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Buffing Your Way to a Better pH

Charlene Burns

Disney’s Animals
Science & Environment

Full Abstract

Tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222) is the most widely used anesthetic for fish and the only one FDA approved. While Tricaine is highly desirable due to its solubility in water, it does create an acidic aqueous setting in both fresh and saltwater environments. For this reason, a buffer is recommended to increase the pH to be consistent with an animal’s environment. Due to availability, aquariums have traditionally used sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) to aid in the correction of water pH. But is there a better choice?
Sodium bicarbonate has been the preferred choice for buffering tricaine since its development. This buffer is used at a 2:1 ratio with tricaine to increase the pH of the anesthetic water but it often has its limitations. Due to its chemical formulation, bicarbonate can only buffer to a certain point and may not reach the original environmental pH. Utilizing sodium carbonate instead of bicarbonate can help eliminate these adverse reactions. Sodium carbonate, a stronger base than bicarbonate, can more adequately absorb the acidity generated by the tricaine solution. The further you get from the original pH the harder it is phsiologically for the animal to manage homeostasis and it's stressor. In addition, sodium carbonate has less overall carbon dioxide contribution to the anesthetic environment, which contributes to blood gas and respiratory stability of the patient. Due to these factors, sodium carbonate is a recommended alternative to sodium bicarbonate for tricaine anesthesia buffering.

Veterinarian Hands Across the Atlantic Ocean

João Correia

Flying Sharks

Full Abstract

In December 2020, two 2.0 m tiger sharks, Carcharias taurus, flew from Dynasty Marine (New York) to São Paulo and were then driven for 20 hours to the Oceanic Aquarium in Balneário Camboriú, southern Brazil. Approximately seven months later, the female shark developed a strange-looking lesion on her caudal fin, with continuous progression.
Two members of the Flying Sharks team then flew to Brazil to help contain the animal, using a 'Shark Bag'. A detailed veterinary examination was then performed, focusing on the lesion, blood and also an ultrasound of the coelomic cavity. This examination was repeated with the second animal, as prophylaxis.
Detailed results of water quality and environmental variables were investigated before the injury occurred to trace its origin. With all the analyses and exams in hand, it was found that it was a traumatic lesion evolving into dermatitis with secondary bacterial infection.
The team then began mapping the sharks' swimming and noticed that the female's caudal fin was in constant contact with some of the scenographic structures of the tank. The solution was to modify the shark's swimming lane with structures that prevented the collision with the wall and treat the injury with injectable medication for 4 weeks.

CASE STUDIES IN
​MARINE ANIMALS HANDLING,
WITH AN EMPHASIS ON SPECIMENS UNDER HUMAN CARE

Clem Kouijzer

1-2-1 Animal Handling
Products Ltd

Full Abstract

Handling of animals under human care requires specialized equipment and a professional attitude. Some species living in zoological facilities around the world may pose life threatening abilities to their human care takers, and the methods used to handle them must take into consideration their life history, biology and behavior, thus ensuring neither party - animal and/or human - are harmed in any way. Handling is a necessity, during veterinarian procedures, during collection from the wild, during moves between exhibits, or even during inter-institutional transports, such as breeding loans. I present to you a case study of large, marine animal handling, with an emphasis on
reducing collection and movement induced stress with the use of industry led, practical equipment solutions that have animal welfare at their core and can supplement positive reinforcement behavioral training protocols. In addition, a brief introduction to concepts aimed at enhancing visitor-exhibit interaction with reference to recognized benefits.

Jelly Madness: The project that turned us into gelatinous blobs

Ben Houghton

Wonders of Wildlife

Full Abstract

Over the past year Wonders of Wildlife has been working towards installing one of the largest Jellyfish displays in North America. This talk will cover the husbandry side of the project. Highlighting the growing pains of building a giant exhibit, creating a jelly culture lab to sustain the collection needed for the display, along with a live food room capable of supporting our entire collection, all tucked into our existing footprint. All the while dealing with the ins and outs of ordering culture equipment from the other side of the world, collection plan changes mid-project, undefined timelines, and building a new team to maintain this endeavor.