Whistleblowers Allege Suffering, Neglect, and Multiple Deaths at SeaQuest Fort Worth

Three former employees of the notorious mall aquarium known as SeaQuest Fort Worth in Texas contacted PETA alleging that the facility’s egregious neglect had led to the suffering and deaths of dozens of animals. These whistleblowers documented the following abuse:

Nurse sharks likely starved to death.

The whistleblowers reported the deaths of two nurse sharks, named Icarus and Achilles, who had likely starved to death as a result of extreme stress from being confined to a small, cramped tank with 10 other animals.

When the former employees noticed that Icarus and Achilles had stopped eating normally, SeaQuest allegedly dismissed their concerns and failed to address the issue. One remaining nurse shark, Zeus, is still reportedly suffering in the tank.

Marine animals died in trash bags.

Dozens of marine animals reportedly died in plastic bags, likely suffocating to death during transport to SeaQuest Fort Worth from the now-closed SeaQuest Littleton location in Colorado.

One whistleblower said, “The fish were shipped in black trash bags or other coolers. There was no effort made to ensure the fish were shipped within the right parameters for the species. No heat packs were provided. Water temperatures were as high as 62 degrees and as low as 54 degrees in bags for tropical warm water species, which is unheard of. Three (3) grey smooth hound sharks shipped in black trash bags died. The bags were so small their bodies were curved. Very little water was put in each bag. They all suffocated to death. All the rays were shipped in black trash bags and all but two (2) died. About fifty (50) other fish were shipped and all but eight (8) died.”

Koi were left in a toxic tank for hours.

Several koi endured likely excruciating deaths from being left in a tank with toxic levels of ammonia for at least four hours. According to the whistleblowers, a filtration pump failure caused an ammonia spike in the tank, making it difficult for the fish to breathe and leaving some with ammonia burns. The whistleblowers alleged that a supervisor had failed to approve moving the fish from the tank immediately, resulting in prolonged suffering.

Gourami died in a cold tank.

SeaQuest allegedly instructed one whistleblower to put several gourami in a tank that was too cold for their natural temperature requirements. The fish reportedly developed a fungus, and several died.

SeaQuest refused to address a blacktip reef shark with a curved spine.

A blacktip reef shark named Zelco developed a curved spine, likely as a result of being kept in an inadequate tank. The condition has gotten significantly worse over the past several months, to the point where she reportedly struggles to swim. The whistleblowers allegedly asked a supervisor whether SeaQuest would find a new home for Zelco, but no action was taken.

Fort Worth Animal Control Refuses to Act

When PETA contacted Fort Worth Animal Care & Control with the whistleblowers’ reports, the agency dismissed our case with lousy excuses—but we won’t let this go. We sent a complaint to Tarrant County District Attorney Phil Sorrells requesting an investigation and cruelty charges against SeaQuest Fort Worth.

SeaQuest Fort Worth Has Always Been a Pit of Suffering

These new whistleblower reports are just the tip of the iceberg. SeaQuest Fort Worth has been cited numerous times over animal deaths, filthy enclosures, injuries to the public, and more. The only way to prevent animals from dying at this hellhole is to shut it down.

Help Animals Trapped at SeaQuest Fort Worth and Other Locations

Animals don’t want to be put on display for human amusement. Additionally, SeaQuest has repeatedly shown that it’s incapable of providing adequate care to animals.

You can take action by telling the company to stop exploiting animals and send them to reputable facilities: