New aquarium and reptile den opens in Scranton

SCRANTON — Take a moment and close your eyes. Imagine being in the deep surrounded by different species of fish, sharks, stingrays, octopus and other sea creatures. How does that make you feel? Are you excited? Scared?
So many facets of aquatic life are beautiful to some and terrifying to others. Often, people base their thoughts on what they see in movies and on television. The new Electric City Aquarium and Reptile Den in Scranton, which opened on Sept. 20 at the Marketplace at Steamtown, will allow you to see these creatures in real life.
If you think High Definition is awesome, you’ll be astounded by the vibrant colors of the various species of fish swimming in crystal blue waters. You’ll be able to feel and feed stingrays and see how they interact. As the sharks swim by, you’ll be able to appreciate their immense power, but come to know the important role they play in the ocean. To many, the octopus is one of the most interesting creatures in the sea. They are highly intelligent, can camouflage and defend themselves from predators better than most, and can crawl or swim.
Reptile denThings that crawl and slither often cause people to squirm. But a visit to the Reptile Den, where you will meet Brutus the Monitor and Bella the Boa, will show you their vitality in natural habitats. Scaly, cold-blooded reptiles are actually very cool to learn about.
Reptiles are usually egg-laying vertebrates and are often threatened by this very fact. Loss of habitat and predation of their eggs are two main factors for the decline in the reptile population.
While visiting, you’ll see reptiles of all sizes including tortoise, tarantula, crocodile and pacman frogs. On your tour, experts will share fun-filled facts, help identify the similarities and differences of each species, and what makes reptiles so unique.
Hours and passesThe aquarium and reptile den are open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The cost is as follows:
Adults, $18.95
Students, $16.95
Children (ages 2-12), $15.95
Senior citizens (65 and up), $16.95
Military and police, $16.95
Annual passes and group rates are also available.
The address is 300 Lackawanna Ave., Scranton, Pa
For more information visit electriccityaquarium.com.
Scranton Fringe FestivalThe Scranton Fringe Festival, from Sept. 11 to 30, offers more than 125 performances at 13 venues in downtown Scranton. This performing arts celebration showcases original theater, international dramas, music, stand-up comedy, children's programming, dance performances, site-specific work and more.
For more information visit scrantonfringe.org.