Guests at Dallas Aquarium enjoy watching daily feedings

12:00 AM CDT on Saturday, May 31, 2008
By CHRIS COATS / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News
Photo credit: MATT NAGER/Special Contributor.

Eric Julius has a captive audience of 200 visitors at the Dallas Aquarium. He wraps up his talk about red-bellied piranhas, standing in front of a tank of the menacing-looking creatures.

"The attacks on humans are very rare, despite what television and movies would lead you to believe," he said. "I've actually had friends that have swum in the Amazon River with these guys. They don't bother us. We're not something they want to eat."

Minutes later, Mr. Julius is tossing dead trout into the tank. Each "kerplunk" ignites a frenzy among the piranhas. The crowd lets out an "ohhh" in unison with each fight.

This exhibition is part of the Daily Feedings and Keeper Talks series taking place at the Dallas Aquarium at Fair Park. The aquarium is home to thousands of aquatic animals, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. Last year, more than 150,000 visitors took in the displays, including the feedings and keeper talks, which focus on a different animal every day.

"The feedings are important since they give our keepers a live opportunity to talk with folks," said curator Brian Potvin. "It gives them a chance to dispel the myths and to share the unique things about animals that people may not know about."

The feedings take place each afternoon at 2:30 p.m. in front of the day's scheduled tank display. The biggest draws are the piranhas on Saturday, and the shark on Sunday and Wednesday. Other feedings include various species of eels, a 135-pound giant alligator snapping turtle, alligator and octopus.

"We are always looking for opportunities to inspire young kids to become marine biologists, or to appreciate marine animals," Mr. Potvin said. "We want to find as many ways as possible to educate the public and to reach out to the next generation."

One way is through various camps that will be held this summer. The aquarium is also teaming up with the Dallas Zoo for a summerlong lineup of programs for kids of all ages taking place at both facilities. At the Father's Day Sleeping with the Fishes Snooze, kids will get the ultimate sleepover experience with Dad at the aquarium.

Audrey Hatherly, 6, of McKinney is going to check out the camps.

"I liked learning about the piranhas and seeing them eat fish in one big gulp," she said. "I liked seeing all of the other fish, too. Now I want to go buy more fish for my tank."

But no effort to educate the public was going to get Alex Moore of Cabot, Ark., to let down his guard.

"I saw the way that the piranhas fought and tore the fish into pieces," the 7-year-old said. "I don't care what they say. You won't catch me jumping in a tank with them."