Experiment Kits

Experiment Kits come with live specimens and supplies need to perform educational and fun labs. Kits come with main components need for experiments. Other equipment may be needed such as saltwater aquarium for housing of marine life. With proper care specimens can be kept and reused for future labs. If you are not familiar with the set up and care of a marine aquarium or have other questions about kits ask for advice when you call to place your order.


They are a sleek saltwater catfish that cleans up the bottom. Adult males carry and hatch the eggs in their mouths. Size 10-30 cm.

$22.50

Since there are no fresh water echinoderms, this is one of the most popular phylogenetic assortments, with collections of writhing brittlestars lashing their snaky arms, bristling sea urchins and burrowing sand dollars. Sea cucumbers, shaped as their name implies, tunnel through the sediments like earthworms taking up nutrients and starfish creep up the aquarium glass, wrapping their arms around tunicates, or chopped clams. Sand stars emerge from sand and “speed” along the bottom, on raised tubed feet when a bit of food is dropped in the tank. These assortments usually include two or three of every listing, and sometimes there are surprises such as sea biscuits and other echinoderms.

$135.00$270.00

Included are amphipods, isopods, barnacles, crabs, shrimp, hermit crabs, and horseshoe crabs.

$135.00$270.00

Includes colorful anemones from our tanks, hydroid, corals, gorgonians, sea pansies and if scyphozoan jellyfish are pulsating in our bay, they are included along with shimmering examples of the phylum Ctenophora.

$135.00$270.00

Includes an array of brightly colored sponges that can range from different shades of green, blue, pink or yellow. Species may include red beard, yellow ball, devil’s finger and crumb of bread sponge.

$135.00$270.00

  • Included are chitons, clams, mussels, whelks, snails, and nudibranchs. When abundant, scaphopods and/or frilled sea hares may be included.

$135.00$270.00

Create your own botanical gardens with our collection of semi-tropical macroscopic benthic marine algae. Phyla represented include Chlorophyta, Rhodophyta, Phaeophyta, and Cyanophyta.

$99.00$129.50

The greatest diversity of fish form and function is found among marine species. Here the flat fishes, flounders, hog chokers, tonguefish, represent the epitomy of depression, and eels are the most elongate. Blowfish inflate themselves, and pipefish, looking like blades of grass, are perfect in camouflage. While these examples are likely to turn up in our fish assortment, there is no predicting the diversity and variety that will be provided. It is always a pleasant surprise.

$135.00$216.50

Includes non-vertebrate chordates: solitary, colonial, and encrusting tunicates and amphioxus

$135.00$191.00

Colorful anemones from our tanks, hydroid, corals, gorgonians, sea pansies and if scyphozoan jellyfish are pulsating in our bay, they are included along with shimmering examples of the phylum Ctenophora.

$135.00$270.00

Arius felis

They are a sleek saltwater catfish that cleans up the bottom. Adult males carry and hatch the eggs in their mouths. Size 10-30 cm.

Each Dozzen small ---123

Each Dozzen small ---123

Each Dozzen small ---123

Each Dozzen small ---123

$22.50

Hardhead sea catfish (Arius felis)

Spheroides nephelus

A drab smooth-skinned fish that will inflate itself into a tight, buoyant, impregnable ball when handled. Size: 10-14 cm.

$25.50

Southern puffer (Spheroides nephelus)

Lactophrys tricornis

It has a fused armor giving it a hard-shelled, triangular un-fishlike body. Colorful blue, green and yellow fish with two prominent horns over its eyes.

$25.50

A cowfish (Lactophrys tricornis)

Balistes capriscus

Known mostly for their sharp “triggered” dorsal spine, these territorial grey triggerfish are a sight to see both locally in the Gulf of Mexico and ranging throughout the western Atlantic Ocean.

$80.50

Grey triggerfish (Balistes capriscus) at Gulf Specimen Marine Lab and Aquarium.

Monacanthus hispidus

Their names come from their sandpapery skin, fishermen once used their hides to strike matches. Their dorsal spine has a trigger-like mechanism that makes it spring erect when they are threatened. Size: 4-8 cm.

$13.00$17.00

Gobiesox strumosus

Small fish shaped like a skillet; with a broad head and narrow body. The pelvic fins are actually a large, broad suction disc. Clingfish are usually found hiding in or on the shells around oyster bars and seagrass beds. Size: 4-6 cm.

$24.50

Clingfish or skilletfish (Gobiesox strumosus)

Symphurus plagiusa

Small, flat, left-eyed fishes that taper to a point — “tongue-shaped” — hence the name. They are bottom-dwelling fish, common in the muddy bottoms of bays and estuaries feeding on small crustaceans and polychaete worms. Size 6-12 cm.

$20.00

Trinectes maculatus

This flatfish stays buried and looks like a baby flounder but seldom grows larger than six inches. Probably named from the days when hogs roamed the beaches and gobbled up fish as fast as seine fishermen dragged their catches up on the beaches. The scales, which make the fish stick to the deck, also could lodge in a hog’s throat. Very hardy and vigorous. Size: 6-12 cm.

$22.50

Hogchoker (Trinectes maculatus)

Paralichthys oblongus

Unlike the common gulf flounders, these flatfishes have four large, dark and round spots on their bodies.

$22.50

Four-spotted flounder (Paralichthys oblongus)

Paralichthys albigutta

Flounders belong to the group of fishes known as “flat fishes.” Their most unique feature is the placement of their eyes. As the young larvae develop, one eye migrates across the head toward the other. Depending on the species, flounders and other flatfishes are “right-eyed” or “left-eyed.” Lying flat on the sea bottom, flounders are masters of camouflage, changing their coloration to blend in with the substrate; hiding from predators or aggressively ambushing small fishes and crustaceans with their mighty tooth-studded jaws.

$21.50$34.50

Mugil cephalus.

Often seen jumping out of the water, mullet are the cows of the fish world, and are the main food fish of the northern Gulf Coast. They browse along the bottom, feeding on algae and tiny creatures that live in mud.

$22.50

Serranus subligarius

The smallest of the Sea Basses they are 5 inches long at maximum, but mature at 2 inches. Common in warm Atlantic and Caribbean waters to depths of 60 feet. Found around rocky jetties and over sand flats. Their common name comes from the large white patch on their belly. Size: 3-6 cm.

$31.50

Belted sandfish (Serranus subligarius)

Chasmodes saburrae and other species

A large group of small, fish (2-4 inches), common along the shells of oyster bars. Also found on shallow flats and seagrass beds. Females lay hundreds of tiny golden colored eggs in empty shells, which the males aggressively guard. Size: 3-8 cm.

$17.00

Feather blennie (Hypsoblennius henzi)

Halichoeres bivittatus

Has beautiful green coloration. Will bury itself in the sand substrate to hide. Size 6-10cm.

$17.50

Green wrasse (Halichoeres bivittatus) at Gulf Specimen Marine Lab in Panacea, FL.

Prionotus scitulus, P. tribulus

Swims along the sand bottoms with its wing-like pectoral fins expanded. The modified ventral fins act like fingers, feeling the bottom for prey. Size: 6-12 cm.

$25.50

Bighead searobin (Prionotus tribulus)

Scorpaena brasiliensis

Red, orange, and brown, they blend into the sea bottom, and ambush passing shrimp. Although bristling with poisonous spines, they are a popular aquarium specimen.

$29.00

A scorpionfish (Scorpaena brasiliensis)

Chaetodipterus faber

Common to Florida and Caribbean water, schools of spadefish are frequently seen nibbling on jellyfish, hydroids, and feeding on small crabs and shrimp when the fish matures.

$45.00$56.50

Atlantic spadefish (Chaetodipterus faber)

Diplodus holbrookii

Less common than the regular pinfish but still very common. Found in coastal grass beds. Size 6 to 12 cm

$14.00

Lagodon rhomboides

3 inches to 6 inches, a very common aggressive fish available throughout the year. Hardy species that does well in aquariums.

$14.00

Lagodon rhomboides

Sponges are a colony of single celled organisms living in one body together. This experiment helps to illustrate for students characteristics of sponges. Separate sponge cells from their spicules, watch them form clumps and over time start to grow into a new sponge! This Kit Includes:
  • 3 Collections of Sponge (2 species)
  • Cheese Cloth for Separating Cells
  • 3 Petri Dishes
  • Experiment Instruction Booklet

$90.00

  • 12 Sea Urchins (whichever species is fertile)
  • 1 Vial of Potassium Chloride (enough for 12 urchins)
  • 1 Syringe
  • 3 Petri Dishes
  • Experiment Instruction Booklet

$175.50

  • 24 Sea Urchins (whichever species is fertile)
  • 2 Vials of Potassium Chloride (enough for 24 urchins)
  • 1 Syringe
  • 6 Petri Dishes
  • Experiment Instruction Booklet

$317.50

  • 36 Sea Urchins (whichever species is fertile)
  • 3 Vials of Potassium Chloride (enough for 36 urchins)
  • 1 Syringe
  • 9 Petri Dishes
  • Experiment Instruction Booklet

$458.50

  • 48 Sea Urchins (whichever species is fertile)
  • 4 Vial of Potassium Chloride (enough for 48 urchins)
  • 1 Syringe
  • 12 Petri Dishes
  • Experiment Instruction Booklet

$600.50

Observe comb jellies from the phylum Ctenophora, Parchment worms and soft coral sea pansies as they flash with bioluminescence when disturbed. Teach students about the mechanisms behind bioluminescence and different species throughout nature that display this amazing characteristic. Use a mini black light to show fluorescence in lapshell species and baby horseshoe crabs. This exciting kit will not fail to hold your students attention! This Kit Includes:
  • 4 Specimens for Bioluminescence (depending on species available)
  • 4 Specimens for Fluorescence (depending on species available)
  • Mini Black light for Fluorescence Observations
  • 3 Petri Dishes
  • Experiment Instruction Booklet

$209.00