Husbandry Techniques 2 Abstracts

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Thrash of the Titans: Stretcher Training Arapaima gigas

Evan Kinn,
John G. Shedd Aquarium
Full Abstract
Back in 2019, the question was posed: “How can we move three 6-foot long Arapaima gigas out of a 16,500-gallon exhibit?” The best place to start was with stretcher training using a 121 Animal Handling Flexible Shark Sling. However, these animals had never before had any type of training.
I began to station train all three arapaima by offering food only when they came up to a certain spot. They picked up on the station quickly, so I introduced a target, which two of the three took to immediately. At this point I decided to bring in a second person to help with training sessions, separating them into groups – the two that followed a target, the one that didn’t. Once this was accomplished, the stretcher was introduced.
The stretcher was largely met with hesitation, but after several months of training, I had success and got one of them to regularly swim into the it! However, multiple instances of the arapaima panicking while in the stretcher caused them to lose all of their momentum.
Then the pandemic hit, forcing us to take a step back in the stretcher training due to staffing. I reassessed our strategy, had one trainer per arapaima, and introduced a light as a “bridge” during training, all without the stretcher. I redesigned the stretcher and have been working at getting one of them to swim into the stretcher, with the plan to slowly work on getting them comfortable enough to lift them safely out of the exhibit.
Stickin’ It to the Sturgeon: Training for Diver Safety and Animal Welfare

Briana Schmidt,
Wonders of Wildlife
Full Abstract
Being both primitive and endangered, sturgeon of all species have long been a popular choice for freshwater exhibit displays. An often large bodied animal that is not known for its shyness around human divers, this leads to concerns of safety during routine maintenance as well as questioning what is the best method to administer nutrition and supplementation on the individual level. The industry’s rotation of primary care takers turns old training plans into over conditioning and a new approach must be developed to attain appropriate behavioral goals.
At Wonders of Wildlife (WOW), a training plan was implemented in our 100,000-gallon native community exhibit. The species involved with the training are White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) and Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens). Two divers enter the exhibit with a long PVC Tee, soft pouch, and an aqua maraca (audible bridge). This method uses operant conditioning as well as synchronized teamwork to ensure diver safety while not compromising animal welfare and providing appropriate enrichment. Animals are gently diverted from performing previous unwanted behaviors and are rewarded at the execution of safe practices. The result of this operant style training has led to less frenzied animals, correctly managed nutrient intake, and a routine enrichment program.
Culture of the Flower Hat Jelly (2020)

Matt Wade,
Mote Marine Lab & Aquarium
Full Abstract
The flower hat jelly, Olindias formosus (Hydrozoa: Olindiidae), is a popular display species in public aquariums. Advancements in reproducing this species are highly sought after due to limited availability of wild specimens and limited culturing success. At the National Aquarium, several colonies of O. formosus hydroids were successfully settled in static bins at 16-24°C 4 weeks post-in vitro fertilization. Optimal temperature for hydroid growth was found to be 24°C, and medusae development was induced at 16°C. Initial attempts at rearing newly liberated medusae in flow-through bins on a diet of Artemia nauplii and rotifers yielded behaviors of food capture and active rejection of food. Observation of a novel luring behavior led to the realization that larval fish are a key food source for this species. Newly liberated medusa were housed in flow-through bins and fed larval fish from a 500,000 gallon Caribbean exhibit. As the medusa grew, larger fish were introduced to their diet increasing their growth exponentially. Using these techniques National Aquarium was able to complete the life cycle of O. formosus for the first time in captivity.
Culturing Live Americamysis bahia in an Existing System:
Saving Money One Shrimp at a Time

Morgan Lindemayer,
New England Aquarium
Full Abstract
Mysid shrimp, Americamysis bahia, are small crustaceans used in the aquarium industry as a specialized food item for sea dragons, seahorses, pipefish and cephalopods. They provide a high protein diet that has led to increased growth rates in several aquaculture species. Many institutions dedicate financial resources to ordering live mysids to support high maintenance and specialized species. The New England Aquarium has directed this expense into trialing and developing an in-house culture using a low-cost, low-maintenance, small foot print design utilizing an existing system. This culture will serve to put money back into the aquarium and increase our sustainability. Controlling the culture conditions of our live foods gives us more control over what we are adding to our tanks and feeding our fishes, leading to a more successful and viable collection.
Something to shellibrate:
refining husbandry for successful springsnail propagation
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​Whitney Heuring,
Phoenix Zoo
Full Abstract
Hydrobiid snails are very small, gill-breathing mollusks inhabiting freshwater seeps, streams, and springs. Twelve species of Hydrobiid springsnails in the genus Pyrgulopsis are native to Arizona, with all considered Species of Greatest Conservation Need. At the Arizona Center for Nature Conservation/ Phoenix Zoo (ACNC), we work in partnership with Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to establish ex situ conservation programs. The goal of these programs is to successfully create breeding populations of springsnails that will produce offspring for future augmentation and repatriation of wild sites. We have housed four different Pyrgulopsis species since 2008, including one endangered and one threatened species under the ESA. Over the years we have refined tank design, life support, and water chemistry to improve our husbandry, which has led to increased reproductive success. Recently, we have successfully reproduced Huachuca springsnails (P. thompsoni) and observed emergence of juveniles year-round. In this species, we have also observed exponential population growth, temporal activity patterns, and habitat preferences. We aim to apply the knowledge gained from our success with P. thompsoni to the recently acquired, threatened San Bernardino springsnail (P. bernardina), which is known to exist at a single spring in the U.S and two sites in Mexico.

​Nurse Sharks Anyone? D.I.Y. Long Distance Shark Transport

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Chris Spaulding,
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
Full Abstract
The transportation of sharks across multiple states in excess of 2300 miles is not groundbreaking. However, executing the coordination, fabrication, and transportation itself completely from within an organization can be a significant and sometimes impossible undertaking for many facilities. In the fall of 2021, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium completed a sixty hour transport of six adult nurse sharks across six states, all supported by in- house efforts and expertise. Information regarding the construction of transport containers out of plywood, coordination of mobilization logistics, including emergency support from aquarium colleagues, and remote water quality monitoring will be among the items discussed. Not to mention, in the midst of a global pandemic, why would anyone do such a thing, and who in the world would be willing to take one, no six, for the team? All that and more will be discussed in an effort to share knowledge, lessons learned, and a good old fashioned shark transport story for the industry archives.
Growth and Feeding strategies in the husbandry of Mola mola​

Ana Ferreira,
Oceanario de Lisboa
Full Abstract
The Ocean sunfish (Mola mola) is an enigmatic species, with many aspects of its biology and life cycle still requiring further investigation and understanding. Its nutritional requirements are a central topic of interest, as feeding strategies are key to ensure good husbandry practices. Fine tuning their diet regime should promote captive specimens’ overall condition and growth. There are different management methods being applied from various institutions over the world and while some maintain a consistent percent BW per day ration, others apply an adjusted percentage according to the animal’s development. Across institutions, BW percentages offered daily, vary from 5- 6% at early stages to less than 1% for over 100Kg animals, distributed in one to six meals per day. Combining data from wild sunfish diet research and food consumption rates collected from captive animals we present key factors to define a feeding regime specific for this species. Institutions must not assume that one rule fits it all as there are important factors to consider. Aquarium systems, rearing parameters, animal’s condition, and metabolism also impact the feeding regime and thus, must be evaluated continuously to apply the best practices to enhance longevity of these spectacular animals on display.
Culture and Display of the Ctenophore Beroe cucumis

Josh Wagner,
Aquarium of the Pacific
Full Abstract
With approximately 200 described species of ctenophores, representation at public aquariums in the United States is usually contained to one or two species. With their light reflecting comb rows and alien like bodies, ctenophores make for dramatic jelly displays. Ctenophores from the genus Beroe are particularly fascinating specimens. With a large mouth and ovoid shape, they look like nothing else normally displayed as a “jelly”. Due to their specialized diet of other ctenophores, they are a challenging species to work with and not very common. The species Beroe cucumis has a global distribution and specializes on cydippid and lobate ctenophores as prey. Using cultured Mnemiopsis leidyi as a food source, the Aquarium of the Pacific has been able to learn techniques for the successful culture and display of this species.