Guide - Husbandry (Aquatics)

Front 1

def: poikilothermic animals

Back 1

core temp. varies with enviro. And have limited ability to metabolically maintain core temp (fish, amphibians, reptiles)

Front 2

Microenvironment for aquatic animals is characterized by which factors?

Back 2

water quality, illumination, noise, vibration, temperature

Front 3

Water characteristics to support aquatic animals

Back 3

temp, pH, alkalinity, nitrogen waste products, phosphourus, chlorine/bromide, oxidation-reduction potential, conductivity/salinity, hardness (osmolality/dissolved minerals), dissoloved oxygen, total gas pressure, ion/metal content, and established microbial ecology

Front 4

Water quality testing, standards, parameters to test, and frequency should be set by the

Back 4

institution or protocol

Front 5

What is found in human potable water that can be toxic to fish and amphibians and MUST be removed or neutralized before use in aquatic systems

Back 5

chlorine and chloramines

Front 6

def: life support system for aquatic animals

Back 6

physical structure used to contain the water and animals + ancillary equip. used to move/treat the water

Front 7

3 types of life support systems

Back 7

1. recirculating (water is moved around the system) 2. flow-thorugh systems (water is constantly replaced) 3. Static system (periodic replacement)

Front 8

4 sources of water for aquatic species

Back 8

1. treated wastewater (tap) 2. Surface water (lakes) 3. protected water (well/aquifer) 4. articifical water (RO or distilled)

Front 9

Considerations for chose of water for aquatic species

Back 9

supply, biosecrutigy, volumes, species, and research

Front 10

Recirculating systems: methods to filter

Back 10

1. biofilter (nitrifying bacteria) 2. protein skimmers (foam fractionators) 3. particulate filters (remove undissolved/dissolved proteins and particulate mater) 4. carbon filters (remove dissolved chemicals) 5. UV or ozone (disinfect)

Front 11

Rack recirculating sytem for zebrafish and xenopus

Back 11

multiple individual taks are supplied with treated water from a single source

Front 12

biofilter considerations

Back 12

MUST be of sufficient size (bacterial number) to process bioload. Change in water quality parameters may kill biofilter (environment and chemical)

Front 13

Continuous or timed flow-through systems

Back 13

may use extremely large volumes of water because it is not reused. Water may or may not be treated prior to use (usu. Aquaculture)

Front 14

Semiopen systems

Back 14

may depend on source water temp. and can vary (ex: raceway by a river)

Front 15

The volume of water in a room can affect

Back 15

the room temp., temp stability, and humidity

Front 16

Humidity considerations with aquatic species

Back 16

geared toward human comfort. Too high = condensation and potential for microbial growth; Too low = evaporation and water replacement with more frequent monitoring

Front 17

Aquatic room exchange air rates

Back 17

governed by thermal and mositure loads. Note: airborne particulates and compounds (volatle organic compounds and ammonia) may dissolve in take water and affect animal health + pathogens can aerosolize in water droplets

Front 18

what components of light are aquatic and semiaquatic species sensitive to

Back 18

photoperiod, light intensity, and wavelength. Sudden changes can elicit a startle response and lead to trauma

Front 19

The primary enclosure of aquatic animals should (10)

Back 19

1. normal physiologic and behavioral needs (excretory, control/maint of body temp, movement, repro., temp gradients prn for feeding/digestion) 2. conspecific social interaction 3. balanced/stable enviro. 4. water quality 5. access to food and removal of waste 6. restrict escape or entrapment 7. free of sharp edges 8. can observe with minimal disturbance 9. constructed of non-toxic material 10. no electrical hazard

Front 20

anuran species

Back 20

toads and frogs

Front 21

Enrichment for aquatic species

Back 21

should elicit species-appropriate behavior and be evaulated for safety and utility

Front 22

In aquaculture where there is natural predation and mortalities it may be appropriate to measure animal "numbers" by using standard aquaculture techniques such as..

Back 22

Final production biomass

Front 23

Space: Zebrafish

Back 23

5 adults per liter (general recommendation)

Front 24

X. laevis

Back 24

2 liters per adult frog (general recommendation)

Front 25

Handling of aquatic species should be kept to a minimum, why?

Back 25

avoid damage to the protective mucus layers and negative effects of the immune function (use visual inspections).

Front 26

T/F: latex gloves have been associated with toxicity in some species

Back 26

TRUE (some species of amphibians)

Front 27

Use of nets

Back 27

Trained, santized, and dedicated to animals with similar health status

Front 28

Food considerations

Back 28

store well; ensure access to all animals; may not be ad libitum or daily

Front 29

Live food sources

Back 29

maintained and managed to ensure a steady supply and the health and suitability of the organism as food

Front 30

Substrate may be needed for the life support system. Give 2 examples:

Back 30

1. Undergravel filtration (increased surface area for denitrifying bacteria) 2. Hydrocleaning (routine siphoning)

Front 31

Sanitation should focus on

Back 31

maintained life support system, removal of solid waste, periodic water changes

Front 32

How does sanitation differ from terrestiral species

Back 32

nitrogenous waste and respiraotry output is dissolved in water

Front 33

Nitrate

Back 33

end product that is less toxic but at high level can be problematic. Generally removed from water changes or design of system

Front 34

Disinfection of aquatic systems

Back 34

accomplished through water treatment (filtration or UV/ozone) and water changes

Front 35

Most chemical disinfectants are toxic. Care MUST be taken to ensure ..

Back 35

Residual chlorine, chemical, and reactive byproducts are neutralized or removed

Front 36

Algal and Cyanobacterial (blue-green algae) growth is common and increases with

Back 36

nitrogen, phosphorus and light

Front 37

Notes on algae

Back 37

usually non-toxic but can be toxic, don't want too much because decreases visualization

Front 38

Macroenvironment sanitation

Back 38

similar to terrestiral

Front 39

Identification systems for aquatic species

Back 39

Fin clip, genetic testing, tags, SQ injection of elastomeric materials, transponder tags, color patterns, and group ID

Front 40

recordkeeping is important, so things that may be included are:

Back 40

species, genetic info, sock source, stock number in system, tank ID, life support system information, breeding, deaths, illness, transfer, and fertilization/hatching info

Front 41

Feeding Records should be kept on

Back 41

1. feeding (offered accepted) 2. nonexpired food supplies 3. live cultures/food (hatch rate, etc.),

Front 42

Records on water quality

Back 42

testing for system and source water should be maintained with parameters clearly established based on animal, research, system

Front 43

Records on animal tracking

Back 43

Records on transfers, breeding, death; periodic censuses; biomass