Trip - Oceanarium Singapore

Hi Blog,

It was supposed to park under January 2026, but I will need more time to draft this one. (This one took me a lot of time. This will be a perfect example if I decide to do a serious post which no one reads. Hahaha...) Anyway, this post is about the Singapore Oceanarium. Have you been to Oceanarium yet?

I was fortunate to get a ticket from my admin team because I missed the opportunity to go to the Oceanarium with my colleagues last November while I was attending a three-day course.

Today I decided to utilise that ticket before it expired. Personally, I love to look at fish tanks in an aquarium; it is like they take a small section of a habitat for closer observation, as if you are swimming with them. Hence, many years ago, I visited Singapore Sea Aquarium (2015 & 2020) twice and Underwater World (2016), and I love it.

Today I decided to go to the Oceanarium after work on one of the weekdays, and somehow, I could feel the unexplainable joy in my heart. (The ticket also had a shorter expiry date.)

Despite it raining heavily today.

SKK also wanted to go to the Oceanarium since he works near Sentosa, and has not been to the Oceanarium before, so why not join my conquest?

After a long, rainy walk and twists and turns of the road, we had arrived at the oceanarium. Honestly, I was excited for two reasons: I got to see the fish and see them in peace! Check out the crowds at this time—like no one was queuing.

The logo of the Singapore Oceanarium is very interesting. Personal breakdown: it uses a sea snail shell as the overall design concept, which also reflects how the building structure was constructed. The colours blue and green (perhaps turquoise) resemble the colours of most oceans and rivers. Multi-layers, just like Earth's strata, showcase different eras and depths of the ocean's long history with various creatures. Different sections of marine life, eras, and regions will also be presented in the Singapore Oceanarium.

Dive into a new world of marine discovery.

Yippee! No one at all! Maybe because they will be closing soon—7pm on weekdays. We just arrived around 6pm. Do we have enough to cover the whole place?

(Credit SKK) Then let's have a photo here first before we step in.

Shall we go in?

Let's go!

I heard that there's a 7pm closing, which means it's for the last visitor. Oh great! Perfect for me.

Okay, last few photos before we entered another dimension.

Transporting...

First section: Drop of Water 一滴水. Have we asked ourselves what the world was like when there was nothing?

Earth life started from the first drop of water when single-celled organisms started to roam.

This refers to the origin of plankton, which represents a crucial stage in the emergence of life.

Next session - Ocean Wonders 海洋奇觀 when Earth's oxygen started to rise, and single-celled organisms were getting more complex in how they obtained the energy fuel.

I will call this the 'jellyfish section.' The best part was... no one around here besides us.

Some information about jellyfish or... Alien! (insert alien music)

I tried to snap a photo of every single tank on this trip; however, they aren't easy to photograph—they are moving and under low light conditions. So, whatever you are looking at are the shots I tried my best to take by spamming the shuttle. And I also tried to gather all the information/names that appear next to the tank.

Cannonball Sea Jelly, they look so cute.

Atlantic Sea Nettle - there are a lot of them!

Atlantic Sea Nettle: Juveniles of some crab species have a symbiotic relationship with Atlantic Sea Nettles. They clean debris and parasites on and under the bells of the sea jellies. 大西洋海制水母可在半淡咸水交界的河口存活,会与蓝军和蜘蛛暨幼体形成共生关系。后者会清理水母伞体上的残骸和寄生虫。 

Pacific Sea Nettles - Pacific Sea Nettles migrate daily to the ocean's surface, sometimes travelling more than 1,000 m through the water column! They use light-sensing organs called ocelli to guide them from deep, dark waters to the sunlit surface. 太平洋黄金水母每天进行垂直迁移,有时可从千米深海游至水面。利用名为“眼点”的盛光器官寻找光源。 

Fried Egg Sea Jelly. Imagine the fried egg starts to flap by itself and float around. You are definitely stung by a jellyfish.

Purple Striped Sea Nettle - These sea jellies use the radial and coronal muscles in their dome-shaped bodies to produce jet propulsion. This is how they move in open waters. Despite being venomous, they are a source of food for Ocean Sunfish. 紫纹海刺水母利用伞状体内的肌肉收缩推进,在开阔海域申优雅游动。尽管具有毒性,却是翻车鱼的猎物之一。

White Spotted Sea Jelly - If a sea jelly can be a pet and is less hassle to handle and feed, this one will be my pet. Haha

Dwarf Lion's Mane Jelly - These pink-hued Dwarf Lion's Mane Jellies begin life as bright yellow planulae, which transform into polyps reaching only about 10mm wide. When temperatures climb above 25°C, these polyps can enter a dormant state called a podocyst, allowing them to survive until conditions improve. 这些具有独特粉紅色外观的矮獅髮水母、生命始于鲜黄色的浮浪幼虫、随后发商成宽度约10毫米的水蜋體、当温度升至25℃以上时,这些水嫩件可进入一种称为林的休眠状杰、使其能够存活至环境条件改善。

This is one of the most iconic jellyfish exhibits, featuring a large circular tank display.

Moon Jelly - Here's a blurry text photo I took that day. Who wants to read it anyway? Haha

Here, you may capture some cool shots, and the best part is especially when no one is around.

Some information about Sea Jelly - I realised that education is trying to correct everyone's thinking. For example, we used to address starfish and jellyfish, but they didn't pressure everyone to follow the new naming system, such as sea star and sea jelly. It's good if we can follow, but what's not great is that youngsters tend to correct adults rudely, saying things like, 'Why do you keep saying it wrong? That's not the actual name. It's a sea star, not a starfish. It's not a fish to begin with.' Educated, yet still impolite...

Next section - Ancient Waters 遠古海洋. During the Cambrian and Devonian periods, evolution led to the rise of fish and other animals. Many modern-day species emerged from this age. 在寒武纪和泥盆纪时期,进化推动了鱼类和其他动物的兴起。许多现代物种都是起源于那个时代。

What a massive space to display creatures from the past. Those creatures have captured my imagination since I was young - I couldn't imagine living together in the same era with them.

Billions of years ago, the Earth was a "water world" almost completely covered by a massive, deep ocean with little to no dry land; after millions of years, the ocean started to fill up with all kinds of marine creatures that had many different approaches to survival, including hunting and protection.

Hmm, I didn't have time to have a proper look at these items here.

The legendary giant fish - Dunkleosteus. Nightmare fuel to share the ocean with it.

Not sure what this giant fish's name is, because I could not find it online. Does anyone know it? I used Google Lens, and it gave me 'Dunk', which was definitely wrong.

Cameroceras - giant squid carrying a shell. Funny to think how Mother Nature was starting to piece together, experiment, and mash up different parts of different creatures.

Xiphactinus - a scary fish to swim with, maybe due to its protruding teeth.

Anomalocaris was a weird shrimp more than a meter long in the ancient ocean.

The Indo-Pacific Horseshoe Crab (Tachypleus gigas)  is an ancient species that has remained largely unchanged for millions of years. It is both fundamental and fascinating. Despite their name, these animals are not crabs. Instead, they are close relatives of scorpions and spiders. Fossil evidence suggests that horseshoe crabs have existed on Earth for more than 445 million years, even before the dinosaurs. Their blood is blue in colour due to the presence of copper-based proteins. 尽管在英文名字里有个“蟹”,但这些动物其实并不是螃蟹,而是蝎子和蜘蛛的近亲。化石证据表明,鲎在地球上已经存在了超过4.45亿年,甚至比恐龙还要古老。它们的血液是蓝色的,这是因为含有铜基蛋白质。

I don't understand why they include Glass Catfish (Kryptopterus vitreolus) in this section. Their unique feature is their translucent, see-through body that reveals their spinal cord and internal organs. Is it ancient? Perhaps, to showcase how Mother Nature has many creative ways for creatures to survive in harsh environments.

Altum Angelfish (Pterophyllum altum) was included here. Ancient creature? I think they just need space to include this aquarium. These angelfish are quite big and special, with their deep, laterally compressed bodies and long, elegant fins.

American paddlefish (Polyodon spathula). Paddlefish have fossil records dating back to around 130 to 400 million years ago. They are named after their paddle-like snouts, which have electroreceptors to detect electrical signals given off by their prey. 美洲匙吻鲟的化石记录可追溯到约1.3亿至4亿年前。它们因桨状的吻部而得名,吻部具有电感受器,能够探测猎物发出的电信号。

Sterlet Sturgeon (Acipenser ruthenus) Sterlet Sturgeons are the smallest sturgeon species and spend their entire lives in freshwater habitats. In spring, these sturgeons undertake short migrations upstream to spawn. They are opportunistic feeders that feed on snails, worms, crustaceans, and the eggs of other surgeons. 小体鲟是所有鲟鱼中体型最小的种类,终生生活在淡水环境中。春季时,这些鲟鱼会进行短距离的上游洄游产卵。它们是机会主义摄食者,以蜗牛、蠕虫、甲壳类动物和其他鲟鱼的卵为食。

There are some more living fossils still swimming in the ocean, but we could not manage to get them to the aquarium.

Next section - Conquering Land 征陸之旅. Intense competition for resources forced ancient marine animals to adapt and change - some took the first evolutionary steps to life on land. 对资源的激烈竞争迫使古代海洋动物适应和改变。为了生存, 一些动物迈出了通往陆地生活的首次进化。

These are animals that developed limbs and lung capacity, enabling them to live on land and breathe oxygen.

Giant Salamander (Andrias japonicus x Andrias davidianus) - With their brown and black skin, Giant Salamanders stay hidden at the bottom of streams and rivers in the day. At night, these nocturnal animals have adapted to rely on their sense of smell and sensory cells to hunt. 大銳常藏身于溪流与河底的大岩石下,棕黑色皮肤帮助它们巧妙地伪装隐藏。虽然眼睛细小,视力不佳,却能适应昏暗水域, 靠触觉与水流变化感知猎物,自在生存。

Axolotl (Ambystoma Mexicanum) - Living in lakes and wetlands, Axolotis are salamanders that naturally have a mottled brown-grey body. They are often mistaken for being white in colour due to albino axolotls being preferred in the illegal pet trade, further threatening the status of wild populations. 墨西哥钝口锻栖息于湖泊和濕地,它们的天然体色是斑驳的棕灰色。由于非法宠物贸易偏好白化品种,让人们常误以为这种动物本是白色,这进一步威胁了野生种群的生存。

Titicaca Water Frog (Telmatobius Culeus) - These frogs are named after the Lake Titicaca Basin in the highlands of Peru and Bolivia. Their prominent skin folds also earned them the amusing nickname 'Titicaca Scrotum Frog'. These frogs breathe through their skin, and their skin folds help increase the surface area for taking in oxygen. 的的喀喀湖水蛙终生生活在秘鲁与玻利维亚高原湖泊中,能在高海拔缺氧环境中生存。它们皮肤布满褶皱,有助于水中换气, 因此被戏称为“的的喀喀阴囊蛙”

Hmm, I was supposed to expect an Elephant Trunk Snake here, but it's nowhere to be seen. I recalled my first visit with my Taiwan tour group here; I also couldn't find any.

Yellow-Headed Poison Frog - (Dendrobates leucomelas) - Yellow-headed Poison Frogs are referred to as 'Bumblebee Poison Frogs' due to their black and yellow colouration. 黄头箭毒蛙因其黑黄相间的体色又称“蜜蜂毒蛙”。脚趾具粘性垫便于攀爬,其皮肤毒素曾被原住民用作吹箭毒药。

Dyeing Poison Frog (Dendrobates tinctorius) - Meet one of the largest poison dart frog species in the world! They can grow up to 5 cm in length. Unlike most amphibians, male Dyeing Poison Frogs guard their eggs from predators.

Black-Legged Poison Frog (Phyllobates bicolour) - Be cautious if you see one. They are the world's second most toxic poison dart frog. A single frog can produce enough neurotoxin to kill an adult human. 看见它得要特别小心！黑腿毒蛙是世界上排行第二毒的箭毒蛙。 一只蛙就能产生是以杀死一个成年人的神经毒素。

Next section - Spirit of Exploration 探索精神

I remember this tall ship display has been here since the Sea Aquarium, and it was a large free exhibition about trades and lives on the ship. Now, they still maintain that ship as one of their themes. They could have done more; however, I believe there were budget constraints.

Explorer's Nook - A café for visitors to take a short break. What a perfect location for business.

The next section will be in the basement.

Singapore's Coast 新加坡海岸. Singapore's waters teem with a myriad of marine life. Our coastal habitats support many species and are crucial in combating climate change. 新加坡水域拥有丰富多样的海洋生物，其沿海生态系统不仅维持着众多物种的生存、还在应对气候变化中发挥着重要的自然调节作用。

A new section about Singapore's coast.

Singapore doesn't have many beautiful beaches, as it has many mangroves.

Banded Archerfish (Toxotes jaculatrix) - It is definitely a unique fish which leaves a deep impression among normal fish because of its well-known ability to shoot droplets of water that knock insects out of overhanging vegetation. 

You know what is so good about today's visit? No one! No one is around, so I can have that young, beautiful staff attend to me! Blushing... Hahaha! Usually, this spot is filled with visitors, especially on weekends.

Some display of marine content, like typical shells (here they have some beautiful ones) and that black mermaid's purse, aka shark egg case, that no one has ever seen before.

Here is the common sea cucumber. Funny, I said this as 'sea poop'. Skk believed it, and the staff just laughed.

The name of this marine creature had changed from starfish to sea star because of scientific accuracy: marine scientists encourage using "sea star" because "starfish" is biologically inaccurate. I shared a tale about a sea star that impressed the staff; it was about a "mistake made without knowing it well." It was about a group of angry fishermen who wanted to eliminate sea stars because they eat bivalves like clams, oysters, and mussels. So, they decided to cut off their limbs and throw them back into the sea. In the end, they got even fewer clams, oysters, and mussels because sea stars can grow back their limbs. Hope my readers like the story.

Ooo, next! The popular spot draws a long queue.

Cleaner shrimp (Lysmata grabhami) act as a parasite remover and scavenger in coral reefs, cleaning fish by removing dead skin and food waste. 

Now I can let them take my hand peacefully since there is no queue. Ouch! It hurt! I forgot my fingertips' skin was worn off due to... Acids or something, I don't know; all I know during those days was that my skin was rather dry and peeling. They pinched hard and painfully.

Another tank, besides the cleaning shrimp tank, is an echinoderm tank (cylindrical tank).

Among all the sea urchins that I have seen alive before, this one is very unique, and it is the first time I have seen this.

Blue Tuxedo Urchin (Mespilia globulus) is a small, reef-safe, and highly effective algae-eating invertebrate (popular among marine aquariums). It has striking blue (sometimes black or red) bands and short spines, which seem safe to handle. They are relatively hardy, peaceful, and are also known to camouflage themselves with rubble or coral fragments.

They look so cute.

Brittle Star (Ophiarachna incrassata), I have never seen one alive in front of me. What an amazing creature. The way they move looks very alien.

Beautiful seascape at the new section in the Sea Oceanarium.

Next section - Shark Seas 鯊魚海洋. With abundant sunlight and nutrients, shallow seas allow life to flourish - from apex predators such as sharks to prey. 浅海充足的阳光和养份,让生命繁衍生息——从鲨鱼等顶级掠食者到鱼类猎物。
This section retains its structure from what the Sea Aquarium had left. It seemed like it was unchanged (I meant the fish).

Some display of shark jaws, I was expecting to see a megalodon jaw, but too bad...

A tank of sharks. Sometimes I imagined myself swimming in such a tank, but I believe they would smell my fears.

Ooo, a Sand tiger shark (Carcharias taurus), also known as the ragged-tooth shark, swam in my direction.

(Credit Skk) Yippee, I was making contact with this shark.

Blacktip Reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus) were swimming peacefully in an aquarium when there was no one around.

Some sharks were having a nighttime rest.

(Credit Skk) Yes! I just want to wander around alone here, feeling as free as a fish in the big ocean!

Easy and happy.

I had hoped to spend more time observing the sharks swimming around, even while lying down, but I understand that it is not possible.

Next - Coral Gardens 珊瑚花园
Brimming with sunlight and dazzling colour, coral reefs are magnificent, intricate habitats that support approximately 25% of all marine species in the ocean. 充满阳光和色彩炫目的珊瑚礁是壮丽而复杂的栖息地, 支撑着海洋中大约25%的海洋生物。

I was unable to read the information about endangered sharks properly because Skk had moved ahead of me, and the oceanarium staff were waiting behind me for me to move along.

In this section, there are many beautiful coral reef tanks.

I was hoping to visit this place; during busy days, it seems to be filled with children.

Aww... I was feeling at ease in my own personal space.

I can stay here all days.

I just let the movement of the water, light ray, and music lift my spirits.

A tank filled with moray eels.

This one is a Dragon Moray Eel.

Another one, behind, there is a Snowflake Moray Eel, but I don't know what the one in the foreground is.
Snowflake Moray Eels live solitary lives in intertidal reef flats. They make homes in rock and coral crevices, sticking only their heads out to wait for prey. When they capture crustaceans, they use their conical-shaped molar-like teeth to crush their prey's shells. 云纹海鳝过着独居生活,栖息于潮间带的礁石平台。它们在岩石和珊瑚的缝隙中筑巢, 仅露出头部等待猎物。捕食甲壳类动物时,雪花鳗利用类似圆锥形臼齿的牙齿来咬碎猎物的外壳。

I wish I had a UV filter for my phone; I might have covered most of the unnecessary reflection and glare.

Sailfin Snapper (Symphorichthys spilurus) 帆鳍笛鲷 live in solitary groups near the sandy bottoms of coral reefs, only gathering at certain sites to spawn. The large black spot near their tails is believed to be a false eyespot that can confuse predators and allow the fish to escape.
帆鳍笛鯛在珊瑚礁的沙质底部附近独居生活,只在特定地点聚集产卵。它们尾部附近的大黑斑被认为是假眼斑,可以用来迷惑捕食者并帮助鱼类逃脱。

Many people see beautiful corals lit by UV light; I see the amount of money it takes to look beautiful.

Another word or world, fish might see a different world too.

Hammer Coral 似锚纹叶珊瑚 (Fimbriaphyllia paraancora). Unlike most corals, Hammer Corals form distinct male and female colonies. These colonies are usually long and tubular, with corallites of uniform height adjoined only towards the base. Their tentacle tips form concentric circles, which range from pale tan to greenish brown in colour. 与大多数珊瑚不同,似锚纹叶珊瑚形成明显的雌雄异体群体。这些群体通常呈长管状,具有高度一致的珊瑚杯,仅在底部相连,它们的触手尖端形成同心圆,颜色从淡棕色到绿棕色不等。

It seems like they haven't removed this large cylindrical tank since the Sea Aquarium.

Another tank where you won't see anything besides UV-lit corals.

It was rather difficult to capture a sharper image of them without a tripod, especially with the staff watching and pressuring you to finish the visit.

Although the reef tank may appear sparse, it actually hosts a diverse array of marine life.

Another wider space here. On normal days, it would be crowded, but hardly anyone reads the board by the side.

Ah... Just love to see a tank full of fish.

This live rock is also amazing, like a rock full of life.

Achilles Tang 心斑刺尾鱼 (Acanthurus achilles) When threatened, Achilles Tangs defend themselves using blade-like spines on their tails. They have been observed driving other surgeonfish from their feeding sites. To feed, they use their teeth to scrape algae off rocks and corals. Juveniles have orange spots on their tails, which become teardrop-shaped when they mature. 受到威胁时,心斑刺尾鱼会用尾部刀片般的棘刺进行防御。它们曾被观察到会驱赶其他刺尾魚离开自己的觅食区域,它们以牙齿刮食岩石和珊瑚上的藻类为食,幼鱼尾部有橙色斑点,随着成长,这些斑点会变成泪滴状。

Looking at the number of lives here, I see the cost of maintaining them in a tank.

The Magnificent Sea Anemone 公主海葵(Heteractis magnification) is usually solitary but forms mutualistic relationships with many species. Clownfish and anemone shrimps use their tentacles for shelter. Meanwhile, sea anemones obtain nutrients from symbiotic algae. When they retract their tentacles, their bodies become ball-shaped with tentacles poking out from their middles. 公主海葵通常独居,但会与多种生物建立互利共生关系,小丑鱼和海葵虾会利用它们的触手作为庇护所,而海葵则从共生签类中获取养分,当它们收回触手时,身体会缩成球状,触手则从中央突出来。 

Next tank - I didn't have time to observe every single tank because I was pressured by the staff who were closing up the area.

Pyramid Butterfly 多鳞霞蝶魚(Hemitaurichthys polylepis)

Another section - Reef animals; weird, didn't I look at reef animals? Reef Animals 珊瑚礁动物 - Coral ecosystems are home to a wide range of reef animals that rely on ingenious adaptations to survive and thrive. 珊瑚礁生态系统是多姿多彩的礁石动物的家园, 它们依靠巧妙的适应能力来生存和繁衍。

A giant in the ree, like a Giant Clam.

Self-defence in the reef. When I was young, I was always amazed by how creatures in the world work: the insect world was number one, next were marine animals, third were birds, then amphibians, and lastly, animals. I love to see how Mother Nature lays out parts of herself into her own creation.

A tank filled with vegetation, but if you look closely, you will see that... There are some interesting seaweeds called Caulerpa Seaweed 蕨藻属. Each Caulerpa Seaweed is a single cell with multiple nuclei, making it one of the largest single-cell organisms on Earth. They vary in form, from tiny balls to feathery blades. While some Caulerpa Seaweeds are edible, others are toxic when consumed. 这些薇薇形态各异,有的呈撕小球状,有的形似羽毛叶片。有些可以食用,但有些则有毒,不可入口。每一株海葡萄其实是一个拥有多个细胞核的单细胞生物,是地球上体型最大的单细胞生物之一。

Razor Fish 条纹虾鱼 (Aeoliscus strigatus) have a distinctive swimming posture. They move in schools that swim vertically with their heads down and backs facing the direction they are moving towards. Their bodies are encased in armours of thin, transparent plates. When threatened, they make a quick dash to seek shelter among coral branches or sea urchin spines. 条纹虾鱼具有独特的游泳姿态,成群结队地以头朝下,背部朝向前进方向的垂直姿势游动。它们的身体被薄而透明的骨板包覆看,如同铠甲一般。遇到威胁时,它们会迅速游向囉購枝条或海胆棘刺之网寻求庇护。

A kind of tank that I wished to create, like a landscape, but it's in the ocean.

Weedy Sea Dragon 草海龙 (Phyllopteryx taeniolata) may be toothless, but they can capture prey effectively by using their straw-like mouths to suck them in. Instead of scales, they have bony plates on their bodies as protection. Males carry fertilised eggs on their spongy tails, using their skin to form protective cups around each egg. 虽然没有牙齿,但草海龙能用吸管般的嘴有效吸人猎物。它们没有鱼鳞,而是由骨板保护身体。雄性会将受精卵携带在海绵状的尾部,用皮肤形成保护性的小杯将每颗卵包裹起来。

This aquascaping looks amazing.

Blin,k, and you might miss them. Longsnout Seahorse 吻海马 (Hippocampus reidi) can quickly change their colours to blend in with their surroundings. They use their prehensile tails to cling to the substrate or kelp when they are resting. Males carry eggs in a pouch on their undersides before they give live birth.

Next - Kelp Forest 海带森林. The towering fronds of kelp forests provide food and refuge for sea urchins, fish, and many young animals, allowing them to thrive. 高耸的海带森林为海胆,鱼类和许多幼年动物提供食物和庇护所,使它们能够生存和繁衍。

This tank is larger than those I saw before; it is to showcase how massive the kelp forest will be.

Popeye Catalufa 锯眼銅 (Pristigenys serrula) is a nocturnal and shy fish that prefers deeper waters off islands. It can grow up to a size of 34 centimetres (13 in) in length.

Next is the nemo... No! NO! NO MORE Nemo for this fish!

This one is Clown Anemonefish 眼斑双锯鱼 (Amphiprion ocellaris), which forms symbiotic relationships with sea anemones and shelters within their stinging tentacles. During mating season, males 'spring clean' the areas around sea anemones before the female Clown Anemonefish lay eggs. Before spawning, males may perform up-and-down movements called signal jumping. 眼斑双锯鱼与海葵共生,借助海葵带刺的触手获得保护。繁殖季节时,雄鱼会先清理筑巢区域,再由雌鱼产卵。雄鱼还会进行一种称为“信号跳跃”的求偶行为,即快速上下游动。 

Aww... I thought I could enter this lab to observe, but the staff weren't around at this hour...

Man, I really felt the pressure with six people on my back. I just snapped and went for it...

Pygmy Sweeper Fish 雷氏充金眼鯛 (Parapriacanthus ransonneti) tend to form large, dense schools to protect themselves from predators and find food more efficiently. In the day, they often seek shelter in coral reefs, hiding in crevices and under ledges. They possess light organs on their bodies that produce bioluminescence. 这些鱼类倾向于形成大而密集的鱼群,以保护自己免受捕食者侵害,并更有效地觅食。 白天,它们经常在珊瑚礁中寻找庇护所,躲藏在缝隙和岩架下方。它们身体上有发光器官。能够产生生物萤光。

My favourite section of Oceanarium (Sea Aquarium previously), Open Ocean 广阔海洋 - In an environment where shelter is scarce, species in the open ocean must develop special skills and adaptations to survive. 在深邃广阔的海洋中,避难所稀少,生物必须凭借独特的适应能力才能存活下来。

Yippee! My dream situation! No crowd, and just a big tank in front of me!

I could fully immerse myself in the ocean and music here. How I wished they had an overnight camping opportunity, but it would be for the rich.

Observing the fish swimming freely in the expansive tank, I experienced a sense of detachment, as it seemed like an entirely different world from my own.

I was unable to hold my breath for an extended period in the ocean as the staff were asking us to leave due to the facility's closure.

(Credit SKK) I guess I will have a quick shot—not perfect at first, as no bigger fish is swimming into the scene—but the staff switched on the light, so I can have the best photo of my life.

From my memory, we needed to rush as after the 'Open Ocean' section, there were more. So, I had to rush. Open Ocean Currents 开阔洋流 Driven by wind, ocean temperature, and the Earth's rotation, the dynamic flow of ocean currents affects everything from climate to biodiversity. 在风力,海洋温度和地球自转的驱动下,洋流的动态流动影响着从气候到生物多样性的多种层面。 

There is a large projection wall in Van Gogh style, but I cannot stay long here to appreciate the art.

The Importance Of Current Affairs - Vital to all life, currents circulate water throughout the ocean.
- Moved by currents: Tiny marine organisms such as coral polyps and fish larvae can travel far and wide with minimal effort. Although they can swim actively, they generally drift where the currents carry them.
- Spreading nutrients, nourishing life: Did you know that acron currents nourish food webs? Waters in deeper ports of the ocean are rich with nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates. As surface water is pushed away by winds, cold, nutrient-rich water rises from the depths to take its place. This phenomenon helps to spread nutrients throughout the ocean, nourishing marine food webs.
- Regulating heat around the globe: imagine living in a world where the equator loops, getting hotter,r and the poles keep getting colder. This will not happen because ocean currents act as heat regulators by transferring heat from the equator to the North and South poles.

Life also exists in the depths of the ocean.

Example like this, this tank is dark.

Can you spot the most prominent feature of nocturnal Japanese Bigeye 大鳞大眼鲷 (Pristigenys miphania)? Relying on their distinctly large eyes, they feed on zooplankton and small molluscs at night. These fish are covered in rough scales that protect them from predators. 注意观察夜行性的大能大眼部显著特征是什么?它们的感息地在岩石区域,它们的大眼睛让它们完全适应那里黑暗的环境。 在那里,它们在夜间排食浮游动物和小型头足类动物。它们拥有极为粗糙的鳞片,以保护自己免受捕食者的侵害。

Have you managed to spot any live ones here?

Japanese Pineapplefish 日本松毬鱼 (Monocentris japonica) are nocturnal and often seek shelter in caves or under ledges during the day. They host bioluminescent bacteria in organs on their lower jaws, which help them hunt for food in the dark. These fish typically exhibit schooling behaviour. 日本松毬鱼是夜行性动物、白天常常躲藏在岩洞或磁石下方。 它们的下颌部位有发光器,里面住着会发光的细菌,帮助它们在黑暗中捕猎食物。这种鱼通常会成群结队地一起活动。

Ooo, there is a stall selling marine plushies and stuff. Luckily, I am not loaded and not in a rush.

Here are some random tanks whose theme I don't get.

It may not be music to your ears, but the Indian Ocean Oriental Sweetlips 条纹胡椒鲷 (Plectorhinchus vittotus) can produce sounds by grinding their pharyngeal teeth. These nocturnal fish are carnivorous and can be found alone or in small groups. 虽然声音可能不太悦耳,条斑胡椒鲷能通过磨动咽齿发出独特音响。这种夜行性肉食鱼类多半独居生活,亦可组成小型群体出没于珊瑚礁间。

This one is a well-established and seasonal aquarium, very natural.

The large cylindrical tank, which has remained here since the Sea Aquarium.

I guessed; I really don't have time to check every single tank. I just snapped a picture and appreciate the aquascaping.

Ah, finally, I had this perfect opportunity to take photos of this tank, with no one crowding around.

A large Green Moray Eel (Gymnothorax funebris) - one which can grow larger than the previous ones.

A tank has magnifying glasses, but it can't see much, and there is no time to observe.

Another UV-themed tank, which is quite well established, too.

Giant Green Anemone 黄側花海葵 (Anthopleura xanthogrammica)'s rich green colour is derived from photosynthetic symbiotic microalgae and dinoflagellata residing within its tissues. Like other cnidarians, they have nematocysts-stinging cells that paralyse prey and help guide food to their mouths. They produce a heart stimulant compound that has medical use. 黃側花海葵浓郁的绿色来自寄居在组织内的共生藻。就像其他刺丝胞动物一样,它们的触手装备有刺絲胞,一种能麻痹猎物的整病细胞,并将食物送入口中,它们会产生一种可用于医疗的心脏刺激剂化合物。

Singapore has launched an initiative to establish a sanctuary for marine life.

Oops, so sorry for the blurry photo - the moment of pure excitement! No one around!

How I wish I could just lie there and watch from the bottom.

Like a treasure chest waiting for others to discover who I truly am, others have no position to validate me besides myself.

Anyway, I have to slowly heal myself.

I am simply enjoying the moment of tranquillity from within.

I believe the music in the Oceanarium contributed to our sense of safety and relaxation.

Let's continue exploring the remaining route, as the staff was closing in on us.

Deep Ocean Exploration 深海探索 - Curiosity and ingenuity illuminate mankind's exploration of the deep. With advanced technology, explorers can overcome the extreme cold and crushing pressure of the deep. 好奇心和晓明才有点亮了人类对深海依服务。凭属先游的科技, 探险家可以克服深海有严寒有巨大的压力。

Deep ocean exploration is always fascinating, especially when I watched it on TV when I was young, read about it in books, and saw videos on YouTube. It was like the closest way to explore worlds that are far from our reach, had a different set of rules, and most importantly, many unique animals. Mother Nature has so many ideas to ensure life works in certain worlds.

Even part of a broken ship can become a big world for the marine creatures.

I have always dreamed of sitting in a deep-sea submarine to explore the ocean and meet the creatures in the abyss, but I also worry about the dangers that could take my life short in less than a second. So, I will leave it as a dream and watch YouTube videos and read books to learn about them.

That came to another section of Oceanarium - Life In The Deep 深海生命 - Despite harsh conditions in the deep ocean, life persists in remarkable ways. Here, deep-sea animals rely on unique adaptations to survive. 尽管深海环境恶劣,但生命依然顽强地生存。在这片漆黑的深渊中,深海动物凭借独特的适应能力,展现了生命的奇迹。

Coming to this section, it brought up my fear and dream sections, presented safely in front of me, but I could feel the pressure from the crew who were standing there, waiting for me to move...

Observe the floor adorned with tiny life forms inhabiting the deep-sea environment. Similar to our own world, we are but one of many stars in a vast, cold, and largely unexplored universe.

Honestly, I wanted to stay here a bit longer to get a closer look at those deep-sea creatures, but I couldn't stay for too long... Sigh... Even Skk left somewhere. If I get any more free tickets, I will return here to have a better look.

Whale Fall & Samonte 鲸落和海山. Haunting whale falls, towering seamounts, steaming hydrothermal vents, and ethereal marine snow - these are the hidden wonders of the mysterious deep. 鲸尸坠落,巨型海山,喷发中的热液喷口和悬浮的海洋雪 - 这些深海中的隐秘奇观,揭示着幽暗深处的神秘。
From this point on, I can't stay here to absorb the mood of this place.

In the deep sea, when a whale died, it's corpse can create a world of lifes and energy for many years.

Here you can see some deep-sea creatures through a very thick glass. There are other creatures, but I could not get a clear shot of them, especially since I didn't have enough time to snap them.

There is a large cinematic projection of oceanic trenches, and it showcases an extensive, sharply sloped, V-shaped concavities etched into the seafloor. These constitute the abyssal zones of the ocean, originating through the process of subduction, where lithospheric plates converge, compelling one to descend beneath the other.

Last section if I didn't miss it all - Ocean's Future 海洋的未来
Our actions impact the ocean in profound ways. Climate change, rising sea levels, and habitat destruction have led to unprecedented biodiversity loss. 我们的行为对海洋有着深远的影响力。气候变化, 海平面上升和被毁灭的栖息地已导致生物多样性的丧失。

Will our future be like this? Honestly... There is a high possibility that humans will abandon their homes because of changes in the ocean.

But here there is a very large lionfish, and it is so beautiful, however, it is also a threat to marine life.

We took our photos at the entrance and were supposed to return the number card, but I brought the card home with me... I hope they have a backup plan for those missing cards.

We were the last visitors for the day, and it was surreal to visit the Oceanarium during fewer crowds during weekdays evening. I must say that I had a lot of joy exploring the Oceanarium, but I also felt pressured by the staff as they were closing the sections to ensure the last visitors sped up...

(credit Skk) Thanks for joining the visit and dinner treat for the day. Hope you enjoy the place too.

Overall, my experience visiting the Oceanarium was definitely a joy. As an animal lover myself, I understand that nature has so many different types of animals within the same families that we hardly know. For example, when we ask, 'What is a crab?' what image forms in your mind? If our mind only generates the most common one, like a hard smooth shell, a pair of claws, legs, and the way they walk, we are just at the tip of the iceberg of the crustacean family.

Okay, let's talk about the place, Oceanarium. It is nice to see that they actually divide the place into sections—from the beginning of life section to different types of habitats, and how it connects to us; very informative. The aquarium tanks are also sorted nicely according to the theme, even though there are some which don't relate, like in the 'Whale Fall & Samonte' section. It is a deep ocean theme, but you will see an aquarium at a corner displaying some freshwater fishes, Angelfish, and Ghost Catfish. I should not complain because I had seen the worst.

If I were to have an oceanarium of that scale, I would feature an extensive gallery showcasing various marine species, highlighting the concept that Mother Nature embodies both artistry and engineering.

Jeff