Animal health at Mystic Aquarium starts with the highest quality care provided daily to each of the thousands of animals in our habitats. At the heart of our animal care operations are our veterinarians, who are board certified specialists in Zoological Medicine, the Wiederhold Foundation Veterinary and Animal Health Center, the Milne Ocean Science and Conservation Center.

Environmental Quality Laboratory & Life Support Systems

Environmental quality for every animal habitat at Mystic Aquarium is meticulously monitored to ensure it is optimal. We ensure every drop of the 1.9 million gallons of water that support the animals at the Aquarium is of the highest quality and purity! Our water quality laboratory technicians analyze over 25,000 water samples annually! The Aquarium’s water quality laboratory is certified by the Connecticut Department of Public Health for the testing of non-potable water. 

The equipment used to keep the water pristine is called the Life Support System (LSS). Water in all our habitats constantly cycles through the LSS, where particles, waste, and any impurities are removed. It takes a large team of skilled professionals certified as Aquatic Animal Life Support Operators to operate and maintain this equipment.

Mystic Aquarium is dedicated to all aspects of animal health, which includes training the next generation of aquatic animal medicine specialists through our Veterinary Internship and Externship programs.