Underwater worlds in the Natural History Museum

Feeding time in the aquarium: the blacktip reef shark receives its daily portion of calamari. All around it is teeming with small fish that want to snatch the shark's food. With his catch in his mouth, the shark swims away and the many fish follow. "In case he loses something," smiles Johann Kirchhauser, Head of Department at the Karlsruhe Vivarium in the Natural History Museum. 

Sharks at the Natural History Museum Karlsruhe

But why doesn't the shark eat the fish swimming around it in the aquarium? It's simple: the healthy fish are too agile for the shark. They also notice exactly when the shark is hungry and goes hunting. Depending on the mood of the blacktip reef shark, they keep a certain safe distance - or not. "In nature, sharks are the health police. They normally only eat sick and decrepit fish," explains Kirchhauser.

Johann Kirchhauser has turned his hobby into a profession. He could stand in front of a single aquarium for hours, with information, stories and anecdotes about the animals and everyday museum life.

Germany's largest living coral reef

When the visitors make their way home with many new impressions, Johann Kirchhauser's working day is far from over: the aquariums have to be inspected and cleaned. "However, my wife has forbidden me to dive in the shark aquarium when no one else is there," he admits. Because he wouldn't shy away from that himself.

Kirchhauser has a degree in biology and has to draw on his vast knowledge on a daily basis, as the Vivarium is home to Germany's largest living coral reef, among other things. "We have bred almost all of the living corals ourselves," says Kirchhauser. This requires special conditions: "We have very high water quality here, much better than what the drinking water regulations allow for humans. A lot of light is just as important and the rest of the secret lies in the current and loving care of the corals." Johann Kirchhauser is personally responsible for this and it is the challenge of his life, as he admits with a smile. 

Vivarium Karlsruhe: Breeding and holding facility for marine animals

But the other creatures in the vivarium are also close to the biologist's heart. He has even named some of the animals after his own children. The octopus, for example, is called "Vinci", named after his son Vincent.

In addition to the "regular staff", the Vivarium also regularly takes in animals from private individuals or dealers, such as the reticulated moray eel Maurice. "A pet shop owner gave him to us as a gift because he had eaten all his fish," explains Kirchhauser. However, Maurice has found his place in the Karlsruhe vivarium. However, he is not yet fully grown, as reticulated moray eels can grow up to two meters long. The constantly changing animal population and the rapid growth from baby to adult require the aquariums, paludariums and terrariums to be constantly rearranged. For visitors, this naturally has the advantage that they can see and experience something new every time.

The special feature: combination of live animals and museum elements

Part of the success story of the Natural History Museum is the unique combination of museum elements with live animals. The permanent exhibition covers an area of over 5,000m2 and provides insights into native and exotic animals in lifelike habitats. On the first floor there are dioramas of native animal species as well as fossil finds from South Baden. In the atrium on the upper floor, visitors can look forward to excellently preserved fossils that are around 140 million years old and the exhibitions "World of Insects", "African Habitats" and "Native Nature". Visitors can also look forward to exciting and changing special exhibitions!

All information about the exhibition, new special exhibitions and the livestream into the coral tank here: