Ocean lovers can explore a fascinating array of amazing seawater creatures, with many exciting new additions waiting to be discovered. New arrivals include a pair of goldtail demoiselle in the Reef Exhibit in the Jungle Pavilion. Their chosen new home is a pink Montipora coral in the front area of the tank, where they can be seen attentively tending to their eggs laid under the coral. The female is slightly smaller than the male and can easily be recognised by her black stripes. With a little patience, the fish can be observed up close as they care for their young.
The seahorses, a popular exhibit at the aquarium, regularly produce offspring. With a keen eye, the young can be spotted among the seagrass. These beautiful marine animals are unique because the traditional gender roles are reversed. Male seahorses take on the role of pregnancy, carrying the eggs deposited by the female in their brood pouch until birth. Pregnant males can be recognised by their yellowish pouch.
Another new addition to the seawater aquariums are splendid garden eels. Approximately 25 cm long, these fish construct burrows in sandy seabeds, typically leaving only their head and neck protruding to feed on drifting plankton – a fascinating sight, especially for marine life enthusiasts.
Also new is the humpback grouper, which now lives alongside the epaulette sharks. Its striking spotted pattern appears high-contrast at first glance, but as an ambush predator, the mottled colouration serves as perfect camouflage in underwater caves and rocky crevices.
The Shark Exhibit also has new inhabitants: a pair of palette surgeonfish has recently become an additional source of fascination. Also known as "Dories", after the character Dory in the Disney movie Finding Nemo, these colourful fish can easily be observed roaming freely throughout the tank and searching for food.
On a cold winter’s day, a visit to the Hellabrunn Aquarium – incidentally one of the oldest buildings in the zoo – and Jungle Pavilion offers a great opportunity for families to warm up and enjoy animal encounters in our indoor exhibits. They invite you to immerse yourself in the fascinating underwater world and discover something new.