Aquarium
Dive into two worlds of water at Catawba Science Center and explore a dazzling saltwater gallery and a rich Amazon freshwater ecosystem, all under one roof.
Two Galleries, One Amazing Journey
The Catawba Science Center Aquarium takes you on an immersive journey through two distinct aquatic worlds. Our Saltwater Gallery brings the ocean to the Carolina Foothills with a hands-on touch tank, exotic fish, and mesmerizing invertebrates.
Step into the Freshwater Gallery and travel deep into the Amazon River Basin. Home to colorful fish, frogs, snakes, stingrays, turtles, and one of our most impressive residents: a three-foot electric eel!
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Join Today!Saltwater Gallery
Touch tanks, sharks, stingrays, seahorses, puffer fish, sea stars, and garden eels.
Freshwater Gallery
Amazon River Basin with fish, frogs, snakes, stingrays, turtles, and a three-foot electric eel.
Hands-On Learning
Interactive touch tanks and interpretive signage make every visit an educational adventure.
Coastal Carolina
Discover the diverse habitats and incredible marine life that call our coastal waters home.
What You'll Find
Saltwater Gallery
Our Saltwater Gallery showcases the incredible diversity of ocean life. Get up close with live bamboo sharks and southern stingrays in our touch tank, marvel at the graceful movements of our tropical fish, and spot the spiky tails of the ancient Horseshoe crabs traveling across the tank floor.
Freshwater Gallery
Journey into the Amazon River Basin in our Freshwater Gallery. Discover colorful fish, frogs, snakes, stingrays, turtles, and one of our most impressive residents: a three-foot electric eel!
Meet the Residents
From the ocean floor to the Amazon basin, our aquarium is home to some truly remarkable animals.
Saltwater
Bamboo Shark
A graceful bottom-dweller you can observe up close in our touch tank.
Saltwater
Southern Stingray
Glide alongside these elegant rays in our hands-on touch experience.
Saltwater
Horseshoe Crab
One of nature's oldest survivors — a living fossil right here in Hickory.
Freshwater
Electric Eel
Our three-foot electric eel is one of the most talked-about residents in the aquarium.
Freshwater
Amazon Stingray
A freshwater cousin to its saltwater relatives, native to the Amazon River Basin.
Freshwater
Colorful Tetras
Brilliant schools of tropical fish that bring the Amazon to life in vivid color.
Our Aquatic Friends Need Your Help!
CSC's aquarium needs an upgrade! Be a part of our mission to provide the community with science education for all, and consider donating to our Annual Fund. Catawba Science Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your donation is tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law. EIN: 56-1073440
Find the Aquarium
The Fresh and Salt water galleries are located inside the Aquarium/Planetarium building on the North side of the SALT Block campus. You can walk through either Land to Sea or the Hall of Astronomy to enter.
View Campus MapQuestions About the Aquarium?
Our team is happy to help with questions about our aquatic exhibits, animals, and programs.
Phone
(828) 322-8169