Campona

We warmly welcome you along with my family and colleagues to this “Paradise on Earth”. Take a look in this beautiful oasis where every plant animal and habitat is there to serve your education and enjoyment. We believe that while admiring the wonders of nature we can also contribute to its preservation. We sincerely hope that your visit will be an unforgettable experience.

On the May 26, 2000, the largest aquarium in Central-Europe, 3000 m2, known as the Tropicarium-Oceanarium, opened in Budapest, Hungary. The wildlife to be seen there is so varied that it is fair to say that a visit to the Tropicarium equals a visit to the far and exotic places of the world.

The construction of the Tropicarium began in November 1999. It was completed in 6 months. Hundreds of tons of steel and concrete were used.

In the permanent exhibition area, there are eight halls in which the oceans and tropics come alive. The visitor can marvel at the free flying tropical birds, the tiny tropical monkeys, the alligators enjoy the tropical rains, the slow and lethargic tortoises and the thousands of tropical fish that inhabit the aquariums.

We are very proud that Budapest, a land-locked city can give its inhabitants and its visitors a taste of the oceans and the tropics.

Our primary aim is to bring nature and its beauty to be enjoyed by all. We strive that man should value his environment with all its wonderful creatures and this is our small contribution to the preservation of the species and their environment.

This Tropicarium differs from the ones elsewhere in the world in that it also shows the native fish. From the tiniest of fish to the largest specimens in lake and river environment, the visitors can see as they would be found in nature.

Anglers viewing in amazement.

The most extraordinary is the outdoor pool. When the surface of the outdoor pool freezes, we can still see the fish under the ice in a dormant state. The most interesting thing about the native fauna is that we can see those fish that regularly inhabit our waters but rarely seen in their natural environment and little is known about them. (Pike, Starlet, Bream, River Barb, Rudd, Rainbow trout)

These little monkeys are very clever and very skilful. If they wish to eat, they will take food out of your hands.

The little Marmoset monkeys are only 15-20 cm long, and they are the favorite animals of children. On the trees one can spot lazy Green Iguanas, that reminds you of the era of dinosaurs.

Not far from these, the visitor can see a wide variety of snakes. The best proof that almost ideal living conditions are provided in that in May 2001 the Tiger Pythons have hatched many baby pythons thereby increasing the population and enhancing the reputation of the Tropicarium. (Albino Tiger Python, Red Milksnake, Green Tree Python)

The free flying birds in the Tropicarium are so used to the crowd that they fly by at head height among the visitors.

The red-billed Tocos are so tame that they are willing to be fed from the hands. The colorful royal bright star is hatching its second brood. The Yellow-Blue Macaw pair may create cacophony if they feel like it. Their beak is so skilful that they can easily shell even the smallest of peanut.

The latest addition to the Tropicarium are extraordinary mayna birds who are able to imitate any sound perceived. (Red-billed Toco, Yellow-Blue Macaw, Royal Brightstar, Mayna bird)

One of the most interesting sights in the Tropicarium is the rain forest. The quarter-hourly downpour of tepid, tropical rain with lighting and thunder gives the visitor a real life view of the yet untouched, wild, rain forest with its stuffy, moist atmosphere.

At the slightest sign of danger or at feeding times, the otherwise peacefully resting alligators move extremely fast. Their teeth in their upper jaw are so situated that they protrude outside their lips and thus appear ferocious. The alligators of the Mississippi Delta have very good eyesnight and they regulary hunt at night for fish and marsh birds.

The Tropicarium has 5 alligators at about 2.4 m each. They are fed twice a week with their favorite fish. A couple of hundred Koi fish accompany the alligators during their daily swim. The Koi fish are gladly fed by the visiting children.

Perhaps it is necessary to show strange creatures in the insect house because many people are afraid of insects, especially spiders, even though they are not insects. Their fears are based on prejudice. If they look at the exhibited animals and carefully read the information boards, they look less frightened. The stick insect, the millipede and the giant cockroaches take our attention with their peculiar shape and motion. Here the visitor can see small lizards from South American and the Far Eastern rain forest but also here is the home for one of the largest land tortoise. Some interesting frog species can also be found here. One of the most dangerous is the poisoned Dart Frog known for their highly toxic poison that the native Indians use for their arrow tips (Spur-Thighed tortoise, Eyebrow Toad, Yellow-Black Poison Dart Frog, Red-Kneed Tarantula, Black Scorpion, Green Basilisc).

The freshwater aquaria present the already well-know hobby fish in their beautiful natural habitat where they swim in schools or stock their prey.

The fresh water aquaria show different biotopes with their specific flora an fauna: the big plant eating Piranha (Pacu) and the ferocious Red-Bellied Piranha, the elegant Discuss that feeds the fry with its body milk from South America; the mysterious mouth breeding cichlids from the African big lakes, Tanganyika, Malawi and Victoria; the giant guramis and and shark catfish from Asia.

Just as in nature, the aquaria are populated with fish from all water levels. Ground Dwellers can be recognized by flat bellies and inferior mouths. Mid-water dwellers have an end-standing mouth. Surface Dwellers have a flat back and superior mouth, which enables them to catch falling insects an even insects that fly above the surface. (South America: Turquoise Discus, Black Banded Headstander, Red Bellied Piranha) (Africa: Redfin Cichlid, Dolphin Cichlid, Yellow Cichlid).

In the shark aquarium there are five Sand Tiger Sharks and one Brown Shark. Our specially trained animal wardens are licensed divers who weekly visit the 4 m deep tank where the water is at 21-23 C. Once the divers are in the water, they feed the sharks individually with 12-15 kg sea fish and octopus. They are fed adequately twice a week but often during the night they catch an inmate fish for desert. The 11 meters long viewing tunnel is ideal to see the sharks swimming around and above you, followed by hundreds of tiny fish such as Triggerfishes, Sea Basses, Hump Head Wrasse and Sea Breams and many other colorful species.

The most colorful fish that can be seen in the Tropicarium originate from the Coral Reef. The most playful of these are the Clowfish. They constantly dart around the anemones in a jerking motion.

In this Tropicarium there is a wide variety of live corals, anemones, sea cucumbers, tube worms, shrimps, clams and other invertebrates and they all co-exist with the large number of colorful fish.

The Moray Eels may lie for days in their favorite place almost motionless, in empty amphoras or any other hiding place and we may only guess their size. The largest of these is around 1,5 m long. You can see the attractive Scorpion Fish around them but one must be careful with these, as their fins are poisonous (Giant Moray, Lionfish, Cleaning Shrimp).

The elegant Stingrays swim in the ray touch pool that holds 40,000 liters of salt water The pool was created in such a way so that visitors can enjoy the rays from above the water and under water through a small glass tunnel into which the children can climb and see the rays around them. Others stand by the side with their hands in the water up top their elbow and stroke the fish as they swim by. One of the favorite activities in the Tropicarium is the feeding of the Stingrays. Visitors at the time of feeding may take an active part in the feeding of the rays with mussels, crab, etc. In this pool you can also see the close relative of the Stingrays- the Guitarfish. Furthermore, this tank is used for raising school fish, like the Batfish.

There is a regular veterinary inspection of the animals and if necessary professional treatment is administered.

The menu consists of the best quality of vegetables, fruits, fish and other ingredients.

The volume of the water in the Tropicarium is about 2 million liters – fresh and salt water – which is filtered in three hours by gigantic pumps and filters. The water quality is constantly monitored with the aid of a modern computerized system.

The music, audio, light and rain effects are completely computerized.

The management of the Tropicarium aims to encourage children’s love for nature and therefore decided to start a zoological training program. The three-hour lecture tour of the Tropicarium led by a zoological specialist teacher introduces the animals in their habitat and peculiar habits to the children. One of the highlights of the three-hour tour is when the zoologist teacher announces that it is time to feed the animals and the children can take part in the actual feeding. After the tour a short nature film is shown and later the children can draw their favorite animals and take part in a playful exercise.

Playful and adventurous adults may take part in an adventure tour. In wild surroundings adventures and competition await the participants taking part in “TropiKaland” (TropiAdventure) unusual game. The animals living in the Tropicarium will help the contestants in their venture.

The pride of the Tropicarium is also its 100-120 seating capacity conference hall, which is suitable for diverse occasions, exhibitions, educational training and family celebrations. The conference hall is equipped with the latest technical innovations that enable the most sophisticated, special effects. The room is so situated in the Tropicarium that one of the walls is the window of the shark aquarium. People who are using the hall as a restaurant can enjoy the beauty and elegance of sharks swimming by while having an exquisite meal - a scene not to be forgotten.