Aquarium plans tide pool renovation; new fish arrive

A new aquarium in Sioux Falls might be a few years out, but the existing one isn’t sitting still.

Part of the Butterfly House & Aquarium in Sertoma Park at 4320 S. Oxbow Ave., the aquarium is starting on a planned renovation to one of its signature attractions: a tide pool that lends itself to hands-on learning.

The former tide pool was a West Coast-style one, which called for a cold-water system requiring large chillers. The new version is going to be East Coast-style — more reminiscent of what Sioux Falls-area travelers might see on a trip to Florida, said Michelle Coley, aquarium director.

“So I have a love and passion for the East Coast waterways, and they’re underrepresented in the aquarium industry from my experience, so I wanted to bring in animals with new learning experiences that are more interactive than what we have.”

The new tide pool will feature horseshoe crabs, whelks — a sea snail species — and other crab species, along with sea stars, “so people can touch different things,” she said.

“We’ve had the same theme and animals for a while, and one of the best parts about having an aquarium and having professionals who can care for a variety of animals is you can give guests new experiences and new views into different parts of the ocean.”

Coley grew up in Maryland and most recently lived on the island of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The opportunity to lead the aquarium in Sioux Falls drew her here.

“I like bringing education, especially marine education, to places, and I know in the Midwest there’s a lot less opportunity,” she said.

With horseshoe crabs, for instance, visitors can learn about how their blood is used in medical applications, including sterilization.

During construction, there are two temporary touch pools, which include horseshoe crabs so guests can start interacting. Open times will rotate so the animals get a needed break period.

When the new tide pool opens, it also will be designed a little differently, with steps designed to be easier to navigate and a raised floor that will allow the animals to be up higher and roam more freely.

The goal is to open it early next year.

In the meantime, there are other new additions at the aquarium. The longtime clown fish and anemones moved to the large coral exhibit and pop-up dome, and the aquarium added jawfish and lumpfish.

“Our lumpfish came in and are doing well in their display,” Coley said. “They have a suction cup on the bottom of their belly they can use to attach to things. They’re used to cold water that can be turbulent, and this helps them stay in one place. They are very interesting little fish to work with and develop quite a few personalities.”

Next to arrive: spiny lumpsuckers, “which is a little spaceship-looking small fish” that will be growing up in the Discovery Den before moving to a permanent exhibit, she said.

“I want our visitors to always have something new to check out.”