Native marines and crustaceans abound here. Now we enter the Rocky shoreline gallery. I love the second display, which sees a two level vivarium, of water and land, that is home to Mudskippers (hence the need for land), Shark Catfish, Tigerfish and Scats. The first of these displays houses a large number of Red-eared Terrapins. The displays here begin with Creatures of the Swamp. Now we descend, via lift or stairs, to the lower galleries.

With Amazing amphibians 12 vivariums have a main focus upon Dart and Tree frogs. There are so many species and colour forms of species here that we would need a large space to list them all. The Mbuna display, with its above and below water escarpment, is a sight to behold. Among the residents here are huge Nile Perch (famous for their destructive activities in Lake Victoria), Short-nosed Clown Distichodus, a very boisterous Clarias and some wonderful, and very large, Giraffe Catfish. The first of two large displays is like a 'dream aquarium' for me. The third gallery is named Life in Lake Malawi. Take the time to watch the short documentary film that accompanies this display. Now no serious Public Aquarium would be without a Red-breasted Piranha display so these menacing fish, which have a shoal of Mexican Ameca splendens for company, end this particular gallery. To add to the effect authentic Amazonian jungle sounds are constantly played. The main aquarium is home to a stunning 2m-long Arapaima that has a shoal of Black Pacu, Redtail Catfish, Granulated Dora and Amazon Pictus Catfish for company. The various fish on show share their displays with all manner of Amazonian 'mini-monsters'. Now we move past an Axolotl display and into Exploring the Amazon. Northern Shores as viewed from the balcony View these aquariums from the balcony area and you will be amazed at how large the Barbel, European Chub, Xanthic Channel Catfish, Sturgeon and Golden Tench they house actually are. Here you will find 5 aquariums displaying fish from temperate freshwater. The first gallery is named Northern Streams. The wonderful displays are spread over an upper and lower floor. You enter the Blue Planet to begin an incredible journey that mirrors a drop of water travelling through fresh, brackish and marine environments. The Cheshire town of Ellesmere Port is famous for its Narrow Boat Museum, Cheshire Oaks shopping centre and as the home of the largest Public Aquarium in the U.K.

Blue planet sea life centre cheshire