Though small, this place is fascinating. Be sure to be there at 1:30 for the various feedings, including baby sharks! They also let you touch various reptiles. They have a variety of fish and other reptiles.

This place is so fun. The staff is friendly, passionate, helpful and knowledgeable. The whole family loved our visit. They have a few sharks which were awesome. They have many reptiles and fish. Each exhibit gave information about the animals and their natural habitat. The owner is passionate about conservation and education. We were so glad they were still open during this uncertain time.

We loved it! It was a super cool experience for the kids and very informative! Lots of different things to see.

I went with my husband today to check our their facility. I assumed that they would be small but the animals would be well cared for and the staff would be knowledgeable. That couldn't be further from the truth! They are a small operation, conveniently located on Main Street in Hendersonville however it was absolutely tragic inside. The area in which the tanks are housed is a single room with a hodgepodge of setups. All were extremely outdated, many cracked and chipped and all were neglected. Most of the fish were in aquariums that were very undersized (Longhorn Cowfish in a 29gal) and were with inappropriate tankmates (such as seahorses with a Coris Wrasse and other aggressive fish). The tanks were also covered in algae, majanos and aiptasia. There was only one tank with some living coral such as mushrooms and a maxi mini carpet anemone. Most tanks were "decorated" with artificial plants and some fake corals as well, making everything look very unnatural and unappealing. Very few of the animals were labeled and the ones that were were mislabeled (a Stars and Striped labeled as a Dogface). We told the attendant and she gave us a blank stare. All the employees I saw were very young and knew little about the livestock or the systems. There are some freshwater turtles and lizards as well. They seem very out of place but they are better cared for than most of the other inhabitants. The bottom line is that this place is deplorable. You do not need an extensive knowledge of marine life to know that these creatures are in poor care and that the organization needs to step up to the responsibility of displaying and educating the public about these beautiful animals.

We took a trip from Greenville to come up here. Since it had pretty good reviews we thought it might be worth our time. They advertise pretty extensively about their sharks so thought our kids would love that. We paid our $21 (two adults, two kids) and walked in. I was kind of wondering where the exhibit was, thinking we were in the atrium or something. Well that was it. It was almost like walking through the fish aisle at your pet store. The sharks are in one tank on the floor and are about 12"-18" in length and about 3" wide. These nurse sharks just sit at the bottom of the tank. So we spent about 15 minutes there and went over to the kids museum down the street. It was the quickest I ever lost $20. I do understand they need money to pay for their store, but they need to be upfront with you on what this really is...

This aquarium was awesome! As many reviewers have noted, the space is not large. It's in downtown Hendersonville, right on Main St. You are not going to be seeing 20 foot sharks or giant fish or anything like that. However, you will see a wide variety of fish, rays, lobsters, crabs, salamanders, urchins, etc. and yes, several small sharks. They also have tortoises, lizards, and several kinds of water turtles. Most importantly, if you arrive around 1:00pm (12:30 on Saturday), you will get to see the staff feed all of the animals. They go around to each tank and feed each creature by hand. They also take some of the lizards and tortoises out of their habitats while they're feeding them, and they have a touch tank where you can feel horseshoe crabs, urchins, and starfish. The highlight of the trip was when one of the staff actually put on a snorkel and dived into the large tank to feed the sharks and rays. The sharks and rays came right up to the diver as she fed them. All of the staff, who range in age from middle school to college, are extremely knowledgeable and will answer any questions you have. Fun for all ages, especially if you get to see the animal feedings! You will not be disappointed! One final note: Street parking was very tight downtown. There is a municipal parking lot a few blocks away on N King St, but there aren't very many signs pointing to it. We drove in circles a couple of times before we found it.

Who would of thought there would be such a awesome aquarium hidden in the mountains! Lots of cool Turtles and Fish to see and a great staff ready to answer questions. My kids loved it. There is a touch and feel tank that you can hold a number of aquatic animals. Make sure to see the shark tank feeding.

Fairly cheap but small. Kids loved the hands on items. There was lot of helpful workers that helped teach about the fish and turtles.

The people that had this aquarium are so knowledgeable. What they are doing and what they are teaching people really is beyond reproach. We learned so much today and all of the people we talk to our volunteers. What a great place. Definitely worth the cost to go in and to support this worthy cause.

the most magical, wonderful, sea creatures who are lovingly cared for by the most knowledgeable, fun, and interesting folks! the entire experience was delightful. :-) best field trip EVER! i highly recommend. And in Hendersonville, of all places!

Alright, let's dive right in! I recently had the pleasure of visiting the Shark-Lab by Team ECCO in Hendersonville, NC. This place is a hidden gem, a treasure trove of marine biology education. The moment I stepped in, I was greeted by Brenda, the founder. Her passion for educating young people about marine biology is palpable and truly inspiring. The Shark-Lab is not just an aquarium, it's a place where curiosity is kindled and knowledge is shared. It's a place where you can feel the dedication and commitment to marine education. Brenda and her team are doing an incredible job of bringing the ocean to the mountains. So, if you're in the area, do yourself a favor and drop by. You'll leave with a greater appreciation for our oceans and the creatures that inhabit them. Don't forget to check out my photos of the Shark-Lab and share your thoughts!

this place sucks even when you try to have fun there is only like 20 animals you can see do not waste time trying to go to this place

This is one of my favorite places to take my children. We went ahead and got a membership so we can go as much as we want. I enjoy taking my children here because it gives them a chance to enjoy science and nature in a safe place. It keeps them away from the television, internet, etc. It is set up great for moms and dads to be able to watch their kids with ease. I am hesitant on where I take all three of my kids on my own. I want to always have a view of all three of them at once. Well this place is set up just so. Moms and dads can come here and relax and have a great view of the whole aquarium and their children's whereabouts. The lighting is dim, the music is relaxing, and there are plenty of seats to sit on while watching your children explore and learn. There are always plenty of volunteers available to answer questions and assist children with the touch tank and turtle exhibit. I always leave here feeling relaxed and happy that my children did something other than watch tv or play on an iPod or tablet. Brenda Ramer is doing an awesome job educating WNC on sea life. Her staff is awesome too!

Christy made this an amazing experience for my husband and I. We love nature and she had answers to ALL my questions she's very impressive. She even showed us animals and sea creatures that we overlooked very good and educated young lady.

I am giving two stars bc 7$ is pushing it for a small room of fish tanks, some turtles and a bearded dragon you can touch. There's not much there, and I didn't see one shark. If there's only 20 mins left there's no discount, that also applies if you have to use the bathroom--they don't have one so you have to go somewhere else, but no worries the place is so small you can take it in pretty quick. Probably better for small children. I would say this is less like an aquarium and more like a fish store without prices. I'm on a mission to visit ALL Aquariums but this one hardly qualifies.

Friendly and knowledgeable staff.. Got to watch feeding time event, to include the tortoises. To me well worth the entry fee!!

I will let the photos speak for themselves

Very friendly and the encourage the kids to touch

For a cute, boutique aquarium in the mountains, they have more than I expected to find. Team ECCO strives to share knowledge and research around bamboo sharks as well as fostering education in people of all ages! My daughter and I love staying up to date on all events and new things changing here, even though we live near Asheville.. she always wants to go to the aquarium in Hendersonville!

The aquariums were nice(: but I was severely disappointed in the reptile care. As someone who is studying herpetology the Leopard Gecko enclosure broke my heart. A gecko of any species should never be housed together. They are territorial animals who do not have the brain wiring to form bonds. Not only that but they were housed with a Crested Gecko. A species requiring 60-80% humidity as opposed to the Leopard Geckos 20-30%. The lack of under tank heating was also an issue. Leos do not bask and benefit the most from belly heat. The workers were very nice and seem very excited to learn more which i think would be beneficial to both them and the animals. I’d personally recommend a 24x18x18 exoterra vertical tank with coconut fiber bedding and foliage for the crested gecko. For the Leopards they would thrive in two separate 20 gallon long enclosures with coconut fiber/tile substrate, three hides(one being moist to aide shedding) and an under tank heater connected to a thermostat. Other than the poor gecko husbandry the aquarium was very cute. I hope you can take this and research on your own to see what would fit best for your little guys!

This was such a great place to visit! It is smaller than your average tourist aquarium, but none the less interesting! Tue shark/ray feeding was fun and informative. I got to hold and touch sea stars and urchins. I also got to pet and watch the feeding of tortoises and geckos. Everyone was so nice and answered my many questions. Lol I have to say, that Clyde the Crested gecko was my favorite! Would go back and would recommend!

We brought our two kids (8 and 11) to see the exhibits. Our 8 year old tapped on one of the tanks gently and my husband walked over to stop her. I understand it’s disruptive to the fish, but before we could even intervene, the owner/manager flew into an absolute rage and started screaming at her. It was a terrible experience and ruined our afternoon. I’d discourage anyone from bringing their kids to this place.

I am a student who wanted to learn about Marine Biology for a job assignment in class, this was the only aquarium I could find that was even a little close to me. What I got, however, was an experience I could only describe as excellent. While this place is a bit on the small side, the staff are welcoming, warm, and are clearly passionate about what they do. This place definitely deserves more attention than it gets and would recommend anyone looking for a short, but memorable experience to go here.

This place was wonderful and very welcoming. My nephew loves turtles/tortoises and was thoroughly entertained by everything the Aquarium had to offer!

The staff is very knowledgeable and very friendly. They will answer any question you have about the animals they have. If I own this place I would ask for donations instead of an entry fee. You are in and out unless you ask questions it's very small.

Such a great place! It is small but absolutely worth it. Get there at opening to see the feedings. They went around and fed all the larger tanks, they told us what type of tank, what animals were in there, what they were eating and facts about what animals were in those tanks. I love that they even named the animals, like pumpkin the pufferfish 🤣 The staff was so knowledgeable and friendly. We came from Greenville, SC to visit and will definitely be back 😀

Loved, loved, loved this place! From the African tortoises they were feeding outside to the many types of turtles and mini sharks and urchins the 2 lovely little ladies who let us pet them! Grant , our self appointed guide, gave us a wealth of information and. was so passionate about what he was doing there. Would highly recommend you stop there. They also had someone carving a pumpkin underwater in a tank!! Go there!

I would have never expected to find a little aquarium in Hendersonville!! Why this place is a smaller aquarium, it doesn't lack in animals, experts to answer questions, or experiences like touching tortoises, watching a shark feeding, or touching various shells n such. This was an awesome experience and needs more attention from people.

Cute little aquarium. Live feeding at about 1-115. Loved watching the owner feed the sharks and share information about each one.

Fantastic place for a field trip! My preschool had the best time. It was an engaging, educational, hands on learning experience that was fantastic. Ms. Brenda, the owner, is so knowledgeable and great with the kids. She kept their attention and we had a smooth flowing itinerary already created for us. Thank you so much! I would highly recommend!

This is the most precious place! It is small but incredibly worth the visit. We had the best time learning about sea animals and watching the tank feeds. Our three children really had the best time!

Consists of only one room but great little aquarium. Several helpers that could explain what an animal was and give interesting facts. Special stations like the touch tank were fun for my grandson.

Couldn't imagine a cooler place to visit downtown than the ocean in the mountains. Go visit the whole staff there and learn about everything they do! While the aquarium and shark lab are awesome, they do even more for our community. Thanks for what you do guys!

Single best museum, aquarium, “hands on” experience I have ever taken my kids (5 and 9) to in any city anywhere. Small but SO engaging, answering questions, touching/feeling, etc. Really great and do not miss with young curious kids.

Great quick experience. I was so excited to see an aquarium downtown in a small town, miles from the sea. As someone with a passion for conservation, I love that people are taking time to stop in and learn about the wonders of the ocean and the ways that we can help preserve it. The staff was friendly, there was a pretty good biodiversity considering the small size, and the large tank is pretty neat for such a small space. The animals seemed to be well cared for, the tanks were clean, and there was a lot of information displayed to take in. For anyone complaining about the size, this aquarium was only $5 for me to enter, which is a tiny fraction of what most aquariums cost. Worth a stop, especially if you have children.

We brought our son for his 1st birthday and again right after his 2nd. He loves all things aquatic and would stay all day if we let him - if we lived closer, I'm sure we'd be there every week!!! All staff and volunteers are so kind and patient, and Ms. BJ is very informative and willing to answer any questions - you can tell how much she loves all the life there and what she does. HIGHLY recommended and we will DEFINITELY be back very soon!!!

C L O S E D ! Sorry for 1 star 12/17/2020

The average pet store is much bigger than this place, but I truly enjoyed my visit. The fish tanks and other animal habitats are well maintained. I applaud the management, staff and volunteers.

This place was great for being in the mountains, these people leaving bad reviews, get a life. I have read studies that people who leave bad reviews for no reason other but to feel they have power have the lowest IQ.

To: Owner From: Carol Masters, Rocky Mount, NC Dear Sir, My husband and I have had Lionhead Orandas for 6-7 years, we relocated to Rocky Mount, NC about 3 years ago, lost our last Oranda about 6 months ago. We had each of them about 3-5 years. Losing them was as bad as losing any other loved pet, family member. With all that said, just to give you our background, do you have Lionhead Orandas, can you get them, medium to large? If not, could you point me in the right direction please? My fallback is Petsmart and that is SOOOOOO NOT going to happen. Thank you for your time and advice. Sincerely

Great place to have fun. Informative staff that does a great job of answering questions. Kid and adult friendly highly recommend.

Inexpensive and hands on. Not a big place but worth going.

A nice little aquarium, I was pleasantly surprised.

Nice little aquarium downtown! The interns and workers are super knowledgeable and make it an even better experience for the little ones or those interested 🤗👌

What an awesome place!! I live in Hendersonville, I’m just sad that I’m just now experiencing this great aquarium! My son is four and absolutely loved it! Everyone there is super knowledgeable and was happy to answer any questions.

Absolutely amazing place to learn and explore!! Much love from Michigan!!

Great place to visit, and doesn't take long. Right on Main Street, just down from Mast's. They have a wide variety of aquatic life and some specimens I haven't seen in much larger attractions. They are great people, and often have special events. You can keep up with them on their website or facebook page. Great place for kids and adults both.

Adorable, small and incredibly friendly staff. Spent about half an hour here and our two toddlers loved it.

My family had a great time! Awesome team of knowledgeable staff and volunteers and a very hands-on experience that will definitely keep us coming back

Wonder community resource and great for small children!

Staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Took my children hoping to have a good time. They really wanted to see sharks. They were pretty underwhelmed to say the least. The turtles were the best part.

Quant little place but basically just fish tanks one tank bigger then 20gal. around a room. People working knew very little about the fish they had. One shark in the whole place and it's very small. Took kids maybe 20 mins to see and touch everything.

Wonderful marine education and research center with passionate staff and volunteers!

Not worth $5. Very disappointing. No activities for children and nothing exciting to see. Don't go.

Small business. Has turtle panting

It is okay. I wish there was more things though.

The staff is knowledgeable, the sea life is interesting. Definitely worth a visit.

We had our sons 6th birthday party here and it was an awesome experience, the staff was great, everything was well planned by them we just needed to invite people and bring the food they took care of everything else. Highly recommended