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

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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!

Happy Halloween! 🎃 Please note that Birch Aquarium will be closing early today at 3 p.m. so our team can enjoy some tricks and treats with family and friends 👻

📣 Last chance to dive into Embodied Pacific: Ocean Unseen! 🌊 This weekend is your final opportunity to experience this stunning exhibition before it closes to make room for our next adventure — Meditation Ocean: Aquarius Reef Base, opening Nov. 20, 2025. 📷: Long Truong

🪸 what’s a zombie's favorite type of coral? drop your guess below … if you dare! ⬇️

Gourd vibes only this #NationalPumpkinDay! 🎃

🎃 gourd-geous 🎃

the cutest pumpkin patch we’ve ever seen 🎃🥰 in case you were wondering … #LittleBluePenguins are so little that they do in fact fit inside of a #pumpkin #penguin

Pumpkin spice who? Real fans know PSL = Pacific Spiny Lumpsucker 🐡 These tiny, ping-pong–sized fish are covered in spines and sport a special “sucker” on their underside that helps them cling to rocks and other surfaces. Spot these little cuties in the Pacific Northwest section of Living Seas!

Our hearts are full and our beaches are cleaner! 💙 Last month, #BirchAquarium members joined our Coastal Cleanup with I Love a Clean San Diego, removing 10 lbs of trash and 1 lb of recyclables. Thank you to our amazing members and team for supporting ocean conservation!

🐠 Kids go FREE at #BirchAquarium this October! 🎉 All month long, enjoy one FREE child ticket (ages 12 & under) with the purchase of one full-price adult ticket! 🎟️ Reserve your Kids Free October ticket in the link below ⬇️ https://aquarium.ucsd.edu/events/kids-free-october

Just in time for #WorldOctopusDay — baby Red Octopuses! 🐙 These California natives are growing behind the scenes at #BirchAquarium. Discover more about this exciting and historic milestone below ⬇️ https://aquarium.ucsd.edu/newsroom/birch-aquarium-celebrates-world-octopus-day-red-octopus-hatchlings

🧡The Life of a Show-gill 🐟 Guess you could say we’ve got a few fish in their orange era … 🧡 Garibaldi 🧡 Lionfish 🧡 Harlequin Tuskfish

💀 A skele-ton of fun is waiting under the sea 💀 A bone-afide new friend is making waves in our Giant Kelp Forest … come sea for yourself!

When you go to open your phone camera and it's in selfie mode … #HornSharks use their sharp front teeth to grasp prey and back molar-like teeth to crush the exoskeletons, spines and shells of their meal!

🤖Get Ready for RoboBattles!💥 Design and build your own LEGO® robot and battle it out in head-to-head challenges at #BirchAquarium. Plus, discover how robots help Scripps scientists explore our oceans! Made possible by the Grant Imahara STEAM Foundation. https://aquarium.ucsd.edu/events/robobattle

Halloween Aglow tickets are on sale! 🎃 Join us for a family-friendly celebration on Oct. 24 & 25 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. 🍬 Trick-or-treat around the aquarium 👻 Live music & games 🎃 Underwater pumpkin carving 🔮 Weird & wonderful ocean science 🎟️ https://aquarium.ucsd.edu/events/halloween-aglow

🐟 Celebrating a Decade of Leadership at #BirchAquarium! 🎉 This year, Executive Director Harry Helling marks 10 years of inspiring innovation, advancing conservation and transforming the aquarium experience. 🌊 Dive into his journey and discover how his vision continues to make waves ⬇️

Birch Aquarium is #hiring an Education Programs Scheduler! 🐟 Schedule school & public programs 🪸 Share program info & deliver top-notch customer service 🦀 Handle logistics & payments smoothly 🐠 Track attendance & support reporting Apply Today!

🔱 Hey Tritons! From now through Sept. 30, all @ucsandiego.bsky.social students can: 🎟 Get 1 FREE general admission ticket to #BirchAquarium OR 🐧 Snag a Coastal Explorer membership for $19 (normally $89) Grab this special deal below ⬇️ https://aquarium.ucsd.edu/events/triton-weeks-welcome

Do you want the #aquarium tour? 🐟

Dive into discovery with our NEW Marine Science Club! Led by expert educators, kids ages 8–10 will enjoy hands-on science, get up close with animals and more! 🪸Select Saturdays in Oct. and Nov. | 1 to 2:30 p.m. 🐟 $18 per child, per session Reserve spot: https://aquarium.ucsd.edu/learn/camps

🔎 eye-spy seahorses! #DidYouKnow seahorses can move their eyes independently, giving them an incredibly wide field of vision? #TheMoreYouKnow