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The Biology of Sea Turtles, Vol. II
claws, and this should be taken into consideration when a turtle in placed into a
tank for public display in a zoo or aquarium. Provision for separation of turtles and
their waste products should be addressed either by using a physical barrier or by
constant mechanical removal of waste. As turtles grow, they require more space,
necessitating progressively larger accommodations (Table 16.1). Turtles must be
reared in individual containers to prevent injuries from contact with other turtles;
this may include separate tanks or common compartmentalized tanks. Aggressiveness varies among species. All species can and will bite each other when housed
together in the same tank (Glazebrook and Campbell, 1990; Leong et al., 1989;
Klima and McVey, 1982). The NMFS STF maintains sea turtles in a variety of
independent rearing containers housed in fiberglass-reinforced, polyester resin, gelcoated fiberglass tanks and raceways (Caillouet, 2000) (Figure 16.1).
16.2.2 T ANK AND R ACEWAY P REPARATION
Prior to stocking, raceways are drained and thoroughly hand-scrubbed using Scotchbrite ® -type (3M Home Care Division, St. Paul, MN) nylon abrasive pads. The
raceways are then filled completely with seawater. Two gallons (7.58 l) of bleach
(sodium hypochlorite) is added to the approximately 6814 l of water. The bleach is
allowed to disinfect the tank for 24 h. Raceways are then drained and rinsed with
freshwater. If the surface of the tank is porous or scratched, high-pressure washing
(freshwater at 1500–1800 psi) may also be done to remove algae and other detritus
imbedded in the gel coat. The raceways are refilled with seawater and allowed to
soak for 24 h. Raceways are again drained, rinsed with freshwater, and are then
ready for stocking.
16.2.3 C ONTAINER P REPARATION
16.2.3.1 Hatchling Rearing Containers
Plastic flowerpots are used to house hatchlings for the first 60 days at the NMFS
STF. Flowerpots are cleaned and disinfected prior to the arrival of new hatchlings.
The pots are allowed to soak in a bleach solution (2:l of sodium hypochlorite and
115:l of freshwater) for 15–30 min. Each pot is hand scrubbed inside and out with
a Scotchbrite-type nylon abrasive pad to remove all traces of dirt and algae. The
pots are dipped into a bleach solution (1:15), rinsed in freshwater, and allowed to
air dry. Clean pots are stored in an insect- and dust-free container until they are
ready for use. Just prior to stocking, the pots are soaked in seawater for 24 h followed
by a freshwater rinse.
16.2.3.2 Post-Hatchling and Juvenile Rearing Containers
Modified milk crates are used to house turtles from 60–90 days until 10–11 months,
and custom-built hanging cages are used from 11–22 months at the NMFS STF
(Caillouet, 2000). Crates and cages are removed from the facility, and every surface
is cleaned with a high-pressure washer (freshwater at 1500–1800 psi) to remove all
traces of dirt and algae. The containers are placed back into the raceways and are
1123_C16 Page 414 Tuesday, November 12, 2002 8:28 AM
The Biology of Sea Turtles, Vol. II
claws, and this should be taken into consideration when a turtle in placed into a
tank for public display in a zoo or aquarium. Provision for separation of turtles and
their waste products should be addressed either by using a physical barrier or by
constant mechanical removal of waste. As turtles grow, they require more space,
necessitating progressively larger accommodations (Table 16.1). Turtles must be
reared in individual containers to prevent injuries from contact with other turtles;
this may include separate tanks or common compartmentalized tanks. Aggressiveness varies among species. All species can and will bite each other when housed
together in the same tank (Glazebrook and Campbell, 1990; Leong et al., 1989;
Klima and McVey, 1982). The NMFS STF maintains sea turtles in a variety of
independent rearing containers housed in fiberglass-reinforced, polyester resin, gelcoated fiberglass tanks and raceways (Caillouet, 2000) (Figure 16.1).
16.2.2 T ANK AND R ACEWAY P REPARATION
Prior to stocking, raceways are drained and thoroughly hand-scrubbed using Scotchbrite ® -type (3M Home Care Division, St. Paul, MN) nylon abrasive pads. The
raceways are then filled completely with seawater. Two gallons (7.58 l) of bleach
(sodium hypochlorite) is added to the approximately 6814 l of water. The bleach is
allowed to disinfect the tank for 24 h. Raceways are then drained and rinsed with
freshwater. If the surface of the tank is porous or scratched, high-pressure washing
(freshwater at 1500–1800 psi) may also be done to remove algae and other detritus
imbedded in the gel coat. The raceways are refilled with seawater and allowed to
soak for 24 h. Raceways are again drained, rinsed with freshwater, and are then
ready for stocking.
16.2.3 C ONTAINER P REPARATION
16.2.3.1 Hatchling Rearing Containers
Plastic flowerpots are used to house hatchlings for the first 60 days at the NMFS
STF. Flowerpots are cleaned and disinfected prior to the arrival of new hatchlings.
The pots are allowed to soak in a bleach solution (2:l of sodium hypochlorite and
115:l of freshwater) for 15–30 min. Each pot is hand scrubbed inside and out with
a Scotchbrite-type nylon abrasive pad to remove all traces of dirt and algae. The
pots are dipped into a bleach solution (1:15), rinsed in freshwater, and allowed to
air dry. Clean pots are stored in an insect- and dust-free container until they are
ready for use. Just prior to stocking, the pots are soaked in seawater for 24 h followed
by a freshwater rinse.
16.2.3.2 Post-Hatchling and Juvenile Rearing Containers
Modified milk crates are used to house turtles from 60–90 days until 10–11 months,
and custom-built hanging cages are used from 11–22 months at the NMFS STF
(Caillouet, 2000). Crates and cages are removed from the facility, and every surface
is cleaned with a high-pressure washer (freshwater at 1500–1800 psi) to remove all
traces of dirt and algae. The containers are placed back into the raceways and are
1123_C16 Page 414 Tuesday, November 12, 2002 8:28 AM