412
The Biology of Sea Turtles, Vol. II
16.10.2 Subadults and Adults (>15 kg) 428
16.10.2.1 Short Distances or Short Time Periods .........................428
16.10.2.2 Long Distances ..............................................................430
16.11 Grow-Out Facilities ...................................................................................430
16.11.1 Semiwild Conditioning ..................................................................431
16.11.1.1 Conditioning–Rearing Pens ...........................................431
16.11.1.2 Temporary Holding Facilities ........................................431
16.11.1.3 Feeding ...........................................................................432
16.11.1.4 Behavioral Problems .......................................................433
16.12 Health Problems of Captive-Reared Turtles .............................................434
16.12.1 Bacterial and Viral Infections ........................................................435
16.12.1.1 Dermal Lesions ...............................................................435
16.12.1.2 Eye Lesions .....................................................................435
16.12.1.3 Respiratory Infections ....................................................435
16.12.1.4 Viral Infections and Gray-Patch Disease (GPD) ...........436
16.12.2 Bloating–Floating............................................................................436
16.12.3 Carapace Lesions ............................................................................436
References ............................................................................................................438
16.1 INTRODUCTION
Sea turtle husbandry is the care and maintenance of sea turtles through scientific
and judicious use of resources. Caring for turtles in captivity presents some problems,
whether rearing them for research and conservation, public display (zoos and
aquaria), or other commercial purposes. Sea turtles, in general, are sensitive to
temperature variation; can be aggressive when crowded; are long-lived; and can
reach great sizes, requiring large accommodations. Even if the sea turtles’ natural
physical environment can be artificially duplicated in captivity, general biological
information is still lacking. For instance, little is known about the wild pelagic (early)
life stages of all species, including basic information such as diet and feeding,
growth, activity levels, and natural survival, all of which are fundamental parameters
if one is to maintain turtles in captivity from hatchlings. Despite the lack of basic
biological knowledge on sea turtles, many facilities have reared sea turtles in captivity with varying degrees of success. Much of what is known was learned through
trial and error over decades of work. Available information on specific rearing
practices is limited. Even with missing biological information, there is no reason to
believe that sea turtles cannot be successfully reared and maintained in captivity by
simply following sound animal husbandry practices.
The largest biological obstacles to sea turtle rearing are diet and disease. Green
( Chelonia mydas ) (Wood, 1991; Huff, 1989; Lebrun, 1975), loggerhead ( Caretta
caretta ) (Caillouet, 2000; Buitrago, 1987), Kemp’s ridley ( Lepidochelys kempii )
(Caillouet, 2000; Fontaine et al., 1985; 1988), and hawksbill ( Eretmochelys imbricata ) (Glazebrook and Campbell, 1990; Brown, 1982; Gutierrez, 1989) turtles have
all successfully been reared in captivity. Attempts have been made to rear leatherback hatchlings ( Dermochelys coriacea ) in captivity with limited success (Jones et
1123_C16 Page 412 Tuesday, November 12, 2002 8:28 AM
The Biology of Sea Turtles, Vol. II
16.10.2 Subadults and Adults (>15 kg) 428
16.10.2.1 Short Distances or Short Time Periods .........................428
16.10.2.2 Long Distances ..............................................................430
16.11 Grow-Out Facilities ...................................................................................430
16.11.1 Semiwild Conditioning ..................................................................431
16.11.1.1 Conditioning–Rearing Pens ...........................................431
16.11.1.2 Temporary Holding Facilities ........................................431
16.11.1.3 Feeding ...........................................................................432
16.11.1.4 Behavioral Problems .......................................................433
16.12 Health Problems of Captive-Reared Turtles .............................................434
16.12.1 Bacterial and Viral Infections ........................................................435
16.12.1.1 Dermal Lesions ...............................................................435
16.12.1.2 Eye Lesions .....................................................................435
16.12.1.3 Respiratory Infections ....................................................435
16.12.1.4 Viral Infections and Gray-Patch Disease (GPD) ...........436
16.12.2 Bloating–Floating............................................................................436
16.12.3 Carapace Lesions ............................................................................436
References ............................................................................................................438
16.1 INTRODUCTION
Sea turtle husbandry is the care and maintenance of sea turtles through scientific
and judicious use of resources. Caring for turtles in captivity presents some problems,
whether rearing them for research and conservation, public display (zoos and
aquaria), or other commercial purposes. Sea turtles, in general, are sensitive to
temperature variation; can be aggressive when crowded; are long-lived; and can
reach great sizes, requiring large accommodations. Even if the sea turtles’ natural
physical environment can be artificially duplicated in captivity, general biological
information is still lacking. For instance, little is known about the wild pelagic (early)
life stages of all species, including basic information such as diet and feeding,
growth, activity levels, and natural survival, all of which are fundamental parameters
if one is to maintain turtles in captivity from hatchlings. Despite the lack of basic
biological knowledge on sea turtles, many facilities have reared sea turtles in captivity with varying degrees of success. Much of what is known was learned through
trial and error over decades of work. Available information on specific rearing
practices is limited. Even with missing biological information, there is no reason to
believe that sea turtles cannot be successfully reared and maintained in captivity by
simply following sound animal husbandry practices.
The largest biological obstacles to sea turtle rearing are diet and disease. Green
( Chelonia mydas ) (Wood, 1991; Huff, 1989; Lebrun, 1975), loggerhead ( Caretta
caretta ) (Caillouet, 2000; Buitrago, 1987), Kemp’s ridley ( Lepidochelys kempii )
(Caillouet, 2000; Fontaine et al., 1985; 1988), and hawksbill ( Eretmochelys imbricata ) (Glazebrook and Campbell, 1990; Brown, 1982; Gutierrez, 1989) turtles have
all successfully been reared in captivity. Attempts have been made to rear leatherback hatchlings ( Dermochelys coriacea ) in captivity with limited success (Jones et
1123_C16 Page 412 Tuesday, November 12, 2002 8:28 AM