Elasmobranch Abstracts
A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF SPOTTED EAGLE RAY PUPS Allison L. Corwin Disney's The Seas with Nemo and Friends Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
Spotted eagle rays (Aetobatus narinari) have been breeding successfully in aquariums for years. Disney's The Seas with Nemo and Friends® were fortunate enough to have success in January 2011 when our female spotted eagle ray gave birth to three male pups. Throughout the first year of their lives, we tracked the pups' food consumption and diet preference, analyzed their growth rates and body conditions, and documented medical challenges and interventions. Currently, we are establishing training plans and techniques. This presentation will highlight our journey raising spotted eagle ray pups and what we have learned thus far. |
WHITE-SPOTTED BAMBOO SHARKS, CHILOSCYLLIUM PLAGIOSUM: CLASPER REMOVAL AND HEMATOLOGY FINDINGS
Eric Carlson, Downtown Aquarium - Denver Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
Aggression among male White Spotted Bamboo sharks (Chiloscyllium plagiosum) has caused health problems at several public aquariums, including the Downtown Aquarium Denver. Several sharks at the Denver Aquarium have developed extensive clasper injuries as a result of this aggression between tank mates. These sharks, although apparently appetent, have decreased body conditions. In an effort to improve the general health of those sharks with no sign of recovery, the claspers were surgically removed. Preliminary findings showed that sharks with any evidence of clasper injury had a median white blood cell count (WBCC) of 37,730/uL. It was suspected that removing the claspers would reduce the WBCC as well as show clinical improvement with the sharks. This presentation will describe methods of surgically removing the affected claspers, the post-operative care, and post-operative complications. A brief description of performing the WBCC technique using the Natt-Herricks dilution and hemacytometer will also be presented as this has been an affordable yet invaluable diagnostic tool. The pre- and post-operative hematological data (WBCC and packed cell volumes) will be compared among males as well as to the data collected from the female sharks. Information concerning the improvement or deterioration of the sharks post-operatively will be shared and discussed. Hopefully, this information can help other aquariums with these types of health issues. |