You will find loads of amazing fish in this exhibit but luckily there won’t be any ogres telling you “GET OUT MY SWAMP”
A swamp is an area of land permanently saturated, or filled, with water. Many swamps are even covered by water. Normally these areas are dominated by trees and the water below is thick with foliage. They are often named for the type of trees that grow in them such as cypress and hardwood swamps. Swamps exist in many kinds of climates and on every continent except Antarctica. They vary in size from isolated prairie potholes to huge coastal salt marshes.
Swamps are among the most valuable ecosystems on Earth. They act like giant sponges or reservoirs. When heavy rains cause flooding, swamps and other wetlands absorb excess water, moderating the effects of flooding. Swamps also protect coastal areas from storm surges that can wash away fragile coastline. Saltwater swamps and tidal salt marshes help anchor coastal soil and sand. The swamp ecosystem also acts as a water treatment plant, filtering wastes and purifying water naturally. When excess nitrogen and other chemicals wash into swamps, plants there absorb and use the chemicals.
Current Water Temp
22°C / 71°FWater Type
Fresh Water/Brackish
Climate / Biome
Tropical Rainforest
In This Exhibit
6 species/ 6 tanks
Where are we?
South America and USA
Swamp water is often thick with branches so larger fish such as the fish you find in our amazon struggle to exists there and as swamps are often created from flooding of nearby lakes and rivers these big fish don’t get moved by the changing water. The more common fish sound in swamps are the really small animals such as the Ameca splendens and cardinal tetras as they are easily moved by the water. They thrive in these environments as they are safe from predators. When thinking of swamps it is easy to forget the rich diversity and focus on crocodiles and royal pythons but there are lots of interesting and colourful species that live in this murky water.
“About 6 percent of Earth’s surface is covered by swamps.”
In This Exhibit
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Midas Cichlids
These inquisitive fish will follow you around their tank watch as you leave the swamp as this school of brightly coloured fish will follow behind you.
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Royal Python
This huge snake lives in the corner of the swamp which can mean he can be missed out. He blends in well with his surroundings so only the most eagle eyed visitors can spot him.
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Blind Cavefish
This is one of the most unique tanks in the aquarium with its dark red lighting creating a cave like environment. This lighting gives the fish the darkness they require but allows visitors to see their interesting faces.
