New England Aquarium

10/22/2026

Our African penguin retirement home got a few upgrades! 🐧💙

As our penguins get older, some develop arthritis or simply move a little more slowly and stiffly. So, we recently added some new ramps and cushioned mats around their island to help them navigate their space comfortably and confidently. And, they’ve each found their own way to use them!

Some penguins use the ramps to get around more easily, while the cushioned mats provide extra support for birds with arthritis. And St. Croix? She practically skedaddles across the ramp on her way to the feeding station. 😄

For our Animal Care team, these small changes make a big difference. Being able to give each penguin the support they need as they age helps our trainers feel confident that these birds are comfortable, active, and thriving. That’s especially important because our African penguins are living well beyond the average life expectancy for their species. As they age, we’re committed to making sure they have the care and accommodations they need to live their best penguin lives!

10/21/2026

We’re SO excited to welcome the newest shelled residents of our “headstart” turtle program! 🐢

These little hatchlings are North American wood turtles, a freshwater species native to the Northeast. They get their name from the rough, sculpted appearance of their shells that look like carved wood or tree growth rings! 🪵

Our Animal Care team will raise these hatchlings behind the scenes at the Aquarium, thanks to our partnership with Zoo New England’s HATCH program (Hatchlings and Turtle Conservation through Headstarting).

Each winter, we welcome several endangered turtle hatchlings to the Aquarium for some extra TLC. After spending 9 to 10 months growing big and strong, these little turtles will be released back into their natural habitat in the summer. Their head start gives them a much better chance at thriving on their own!

We’ll be keeping a close eye on these tiny turtles, tracking their weight and diet to make sure they’re ready for their big adventure when it’s time to head back to the wild.

Right now, these little guys tip the scales between 11.6 grams and 21.5 grams. Stay tuned for updates on their progress as they grow!

10/20/2026

Boston students, grab your family and friends and come visit the Aquarium! 🎒🐠

Thanks to the Boston Family Days partnership, you can visit the New England Aquarium and dozens of other awesome cultural spots around Boston for free!

If you’re a Boston student in Pre-K through grade 12, you and up to two guests can enjoy free admission to the Aquarium and other local favorites on the first and second Sundays of every month. It’s a great way to explore, learn, and make memories together.

We’re proud to have been part of Boston Family Days since the very beginning in 2024, helping families discover, learn, and grow together at the Aquarium. A huge thank you to Mayor Wu and the City of Boston for making this amazing initiative possible!

Learn more about the program and how to sign up here: https://bit.ly/4zDUaIJ

Through a partnership between the City of Boston and local institutions, Boston Family Days gives Boston students and their guests free admission to dozens of cultural attractions—including the New England Aquarium.

10/19/2026

It’s Veterinary Technician Appreciation Week, and we’re sending a big thank you to our amazing vet techs! 🩺💙

These dedicated folks are an essential part of our Animal Care team, making sure every animal at the Aquarium gets the best possible care.

Our vet techs are real-life animal care superheroes! Whether they’re drawing blood, running lab tests, administering meds, or jumping in wherever they’re needed, their passion and hard work help our animals stay healthy and happy every day.

We’re so grateful for everything you do! 👏🏽

10/19/2026

10/17/2026

Move over, ultrarunners! It’s time to meet some cool migratory animals who truly know how to go the distance. 🏃‍♂️🐢

Sea turtles travel thousands of miles, leaving chilly Northeast waters for warm, tropical nesting beaches. And salmon? They take on an epic journey from freshwater to the ocean and back again, using the Earth’s magnetic field and scent clues to find the very river where they were born!

These are just a couple of the incredible migratory animals you can spot right here at the Aquarium. But here’s the coolest part: our Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life scientists are on the case, using satellite tags to track sea turtles and other highly migratory species.

Want to dive deeper? Learn more about the incredible journeys of sea turtles, salmon, sturgeon, and more: https://bit.ly/4ryFx72

10/16/2026

It’s checkup time for our Guineafowl puffer! 🐡

Our Animal Health team checked his weight and heart rate, and even took an X-ray to look for things like swim bladder issues, bone changes, or anything unusual in his belly, such as stones or gas bubbles!

He also received a dental exam to make sure his pearly white dental plate is in great shape and doesn’t need a trim. 🦷

Good news: He’s in tip-top shape!

10/15/2026

🎃 Sunken Pumpkins: Halloween at the Aquarium!! 🎃

Mark your calendars for Saturday, Oct. 24, and Sunday, Oct. 25! We’re celebrating Halloween at the Aquarium with two days packed full of fall fun and festive surprises!

Families and guests of all ages are encouraged to wear costumes* (see guidelines below) while touring the exhibits. Aquarium staff will be joining in on the fun with their own costumes. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s coming up:

• Go on a fall-themed animal scavenger hunt around the Aquarium
• Get a close-up look at animal skulls and bones
• Try out guided and self-led activities in our Exploration Station
• Hunt for “sunken pumpkins” hidden throughout various exhibits. Plus, be on the lookout for a submerged skeleton in the Giant Ocean Tank!
• Treat yourself to Halloween-themed snacks in the Harbor View Café
• Enter for a chance to win fun prizes!

🎟️ Regular admission rates apply. Event is included with regular Aquarium admission. Tickets: https://www.neaq.org/visit/tickets/

📌 For the safety of our animals, costume restrictions apply. Costume masks and full-face coverings are not permitted, except for medical or religious reasons. Costumes may not be inflatable or contain balloons, lights, reflective materials (such as mirrors or metal), sharp or pointed objects, weapons, or anything that could easily be mistaken for a weapon. Costumes may not include materials that could accidentally injure or frighten other guests, staff, or the animals in our care.

At the New England Aquarium, we know a habitable planet needs a healthy ocean. Let's take action for the ocean together.

10/14/2026

There’s something bubbling in these containers and…it’s ALIVE!! 🫧🧪👀

Those bright yellows, greens, browns, and oranges might look like a Halloween potion or the changing leaves of fall, but they’re actually live food!

What you’re seeing is plankton that we grow right here at the Aquarium to feed the animals in our care. It’s packed with the high-quality nutrition our fish need, and we even add extra vitamins and minerals.

Growing live food like this also helps us feed our animals more sustainably and reduce the environmental impacts associated with shipping food to the Aquarium. ♻️

Now that’s what we call a nutritious, eco-friendly green smoothie!

10/13/2026

It’s almost that time of year again. 👀

As fall approaches, our Sea Turtle Hospital team is getting ready to welcome another season of cold-stunned sea turtles!

When Cape Cod Bay temperatures drop, sea turtles can become weak and unable to swim. This condition, known as cold-stunning, can leave turtles stranded along our coastline and in need of rescue and rehabilitation. That’s where our partners at Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary come in. As temperatures fall, volunteers comb the beaches in search of cold-stunned sea turtles and bring them to our Sea Turtle Hospital for care.

Our team is already preparing for the 2026–2027 cold-stun season and keeping a close eye on Cape Cod Bay. When temperatures dip into the 50s, we typically begin to see our first sea turtle patients arrive.

Want to follow along? Join us in our stories every Tuesday for as we track the temperature in Cape Cod Bay and get ready for another season of sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation.