national fish hatchery & aquarium

I have been coming here for years but lately there are more exhibits in the tanks than fish. I love that the kids have a place in natchitoches to go but wish they would have more to look at.

According to the hours this was supposed to be open, but it was closed up on Friday afternoon. It wasn't a far drive, so not a big deal. I would suggest calling ahead.Happy travels!

Go kill some time, look at fishes. Sure it's small, but it's free. And since it's small, it won't take much of your time. Go on, go look at the fishes for free - you know you want to!(PS - You can leave a donation in the box - I bet they'd be glad for it!)

Unlike others we've read, we enjoyed the "small" aquarium and the great trees outside. Unfortunately, the hatchery itself was closed to the public.

The inside aquarium was pretty neat, also rather small. The fish ponds outside were dried up due to prolonged drought. If you were driving by with kids, Id stop to let everybody stretch their legs and use the bathroom, just not sure Id go out of my way to check it out. If youre nearby and have any interest in fish its worth the few minutes it takes to see it.

I'm a sucker for aquariums, I really like them and the calm of watching pretty fish swim around. When I visited this aquarium, the fish hatchery wasn't open for tours, I guess that it is open seasonally, and with special hours to ensure someone is there to watch over and explain the ponds and process. The aquarium is in a smallish building with a horseshoe drive, it has a pretty active electric eel, tilapia (which I'd never seen whole and alive), and tanks of local specimens too. This is far, far from being the Shedd, so don't get your expectations too high, instead enjoy it for what it is. They also housed some amphibians and misfit reptiles. I like to go once a year, just because it's free and neat, but it is also a pleasant way to spend a half an hour to an hour doing something different. I bet the kids think its really neat!