{"id":12936,"date":"2019-02-28T08:20:18","date_gmt":"2019-02-28T07:20:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/?p=12936"},"modified":"2025-07-17T08:11:33","modified_gmt":"2025-07-17T07:11:33","slug":"haus-des-meeres-fish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/haus-des-meeres-fish\/","title":{"rendered":"Haus des Meeres: fish and animal highlights"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/hdmsmall.jpg\" alt=\"Aquarium sign\" class=\"wp-image-12931\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/hdmsmall.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/hdmsmall-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The Haus des Meeres &#8220;zooquarium&#8221; features thousands of fish and other animals and a lot of well-designed tanks and enclosures. But what should you definitely not miss?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The sharks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You need more? Really?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ok, then check the list below<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Consider <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/tiergarten-schonbrunn-tickets-l141990\/?partner=visitingvienna&amp;tq_campaign=LG_ZooVenue\" rel=\"sponsored\">tickets to Vienna zoo<\/a>* too<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>See also:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/hausdesmeeres\/\">Haus des Meeres visitor info<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/schonbrunn\/zoo\/animals\/\">Vienna zoo animal highlights<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/kids-2\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"11143\">Vienna for kids<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The big fish tanks<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/atlantictunnel.jpg\" alt=\"View of the Atlantic tunnel\" class=\"wp-image-12997\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/atlantictunnel.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/atlantictunnel-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The Atlantic tunnel; press photo courtesy of &amp; copyright Haus des Meeres \/ Daniel Zupanc)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Several really quite impressive water tanks catch the eye. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>Atlantic Tunnel<\/strong> lets you walk through a deep sea environment, with little shoals of fish, small sharks, rays, and even a moray eel<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The 120m<sup>2<\/sup> <strong>Shark Tank<\/strong> mimics an indo-pacific coral environment. You can walk around all four sides and admire over 1,000 fish, including reef sharks<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>Pacific Eye<\/strong> offers a view into a kelp-filled sea floor with horn sharks and other denizens of the Pacific ocean. And if you&#8217;ve not had your fill of sharks, some hammerheads live up on the tenth floor<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Also don&#8217;t miss&#8230;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Koi<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Just beyond the ticket counter is a tank of Koi carp. Wash your hands, then trail your fingers in the water (it&#8217;s OK, it&#8217;s encouraged). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The fish come up for a little playful nibble and you can pet them. They&#8217;re remarkably friendly. Or perhaps just hungry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The jellyfish<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"296\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/jellyfish.jpg\" alt=\"Jellyfish\" class=\"wp-image-12998\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/jellyfish.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/jellyfish-300x178.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/jellyfish-340x200.jpg 340w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Press photo courtesy of &amp; copyright Haus des Meeres \/ G\u00fcnther Hulla)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Floor 2 has a simple tank with Cannonball jellyfish who perform a never-ending flowing dance that creates a quite mesmerising display.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Haus des Meeres does more than just fill tanks with animals, though. Often, a display reflects a theme, ecosystem or geographical region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Potteresque snakes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The reptile floor includes huge green anacondas like something from a 1950s adventure film, plus an albino Indian python that looks as if it came straight from the Harry Potter set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fans of the more venomous snake varieties will enjoy the inland or western taipan (the world&#8217;s most venomous land snake), the rattlesnake, the green mambas, and other such species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Talking venom, one floor has a small grotto with some small glass cabinets embedded into the cave-like walls. No sign of a cuddly Santa and reindeer, but plenty of tarantulas, scorpions, and cockroaches for your amusement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Baby animals<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"383\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/woysie.jpg\" alt=\"A woysie mother and baby\" class=\"wp-image-55585\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/woysie.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/woysie-300x230.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Woysie mother and baby; press photo courtesy of &amp; copyright Haus des Meeres \/ Dominik Moser)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I once saw baby seahorses no longer than a fingernail, and they&#8217;d give any puppy a good run for their money.  Not to mention the coral breeding rack with its baby corals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Obviously, babies don&#8217;t stay babies for ever, but the Haus des Meeres sends me regular updates on the latest offspring and new additions to appear within their walls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the time of writing, for example, they had recently welcomed baby Namaqua chameleons (<em>Chamaeleo namaquensis<\/em>): the first time these reptiles have been bred in a zoo anywhere in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/namaquachameleonhausdesmeeres.jpg\" alt=\"A young chameleon\" class=\"wp-image-76579\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/namaquachameleonhausdesmeeres.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/namaquachameleonhausdesmeeres-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(A very young Namaqua chameleon; press photo courtesy of &amp; copyright Haus des Meeres \/ Dominik Moser)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The tropical house<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Built on the outside of the flak tower, this multi-level walk-in enclosure has wooden walkways and rope bridges, waterfalls, ponds and tropical vegetation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Various water tanks house fish and turtles. And numerous fruit bats, brightly-coloured birds, and monkeys move freely among the visitors. The animals aren&#8217;t shy, so you&#8217;ll enjoy some close encounters of the zoological kind.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/hausmeerestropicalhouse1.jpg\" alt=\"View of the tropical house interior\" class=\"wp-image-58220\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/hausmeerestropicalhouse1.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/hausmeerestropicalhouse1-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The tropical house; press photo courtesy of Haus des Meeres &amp; \u00a9 Dominik Moser)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The weird and the wonderful<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>And then, mixed in with all the sharks, snakes, lizards, clown fish and octopodes (oh, yes, that&#8217;s another form of the plural) are the truly unusual animals. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Spotted garden eels that poke up from the sea floor like little periscopes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Razorfish that swim along vertically as if someone shifted their world 90\u00b0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Japanese spider crabs that do full justice to their name<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Upside-down jellyfish (ditto!)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The Haus des Meeres grows and changes all the time, so these are just a few suggestions of what to look for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The last couple of years saw the addition, for example, of&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A 70m walk through Australia-themed enclosure opened, featuring free-ranging marsupials, birds, fish, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Two multi-level enclosures for ring-tailed lemurs and Komodo dragons (the largest lizard species on the plant).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"334\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/hausedesmeeresmangrove.jpg\" alt=\"Mangrove aquarium and installation\" class=\"wp-image-64486\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/hausedesmeeresmangrove.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/hausedesmeeresmangrove-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The new mangrove zone that opened in late 2023)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A rather spectacular mangrove installation with aquariums up to 35,000 litres in size<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Possibly the longest complex of transparent ant pipes (105m in total) in the world for a leaf-cutting ant colony<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>See <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/hausdesmeeres\/\">here<\/a> for more visitor tips, directions, ticket details, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>P.S. One of the absolute highlights of a visit to the Haus des Meeres has nothing to do with sharks or any animals at all: go up to the roof terrace for fantastic <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/where-to-get-the-best-views-of-the-city\/\">views across Vienna<\/a> and a fine restaurant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/u\/0\/embed?mid=1LZrdD7ngdqMGHb2AFmIvwKgR_Jjyniw&#038;ehbc=2E312F&#038;noprof=1\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Haus des Meeres &#8220;zooquarium&#8221; features thousands of fish and other animals and a lot of well-designed tanks and enclosures. But what should you definitely not miss? The big fish tanks (The Atlantic tunnel; press photo courtesy of &amp; copyright Haus des Meeres \/ Daniel Zupanc) Several really quite impressive water tanks catch the eye. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12931,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-12936","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sights","8":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12936","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12936"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12936\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":84670,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12936\/revisions\/84670"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12931"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12936"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12936"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12936"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}