the rules: they often come ashore just to bask on the beach. Talk about soaking up the sun! ☀️🏖️

09/04/2026

09/03/2026

Sea anemones: ocean tricksters. 🌊🪸

They look like pretty underwater flowers… but don’t be fooled. These beauties come armed with venomous tentacles and a sticky little “foot” that keeps them glued to rocks and shells. 🌼➡️🪸

Cute? Yes. Gentle? Not really. Nature’s surprise packages! 💙🐚

09/03/2026

Did you know…? 🐸✨

American Bullfrogs have specialized legs for different jobs! Their long hind legs are fully webbed for powerful swimming, while their shorter front legs have no webbing at all. These “hands” even help them handle larger prey that won’t fit directly into their mouths. Nature is full of clever adaptations! 🌿💧

09/02/2026

🦈✨ — Part Two

While construction continues on our future 400,000‑gallon shark habitat, the stars of the show are already growing fast! Our team introduced these sand tiger sharks into the Cape Fear Shoals habitat back in January 2026, and at around a year old, they’ve grown so much. 🌊📈

They’re getting excellent care from our husbandry team throughout construction, and we’re excited for visitors to experience just how impressive they’ve become once our new habitats open. Stay tuned — big things are on the horizon! 🦈💙

09/02/2026

🦈🚧

Three months into our "little" renovation and expansion project at NCAFF and there is so much to imagine as workers keep making way for a 400,000-gallon sand tiger shark habitat. 🦈💙

This spot is at the back of the Aquarium where the expansion is happening — our past summer campers will recognize it from their walk to our outdoor classroom. 👀🌿 They've removed exterior sections and an internal stairwell.

We’re excited to share these behind‑the‑fence moments as construction continues. Stay tuned for more updates as we move closer to creating incredible new habitats and experiences for our future guests!✨

09/01/2026

Venus flytraps are small but seriously smart! 🪴🕊️ Their “traps” are actually two‑lobed leaves with tiny sensor hairs. The plant only snaps shut when two hairs are touched in quick succession — a built‑in way to avoid false alarms. ⚡ Each trap works about 4 to 6 times before it dies and falls off — making way for a new one. And when it does close on an insect, it releases digestive juices to break down its meal. 🐜➡️🪴