![Image](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2791/4394809879_b5cbaec26d_o.jpg)
Just inside I found the sting ray touch tank. I was able to sketch while the sting rays moved back and forth. There was a section with creatures that were babies. I found the Atlantic sea turtle there...it was gorgeous and fun to paint. A marsh display had a bridge overlooking shallow water with local marine life. That's where I found the sea robbin. I don't think they are very good to eat, but they are pretty to see in the water. I loved the colorful sea anemones in the display tanks. I think they may move more than the fish.
![Image](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4005/4395576084_b9f40147b9_o.jpg)
Outside was a separate display for the African penguins. If you ducked under the wall and crawled in a bit there was a tunnel that led to a plastic bubble inside the penguin enclosure. It put me nearer to the penguins so sketching them was easier. I also sketched the Japanese spider crab. They are huge and very strange. I spent a bit of time by the shark tank to sketch the sand tiger shark. It was huge and would pass by pretty close. The problem with sketching in the aquarium is that most of it is very dimly lit and you can't see what you're sketching.
![Image](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4062/4394809775_5b24253fb5_o.jpg)
For my final sketch of the day I sat near the tropical fish display. I had a small stool to sit on so it was comfortable to stay for a while. The plants and sea amemones are just gorgeous...full of life and color. The fish move quickly so I would start one and it would be gone, so I would start another one and it would soon be gone. Luckily most of them came back so I was able to finish most of them.
All in all the aquarium was a good place for a winter sketchcrawl!