Husbandry Techniques 1
​Abstracts

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VOLUNTARY TONIC IMMOBILITY WITH THE
BOWMOUTH GUITARFISH, RHINA ANCLYOSTOMA


Tim MacKay

​
Georgia Aquarium

Full Abstract
The Ocean Voyager habitat at the Georgia Aquarium is home to 1.2.0 critically endangered bowmouth guitarfish, Rhina anclyostoma. Over the course of several years, the Ocean Voyager team successfully station trained this species to offer a complete nutritional profile and visually monitor their physical health. As the animals matured, the team elevated their animal training program to better meet the needs of our female population and their offspring.
Utilizing the previous station training, the team approximated the animal to an inverted position to achieve a tonic immobility behavior for voluntary ventral presentation allowing for advanced diagnostics including ultrasound and morphometrics.With the introduction of a platform, aquarists were able to enhance control of the behavior and increase accessibility to the animal. Collaborative efforts with the Georgia Aquarium Veterinary team have allowed us to further our diagnostic efforts in parturition planning, as well as elevate our daily husbandry care of these individuals. This training continues as their husbandry needs evolve, furthering our support to this critically endangered species.
STRETCHER TRAINING OF 0.7 SOUTHERN STINGRAY (HYPANUS AMERICANUS)
POPULATION AT ST. LOUIS AQUARIUM AT UNION 145 STATION FOR IMPROVED ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

Hannah Roethemeyer
Abigale Stricker

St. Louis Aquarium
at Union Station
Full Abstract
Training is an important tool used to improve animal husbandry under human care. Training of voluntary behaviors allows animal care professionals to better meet an animal’s needs and reduce stress during husbandry activities. 0.7 southern stingrays (Hypanus americanus) residing within the Shark Canyon habitat at the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station were trained using operant conditioning techniques to enter a stretcher voluntarily. The goal was to improve the care of these animals by encouraging voluntary participation in husbandries, such as feeds and veterinary procedures. A precursor to this training was that this group of rays recognized a specific area of the habitat as their feeding station. The rays were first trained to enter a custom-built feeding ‘basket’ one at a time at this station. Once each ray consistently entered the basket without assistance (or with minimal guidance), the stretcher and stretcher cover were slowly introduced for desensitization. Over six months, this training resulted in the rays gaining the ability to station and feed within the basket, as well as being able to station in the stretcher and then be removed from the enclosure for veterinary checkups and other animal care needs.

Eradicating Acropora Red Bugs Using a Novel Application of the
Ingredient Milbemycin Oxime


​
Emily Calhoun
Shannon Kendrick


Butterfly House & Aquarium

Full Abstract
Red bugs (Tegastes acroporanus) infest many species of Acropora coral. These bugs eat the mucosal layer of corals, which suppresses their immune function leading to inhibited growth and discoloration of tissue. In an aquarium setting, especially closed systems, an infestation of red bugs can decimate a coral population if not appropriately managed.
The most common regimen has historically been administering various flea treatments for dogs and cats with the active ingredient Milbemycin Oxime (M.O.). In our research, we tested a novel treatment of M.O. in a propylene glycol solution, with the intention of testing it against the efficiency and cost of other, more traditional treatments. Our consulting vet worked directly with a compounding pharmacy in creating a liquid milbemycin oxime solution that was administered directly to the system water. We started with a low dose of 0.157% M.O. administered twice weekly for 8 weeks, and with subsequent treatments increased the amount and concentration of M.O. By the fourth round of treatment, with a 0.5% concentration of M.O, we saw a complete eradication of red bugs within 4 weeks on one species of Acropora.
Our results showed that our novel solution was successful in eradicating red bugs from A. yongei frags in 4 weeks, and other Acropora species in 8 weeks. Further research is needed, but with our data, we conclude that this method of treatment has the potential to be an affordable and viable option for treating corals infested with red bugs.
Husbandry of lesser devil rays (Mobula hypostoma) at the
St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station

Abigale Stricker
Hannah Roethemeyer

St. Louis Aquarium
at Union Station
Full Abstract
Lesser devil rays (Mobula hypostoma) are not often in managed care due to the specialization required to keep them healthy and thriving. Identifying a method that efficiently delivers enough food to the filter feeder as they grow to adulthood is a challenge in a large, multi- species exhibit. 1.3 lesser devil rays have been under care at the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station (SLAUS) since December of 2019. Since obtaining and following guidelines and suggested protocol from Dynasty Marine, we have transitioned from a bottle feed to broadcast feed that is more conducive with our exhibit design.
Several measures have been taken to ensure proper health for the rays. This includes disinfecting food containers between feeds, creating jump guards for the edge of the habitat, and creating and using beam covers for the back of house catwalk over the habitat. Veterinary exams are completed every three to six months to track the growth and health of each animal. While there is always more to learn, the protocols we have implemented thus far have resulted in successful care of our four lesser devil rays over the last 3 years.