Keeping live animals is useful for many purposes. Firstly, visitors can observe exotic and local living creatures up close in environments designed to be lifelike. While getting to know their behavior and needs, at the same time we realize the importance of protecting them. In addition, an essential function is the preservation and successful breeding of species whose continued survival in the wilderness is not guaranteed.

The diverse underwater world of the Aquarium includes creatures ranging from the graceful to the bizarre. Each tank forms a living ecosystem that is a faithful reproduction of the creatures’ natural habitats. This aquarium thus stands out for its lifelike quality and animal interactions that occur just as they do in nature.

The 38 display tanks, the largest of which is nearly 60,000 liters, is home to animals from tropical coral reefs, the Mediterranean, waters from Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia, and last but not least, local rivers and lakes. The aquarium is a place of observation that will captivate you with its incredible beauty, diversity, and the extraordinary behaviors of its inhabitants.

The reptile and amphibian zoo is open again!

The reptile zoo in the Haus der Natur was opened in 1982 and was one of the most modern and advanced live animal departments in Europe at the time. 40 years later, it was in need of urgent and comprehensive modernisation. The renovation was started on 7 November 2022 and is was opened again on March 28, 2025.

New habitat terrariums are currently being built in the new, enlarged area of the future reptile and amphibian zoo. The large-scale terrariums recreate the tropics of Africa and Asia, savannahs, the deserts of Africa and America and native habitats. Different species, which also live together in the wild, form a community in the terrariums. By enlarging the live animal section, it has become possible to dedicate an entire room to the native herpetofauna, i.e. the amphibians and reptiles that live here. The Haus der Natur is thus placing a further important focus on native biodiversity and species conservation.

The husbandry conditions in the new terrariums have also been optimised. Each terrarium has an individual ventilation, heating, lighting and humidification system, which enables the animal keepers to cater to the different preferences of the animals. The safety of the staff is guaranteed by state-of-the-art technology and a clearly organised design. The design of the terrariums also takes into account the needs of the visitors. For example, the animals are attracted to clearly visible observation points by means of areas in the terrariums that can be specifically temperature-controlled (e.g. certain groups of stones to be warmed) in order to make it easier to observe the animals in the large terrariums.

A tour of the reptile and amphibian zoo provides a combination of exhibition space and live animal presentation to convey everything worth knowing about the animal groups on display.