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COLUMBIA (WACH)—Sometimes, when you take a group of seemingly related things you like, in your head, it makes sense to mix them all together for a fantastic outcome.  Take for example, peanut butter and jelly, or mustard on a hotdog.  Sometimes however, when actually played out, the concoctions aren’t as dynamite as you originally envisioned.

Let’s start with some basic rules. I love animals. I love the zoo. I am freaked out by mean looking sea creatures.  All that having been said, we set out to meet some pariah up close and personal in the Aquatic-Reptile Complex (ARC) at the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden.

Upon meeting with Aquarist Beth Berry we learned about many of the sea creatures that live in the 55 thousand gallon main tank, including salt water stingrays, black tipped sharks, and many more.  From there, it was onto the freshwater tanks I would be taking a plunge in.  The first was a tank that had about 10 different kinds of not to friendly looking residents, including a freshwater stingray,ripsaw catfish, which had big mean look teeth, and an arrowana.  The obvious question, of course, was about  Crocodile Steve.  According to Beth, stingrays “generally don’t want to have anything to do with people,” going on to say that what happened to Steve Irwin was a “freak accident.”  They only hurt people is when stepped on or surprised.

Mustering up more guts than I knew I had, I took a deep breath and gave the stingray a pat.  He looked at me, and kind of like my dog, Bailey, I think smiled a little.  Armed with this moxie, it was time to take the big leap of faith…The piranha tank.

Beth said that unlike Hollywood’s portrayal, they are not as aggressive as people might think.  She explained that videos that show piranha devouring animals are often examples of the fish feeding on a sick or injured animal, and don’t typically go after animals that are active or healthy.  “You’ll be fine, I promise.”

Another deep breath, and the fish and I spent some time together.  Their teeth were larger than I expected, although, in retrospect, it could have been the goggles I was wearing, or the realization I was in their world, kind of like when you meet your girlfriend’s dad for the first time and he appears 7 feet tall.  As promised, they schooled together, and paid me little attention, which was perfectly fine with me.

In the end, the water left a weird taste in my mouth, but the experience of touching a stingray and seeing piranha up close and personal is a travel I won’t soon forget.  The Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is home to over 2000 different types of wildlife, including all the fish that reside in the ARC, along with the lions, tigers, bears, and kangaroos, and is certainly worth your own traveling adventure.  Even thought you may not get in and swim, trust me, the 3 inch glass that separates you from some of these creatures is quite close enough!