🐙 #BirchAquarium has reached a major milestone in cephalopod care with the successful settlement of Red Octopuses! Experts believe this is the first time the #RedOctopus species has been hatched, raised and successfully settled in aquarium care! Read the full story below ⬇

Hoppy #WorldFrogDay! Imagine Wild: Mountain Yellow-legged Frog is officially open and we’re giving our newest exhibit five stars (iykyk) 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Be sure to hop on over to Birch Aquarium to see it for yourself! Explore Today: https://aquarium.ucsd.edu/exhibits/imagine-wild

Once upon a time, we received a truly un-frog-ettable 1-star review … Now, we’re leaping with joy as Imagine Wild: Mountain Yellow-legged Frog opens this #WorldFrogDay. 🐸 Discover how conservation is giving these endangered frogs a second chance in our newest exhibition at #BirchAquarium.

green looks good on everything 💚

🦞 close friend vs. public story … aquarium edition

Join us for Game Night at Birch Aquarium and experience the Animal Crossing: New Horizons Aquarium Tour in a fun, after-hours environment. This all-ages event takes place on Thursday, March 12, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Get Tickets: aquarium.ucsd.edu/events/game-...

⭐ Phosphorus: Essential for Life, from Phytoplankton to Food ⭐ Join Dr. Julia Diaz as she explores the discovery of phosphorus, its surprising history, and its vital role in marine and terrestrial ecosystems — from phytoplankton to food! 📅 March 9 | 6:30 to 8 p.m. 🎟 Free for members | $12 public

🐧 Leveled up from fluffball to swimmer! 🎉 With its waterproof feathers now in, our chick is taking the plunge! Join Laura from our Penguin Care Team as she shows how these mini swim sessions help our chick gain confidence, comfort and skills in the water.

🐸 Something un-frog-ettable is hopping your way this #WorldFrogDay! 🎉 We're thrilled to announce an exciting new exhibition, Imagine Wild: Mountain Yellow-legged Frog, opening March 20, 2026. Learn more about this exciting new exhibition in the story below ⬇️ aquarium.ucsd.edu/newsroom/ima...

🌅 Sunset: 5:34 p.m. 🐟 Birch Aquarium: Open till 7 p.m. 🎉 Your Sunday evenings just got even better! Birch After Hours kicks off tonight! That means every Sunday, we’re open until 7 p.m. with discounted admission, music and chill coastal vibes. It’s the perfect way to wind down your weekend!

You’re unbe-reef-vable 🪸 Tag or share a #Valentine with your sole-mate

🚀 Preparing for liftoff in T-minus 12 hours! Jessica Meir, a #NASA astronaut and @ucsandiego.bsky.social / Scripps alumna, is scheduled to launch to the International Space Station at approx. 2:15 a.m. PT on Feb. 13. Watch the NASA livestream here: bit.ly/461RI2G

Out of all the fish in the sea… you’re the one for me 😉 Tag or share a #Valentine with someone who makes your heart swim.

Come “Chill” with Polar Scientists! Join us for our next Pop-Up Science event on Feb. 6, from 1-3 p.m. Explore the fascinating world of polar science and meet @scrippsocean.bsky.social scientists conducting research in and about Antarctica. aquarium.ucsd.edu/events/pop-s...

🎉 Chick it out! 🐧 For the first time, a Little Blue Penguin chick was raised by its penguin parents on habitat in Beyster Family Little Blue Penguins at #BirchAquarium. This marks another exciting milestone in our ongoing penguin breeding program! Full story: aquarium.ucsd.edu/newsroom/fir...

🐟 Our version of “boy aquarium” 🐟 Still stuck at the cottage? We have a f-eel-ing a trip to #BirchAquarium might help 🐠 Send this to that special someone you’d want to visit the aquarium with 💙

📣 UPDATE WITH MORE DETAILS 🎉 Birch Aquarium is thrilled to host a stop on this year’s Animal Crossing Aquarium Tour, in partnership with Nintendo of America — our stop takes place Feb. 16 to March 26, 2026! Learn more details in the latest update below ⬇️ aquarium.ucsd.edu/newsroom/ani...

The Animal Crossing: New Horizons Aquarium Tour is coming to Birch Aquarium! This exciting partnership with Nintendo of America takes place from February 16 to March 26, 2026. Learn more about this exciting partnership at the link below ⬇️

🐧 Ever seen a penguin lay an egg? This #PenguinAwarenessDay, enjoy a rare behind-the-scenes moment as one of our Little Blue Penguins lays an egg! We’ll keep sharing updates throughout the breeding season, so be sure to check back for more penguin moments!

🔎 It’s all in the details … 🪸 Coral ⭐ Sea Star 🧡 Ornate Boxfish 🍯 Honeycomb Moray Eel From vibrant patterns to dazzling details, next time you visit #BirchAquarium, take a moment to notice the little things.

🌊 Cool Lecture Alert 🎉 Join Dr. Octavio Aburto as he shares exciting insight on a new, holistic approach to ocean conservation, Marine Prosperity Areas! 🐠 Feb. 9 | 6:30–8 p.m. 🎟 Free for members | $12 public https://aquarium.ucsd.edu/events/perspectives-lecture-series-february

Tidepooling is an amazing way to explore the outdoors, but it’s important to do so responsibly to protect the incredible creatures that call these habitats home. Here are a few key tips for tidepooling with care. Take a moment to review, share and help spread the word! 💙

🎉 New Year, New Nighttime Fun 🐟 🍹 Oceans at Night – 21+ event with drinks, music & ocean science. First event: Jan. 29. More dates coming soon! 🌅 Birch After Hours – All-ages evenings with discounted tickets, music & food. Every Sunday from 5  to 7 p.m. starting Feb. 16.

🧡 Stunning from every angle 🐟 Garibaldi stand out in the kelp forest thanks to their bright orange coloration, heart-shaped tails and territorial nature.

Looking for the perfect place to pause and reflect as this New Year begins? Step into Meditation Ocean: Aquarius Reef Base, an immersive underwater escape inspired by the world’s only undersea research habitat. Blending meditation with marine science, experience a tranquil journey beneath the waves.

If Birch Aquarium isn’t on your New Year’s list, you’re doing it wrong 🐙 Start the year with a splash! Become a member and enjoy unlimited visits, exclusive discounts, special perks and more. Become a member: https://aquarium.ucsd.edu/membership 📸 @UCSanDiego photographer Erik Jepsen

🐡 Fish we think resemble the New Year’s Eve ball drop … a series 🪩 🎊 Porcupine Pufferfish 🎊 Pacific Spiny Lumpsucker 🎊 Longhorn Cowfish Friendly reminder that #BirchAquarium will close at 3 p.m. on Dec. 31 and will be closed on Jan. 1 for New Year's Day.

🩵 From exciting new exhibitions and groundbreaking conservation efforts to countless moments of ocean joy, 2025 has been a truly landmark year for #BirchAquarium! 🎉 A look back at this year’s highlights below ⬇️ https://aquarium.ucsd.edu/newsroom/living-seas-living-dreams-birch-aquariums-2025-story

But would you still love me if I was a #GardenEel? Did you know Garden Eels live in sandy burrows they dig tail-first? They then coat the walls with mucus from their bodies, cementing the sand grains together to keep their homes from collapsing. Talk about nature’s tiny engineer at work!

Happy Holi-rays! 🎁 Birch Aquarium is open today (Dec. 24) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and closed on Dec. 25 for Christmas.

Is it just us or is this basically the #HomeAlone poster … but with a pufferfish? 🐡

come sail away ⛵🐟 Named for their tall, elongated fins, the #SailfinTang glides through the reef like a ship in full sail. Those bold stripes aren’t just for looks … they help confuse predators as this speedy swimmer weaves through the colorful coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific.

The new Monopoly: San Diego Edition is o-fish-ally here and #BirchAquarium is featured on the board alongside some other iconic places! Want to play? #Monopoly is now available in the aquarium's Gift Shop!

🦀 Join a Tidepooling Adventure with Birch Aquarium! This is a fantastic opportunity to learn how to tidepool responsibly, discover fascinating marine creatures and even contribute to community science through @inaturalist.bsky.social! Book Now: https://aquarium.ucsd.edu/events/tidepooling-adventure

Did you know seahorses, seadragons and pipefish are among the ocean’s fastest feeders? Researchers visited Birch Aquarium to capture their ultra-fast feeding techniques on film in hopes of better understanding how these tiny predators achieve such incredible speed. aquarium.ucsd.edu/newsroom/sci...

📣 We’re #hiring a Director of Business Administration at #BirchAquarium! 🌊 This position will provides critical support for the executive team and oversight for our financial, human resources, business systems and administrative operations. Interested? #Apply below ⬇️

bet you didn’t know the inside of a penguins mouth LOOKS LIKE THIS 🐧 Little Blue Penguins have rows of serrated spines on the inside of their mouth that help them grip slippery prey and swallow it whole! These bristles are made of keratin, the same protein found in your hair and nails. 💅

⚠️Good news alert: A new study led by Scripps Oceanography and @salkinstitute.bsky.social reveals the potential of a new hybrid seagrass to advance ocean restoration efforts in California and beyond! ⬇️🧵

Enrichment is a key part of how we care for our sharks and rays at Birch Aquarium! From puzzle feeders that encourage natural foraging behaviors to rearranging rocks and other features that challenge how they navigate their environment, enrichment helps keep them healthy and thriving.

Looking for a fun way to spend the weekend with family and friends? Come say shell-o to our lovely Loggerhead Sea Turtle and make some unforgettable memories!

Birch Aquarium is closed today for the holiday so our social media manager is out of office. Instead of our normal content, please enjoy some staff doodles of our favorite animals. We tried our best. 🐟

Need a little rest and relaxation this holiday season? Take a moment to unwind and soak in the calming vibes of our Giant Kelp Forest. From those vibrant orange Garibaldi to our lovely Giant Sea Bass, there’s always something cool to sea. ⬇️ aquarium.ucsd.edu/cams/kelp-cam

Little Blue Penguin nesting season is officially underway! Our male penguins have been busy crafting nests inside cozy burrow boxes, all in the hopes of wooing a potential mate. Discover why this season is so important in our latest story ⬇️

🎉 Meditation Ocean: Aquarius Reef Base is NOW OPEN at Birch Aquarium! Inspired by the only undersea research habitat, this immersive exhibition blends meditation and marine science, inviting you on a serene journey. Explore: https://aquarium.ucsd.edu/exhibits/meditation-ocean-aquarius-reef-base

how your email finds us on a Friday afternoon ...

Ever seen baby seahorses up close? Curious what it takes to care for these one-of-a-kind creatures? Book a Behind-the-Scenes Seahorse Tour and find out ⬇️ https://aquarium.ucsd.edu/events/behind-scenes-seahorse

✨ with friends like these, who needs anemones?! ✨ Just beneath the surface lies a vibrant world teeming with life, from sea anemones to sea stars and so much more! Discover the wonder of these incredible creatures and explore the habitats they call home in Living Seas.

hidden gem of the mangroves 💎🦎 Emerald Tree Skinks are dazzling lime-green #lizards that are just as speedy as they are striking! They effortlessly zip through branches and expertly navigate the mangrove roots. Spot these #skinks hiding in the Mangrove Roots in Living Seas

🪼 Happy #WorldJellyfishDay! 🪼 From stunning Sea Nettles to magical Moon Jellies, an entire world of mesmerizing jellies awaits you in #LivingSeas at Birch Aquarium.

A biiiiig stretch for a big octopus 🐙 Think you’re flexible?! The #GiantPacificOctopus can squeeze through any opening just wide enough for its beak, about the size of a walnut!