Swirl Habitat

About Our Swirl Habitat

The centerpiece of Aquatic Wonders, our three-story cylinder tank has a unique collection of tropical fish and coral. It can be viewed from all three floors of Aquatic Wonders.

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Swirl Habitat

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Longspine Porcupinefish

Longspine porcupinefish are a slow-moving fish with small fins for navigating shallow reefs or sea grass beds.

Their internal organs contain a neurotoxin that is at least 1,200 times more potent that cyanide. 

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Queen Angelfish

This species gets its name from the blue, crown-shaped spot located on its head.

Queen angelfish are omnivores, eating mostly sponges and algae.

Marine queen angelfish either live alone or in pairs.  

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Rockhind Grouper

Rock hinds are one of the most common groupers found along the Texas Gulf Coast.

Their diet consists of crabs, shrimps, and fishes.

This grouper can change the color of their bright markings to better camouflage with their surroundings.  

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Rooster Hogfish

The first three spines on their dorsal fin resembles a roosters crest.

In nature they feed mainly on mollusks, but they won’t pass on crab or sea urchin. 

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Spanish Hogfish

Males are very territorial and will guard their mating group consisting of up to twelve females.

These fish prefer to eat bottom-dwelling invertebrates (sea urchins, crabs, worms, brittle stars, clams and snails)

Juveniles will pick parasites from larger fish. 

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Cuban Hogfish

As juveniles, they help many other fishes rid themselves of parasites, making them a symbiotic species.

Adult Cuban Hogfish will eat snails, worms, mussels, small fish, shrimp, and squid. 

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Reef Butterflyfish

The butterfly fish is one of the most common types of coral reef fish in the world.

This fish is most active during the day and sleeps at night in crevices and hiding spots.

They travel in schools or pairs for feeding and protection. 

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Doctor Fish

Doctor fish, aka surgeonfish, are known for their sharp spines at the base of their tail that they use for defense.

They are important grazers on the reef and help control algae so that it doesn't grow over the corals and kill them. 

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Blue Angelfish

Blue angelfish juveniles sometimes act as cleaner fish, picking off parasites from other fish.

Their diet consists mostly of sponges.

A female can release anywhere from 25 to 75 thousand eggs each evening, and as many as 10 million during spawning season. 

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Bluehead Wrasse

Bluehead wrasse are found in the Western Atlantic ocean.

All bluehead wrasse hatch as females, with only a small percentage becoming "terminal males" - developing the blue head and green body. 

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Yellowhead Wrasse

These fish are protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning they are females for several years after they are born then change to males later in life. 

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Slippery Dick Wrasse

Slippery dick wrasses eat gastropods, or snails, and other fishes.

They get their unique name from the slippery mucus it excretes to help it evade predators. 

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False Pilchard

Pilchards migrate daily; they school in deep water during the day and migrate to the surface to feed on plankton at night.


This species can move very rapidly and condense to form tight clusters to avoid predators.  

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Round Scad

Round Scad have a pattern of small back dots on either side of their body that is unique to each individual.

They feed on planktonic invertebrates, primarily copepods, but also on gastropod larvae, ostracods and pteropods.
 

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Ways to Support Our Aquatic Animals

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Donate to Animal Enrichment

Mississippi Aquarium's animal enrichment program provides physically and mentally stimulating toys, activities, and environments for all of our animals. Enrichment allows our animals to demonstrate species-specific behavior found in their natural environments.

These items allow our animals to exercise control of their surroundings and enhance their well-being. Just like proper nutrition and veterinary care, animal enrichment is essential to animal welfare.

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Learn More

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