What do you think of the "New" Camden Aquarium in NJ?

[diane4]

We went to the Camden Aquarium in NJ / Adventure Aquarium today. We went a few years ago and we were very dissapointed then.
Since then, my sis-n-law went and she said she was pleased with the renovations they did and she enjoyed her visit.
We went today and Rick thought it was dissapointing and I was very dissapointed and agrevated with things I saw.
It certainly is a place that is nice to take little kids to, geared toward them. But if you are a serious fish owner like most of us are on this forum, you would probably be dissapointed to and certainly for $50 bucks for two people.
My question to you is, if you have been to the NJ Camden Aquarium, what did you think about the cost and your experience there, what things did you like or dislike?
I liked....

* The seal display
* The pasta at the food court
* The large tank and shipwreck display

I didn't like....

• The cost
• The MISERABLE rip off 4D movie - what a joke - animated see animals, not even real images. What a HUGE dissapointment
• The kiddie shark petting display - I don't believe aquarium animals should be pet or touched by anyone that hasn't washed or rinsed their hands first. People were allowed to just touch the water and sharks and star fish display and it gave me the creeps. They should have people clean their hands first.
• Almost every reef and invert display I saw had APTASIA!!
  
• The hippo display had green slimy water. Dirty. My husband siad that is the way the water is in the wild, I think not - it was dirty.
  I did not think the water was clean that the seals were in. Not enough current and slimy film on the water surface.
  Most of the Reef displays had artificial decorations and not real reef animals. I say, after my visit, thank God for that.
  They had a dog face puffer there - A huge almost 2 feet long. He looked like he was yanked from the wild in his adult size and he did not look particularly happy.
  The gift shop sucked. Lots of stuffed animals, cheapy things like plastic figures and maybe about 2 childrens book. My beef was that there were no non fiction books. I was expecting a nice color photo book or educations books on Ocean and Marine life or salter aquarium care. Places like that entice people to go buy a saltwater tank to buy the "pretty fishies" and the place did nothing to offer the audience an education regarding the responsible side of saltwater aquarium ownership

I was not pleased at all and will not go again. I am spoiled with places like Living Seas at Epcot, Walt Disney World, and other large aquariums kept much better.
I personally get more of a high watching my own tanks or visiting some of my lfs and there is no admission.
Do I sound very turned off with my visit there - YOU BET.
What did you think if you went recently? And if you haven't gone, don't bother, I found it upsetting.

 

[mimzy]

I second that motion. And did you notice the bad info they gave about various creatures in the exhibits....when they gave any info at all??
The "New" place is SMALLER than the old one...where did the 4 million dollars go??
"Research" they said. Uh huh. Research. Sure. Is that where you learned it was ok to stuff 9 or more 2 foot stingrays in a small cylindrical tank? Lovely.
And did you dig the timelines they put up everywhere depicting the age of the ocean? Since when were certain RELIGIOUS occurances used as benchmarks in natural history?? ANYONE??

Waste of money, if you ask me... more than that, even - you'll leave the place hopping mad. If you like paying through the nose for aggravation, by all means, the "Adventure Aquarium" (as it is now called) is just the place for you. ....or maybe just go buy a Hum-V and fill the gas tank. At least you'll get a good ride out of that.

 

[celacanthr]

And did you dig the timelines they put up everywhere depicting the age of the ocean? Since when were certain RELIGIOUS occurances used as benchmarks in natural history?? ANYONE??
that is too funny! :hilarious :hilarious :hilarious
well the tennessee aquarium doesnt have any living corals or plants! also, but the reef place is new so i will give em time.

 

[diane4]

I agree with you Mimzy.
The sad part is the average person visiting there knows little to nothing about fish and ocean animals and they might think, oh how nice, pretty color fishies. I saw an issue with almost every display I saw.
I think most of the folks on this forum have above average through high end experienced knowledge of fish and saltwater animals and you can't help but see all the things that are wrong or a problem.
I was not happy at all with the visit and the ultimate worst was the 4D movie. Mimzy, did you watch the 4D movie? After if was over, I said outloud, "You gotta be kidding - thats it?"
Want to see a stunning aquarium, go to the one in Maui, HI - we loved it.

 

[fishnerd]

According to Zagat Ratings, the top American public aquariums are...
1) Monterey Bay Aquarium
2) National Aquarium in Baltimore
3) Waikiki Aquarium
The ratings are based on family enjoyment, educational experience and reproduction of habitat.

 

[thangbom]

Yea i was quite disapointed with the aquarium. It would be a good place to take under 10 year olds but that's it. Its somewhere to take little tikes to introduce them to marine life. Its nothing like sea world tho...