Here are some answers to
the most frequently asked questions. If you can't find the
answer to your question here, please contact
us and we will be happy to address specific questions.
When did the NC Aquarium open?
The NC Aquariums opened September 8-9, 1976 as the NC Marine
Resources Centers at Pine Knoll Shores, at Fort Fisher,
and on Roanoke Island. In order to reflect the mission of
these facilities more accurately, the Marine Resources Centers
were reborn as the North Carolina Aquariums on September
10, 1986.
What was the cost of the Roanoke Island expansion?
The state legislature appropriated $15 million for the
expansion, plus an additional $1 million from the NC Aquarium
Society.
When did construction begin?
Construction began on the addition in March, 1998. The
Aquarium closed to the public November, 1998 for the rest
of the expansion/renovation. The newly expanded Roanoke
Island facility reopened to the public May 19, 2000. In
the first year after reopening, over 437,000 visitors
came through the doors!
What is the theme of the exhibits at the NEW
NC Aquarium?
Waters of the Outer Banks is the theme for the NEW NC
Aquarium on Roanoke Island. Visitors will wander from
coastal freshwaters, through wetlands and various marine
communities from estuaries to the Gulfstream, then into
the Graveyard of the Atlantic.
Who wrote, illustrated, and produced the graphic
panels?
Visual Images, located in Oregon, was the subcontractor
who produced the graphic panels. Laura Firth, a free lance
writer from Seattle, WA, wrote the copy, with final editing
by NCARI staff. Valerie Kells, an artist from Charlottesville,
VA, did all the intro panels, tank headers, illustrations,
and identification labels.
Who created the spadefish sculpture in front
of the building?
David Turner and Associates are the bronze artists who
created the spadefish sculpture. Their workshop and retail
shop are located on Virginia’s Eastern Shore near
Onley.
Are the backgrounds in the tanks real or fake?
All the inserts and backgrounds in the tanks are man-made
by Truelove Fabrications of Wilmington, NC. Butch Truelove
got his start in the movie-making industry in Wilmington
in the early 1980's.
Where did the rivers otter come from?
The male river otter came from an otter farm in south
Louisiana. He is about five years old. The female otter
was born at the Florida Aquarium in December, 2000.
Where did the alligators come from?
The alligators came from an alligator farm in St. Augustine,
Florida. They are about four years old.
Why not use North Carolina alligators?
Alligators are at the northern extent of their range here
in Dare and Tyrrell Counties. The population here is not
large so we don’t want to take away from the local
population.
How often and what do you feed the fishes?
Each species of animal has its own food regime. Not every
fish is fed everyday; not every fish eats the same thing.
Most of our animals are fed a diet of shrimp, squid, and
fish. Some are herbivores who eat gel food that is made
of gelatin, spinach, romaine lettuce, carrots, squid,
shrimp, fish, and vitamins.
Are the stingrays in the touch tank dangerous?
Stingrays are cartilaginous fishes, closely related to
sharks. The sting rays normally have venomous barbs about
1/3 the way down their tails. These barbs removed before
the animals go into the touch tank. The removal is similar
to clipping your fingernails. The barbs will eventually
grow back and be removed again!
What is the difference between skates and rays?
Both are cartilaginous fishes that look like flattened
sharks. Rays usually have a barb, complete with venom
sac, attached about 1/3 the way down their tails. Skates
do not have a barb, but have small thorns or spines that
are not venomous. Most skates lay eggs -- you find these
devil’s pocketbooks or mermaid’s purses washed
up on the beach. Most rays give birth to live young.
What are some details about the Graveyard of
the Atlantic tank?
The GYA tank (short for Graveyard of the Atlantic) holds
285,000 gallons of salt water, about 2.35 million lbs!
There are 209 pilings supporting the tank. These pilings
were sunk about 35 feet into the ground.
What is the USS Monitor?
The USS Monitor was the Union Navy’s ironclad that
fought the Battle of Hampton Roads (March 9, 1862) with
the CSS Virginia (formerly call the Merrimac). It was
the first ship to have a revolving turret; the first ship
where the officers and crew had to live below the waterline;
the first ship credited with having below waterline flushing
toilets; and the first National Marine Sanctuary in the
US. The USS Monitor was being towed by the USS Rhode Island
from Hampton Roads, VA to Beaufort, NC eventually to go
on to waters off South Carolina or Georgia. The trip commenced
on December 29, 1862. The waters got extremely rough,
and the USS Monitor sank on New Year’s Eve, losing
four officers and 12 crewmen. The wreck of the USS Monitor
remained undiscovered for over 110 years. A research operation
in 1973 led by scientists from the Duke University Marine
Lab discovered the remains of the Monitor in 233 feet
of water!
Is this the actual size of the wreck?
This is a 1/3 scale model, 50 feet in length, created
by Truelove Fabrications of Wilmington, NC. It was trucked
here from Wilmington in 7 pieces, each weighing 1000 lbs,
and bolted into place. Divers who have been on the wreck
of the Monitor have said that our model looks exactly
like the real thing! The original USS Monitor was 179
feet in length.
How thick is the glass?
The glass in the GYA tank is actually 6 layers of acrylic
laminate. It is 5 inches thick, weighs about 8 tons (16,000
lbs), and cost $265,000. It was made by Nippura in Japan,
shipped to Norfolk, VA, and trucked to Manteo. The large
viewing window is roughly 14 feet by 35 feet.
Why don’t the sharks eat the other fishes
in the GYA tank?
We keep the sharks and other fishes very well fed. But,
if they’re hungry, the sharks might eat their tank-mates;
they also might feed on any old, unhealthy, and injured
fishes.
