Austin Aquarium

"Idk about every one else's experience but my kids LOVED IT!! I took my daughter here when she turned 1 and to bring her back 10 years later with my boys was cool. Buying tickets was super easy. They offer a military discount at the door. We got 10 tokens so my kids were able to feed the capybara, the fish, and sharks. We went on a Thursday right after a bus of kids left so it seemed very chill. Lots of employees around to help with encounters. One employee was wearing a baby monkey that they just received. Everything my kids and I witnessed seemed to be very loving towards the animals and with employees cleaning habitats throughout. While it is dated, I think they have done a good job at keeping up with the place. Does it need a remodel? Yes. But they still have hand washing stations, hand sanitizer stations, and very clean bathrooms! My 5 year old kept saying he loved the aquarium!"

"I had an excellent experience at the Austin Aquarium and left far more impressed than I expected to be. From the moment I walked in, Justine and Marcus were incredibly friendly, welcoming, and informative. The animal encounters were easily some of the best parts of my visit. I did the interactive lemur experience along with the sloth and armadillo encounter, and Amy was the best staff member of the day! She was outstanding during each interactive animal experience and was warm, knowledgeable, and clearly great at what she does! Katie was also took the time to guide me to the right areas while sharing helpful information about several of the animals. What surprised me most was how much more the aquarium offers beyond what the name suggests. I came in expecting just fish and jellyfish, so I was genuinely excited to discover such a wide variety of animals and experiences. Seeing a tortoise casually walking around the facility was such a fun and unexpected highlight. I had heard people say the aquarium was small (and it is on the basis of venue size), but that was not how it felt to me. I usually move through zoos and museums very quickly, yet I was surprised that hours had passed before realizing I needed to leave for work. The variety of encounters, the hands-on experiences, and the helpful staff made the visit feel full and memorable. I left excited, impressed, and already looking forward to coming back to pet the wallaby and capybara and feed the birds next time. Huge credit to Amy, Justine, Marcus, and Katie for making the day so enjoyable!!"

"This is a great little place, and this was not our first visit. However, I have to say that over the past year, since we were last here, things have changed for the worse. The building clearly needs repairs. Just a year ago, everything looked and felt much better. I would also strongly suggest that the owners take a closer look at the staff and the way some employees treat customers. About half of the employees are incredibly polite, helpful, and friendly. Honestly, they are the ones holding this place together. Thanks to them, the visit still feels comfortable and pleasant. The people at the main register were very kind and tried to help both with information and with anything we needed. We came for several hours and spent a lot of money because we love feeding the animals and were happy to buy food for them with tokens. Thankfully, many of the animals were hungry and happily ate the food we purchased. But the other half of the staff clearly did not seem like they wanted to work. For example, the woman at the small snack counter was nowhere to be found for several minutes. We were very hungry and thirsty, so we sat near the café and started eating and drinking before she even came back. She finally appeared about 15 minutes later, and only then were we able to pay for the food and drinks. That was just extremely strange. Some animals were almost impossible to see because there were no employees around to help. When we found someone and asked them to call another employee, about half the time it led nowhere. A year ago, this was much better. Staff members were everywhere, and they were much more attentive. Something has clearly changed. Overall, this used to be an amazing place where you could easily spend half a day. There are still many fish, reptiles, and animals, but before, every corner seemed filled with something interesting — animals, exhibits, or activities. Now it feels noticeably emptier and less cared for. One situation was especially disappointing. There was an employee sitting with nothing to do who was supposed to paint simple designs on children’s faces. He was completely free, with no line and no one waiting. We had wristbands that included unlimited access to everything inside, but for some reason, he refused to paint my 7-year-old daughter’s face. That made no sense. What really lifted our mood was the beautiful mermaid performer. She looked absolutely stunning, and her costume was amazing. We loved it. She also drew a lovely washable tattoo on my daughter’s arm, which made her very happy. I also remember that a year ago there was a large reptile being walked around on a leash, and there were many more cages, animals, and things to see. Over the past year, a lot has changed. This place feels different now — and unfortunately, much worse. To the business owners: please take this seriously. The place is starting to feel neglected. Repairs are needed, and the staff situation needs to be reviewed. This place has so much potential, but it needs attention."