Sea Turtle Husbandry
433
present in pens consume a significant portion of the food offered, depending on sea
turtle activity. More than the target 5% is offered to compensate for competition
from fish. Large squid are cut to facilitate feeding of smaller turtles. Turtles in pens
have been observed catching and eating fish, barnacles, and crabs. Often, turtles
kept in pens will be returned to a tank or basin system, if significant amounts of
sand, rock, and shell debris are found in the feces. Whether the turtles consume the
rock and sand along with food or prey items or whether they eat these items for
another purpose is unknown.
16.11.1.4 Behavioral Problems
Occasionally, loggerheads and Kemp’s ridleys reared in isolation, when placed
together, will fight. What triggers the fighting is unknown. Stocking density, water
clarity, water temperature, tidal level, wave action, and the presence of other animals
in the pens have been investigated in an attempt to isolate the cause of fighting.
Thermal stratification and temperature inversions in the pens can force the turtles
into a single plane of water, crowding the turtles at the surface or on the bottom. In
any large group of loggerheads, there will be a few turtles that cannot coexist with
other turtles. If these aggressive turtles can be identified and removed from the
general population early in the stocking phase, fighting can be reduced or even
FIGURE 16.6 Temporary basin-holding system at the Panama City, FL, facility. The system
can be broken down for storage and expanded to hold additional turtles (Fernco ® , Fernco,
Inc., Sparks, NV).
WATER RETURN
TO BAY
WATER EXCHANGE AT 2-3 TIMES/HOUR WITH
A 0.5 HP, 115 VOLT, 11 AMP PUMP SUPPLYING
2 ROWS OF 20 BASINS
SUBMERSIBLE
PUMP
WATER RETURN
TO BAY
76 I CAPACITY
PLASTIC LAUNDRY TUB
INCOMING WATER
1” (2.5 cm) SCH 40 PVC
STAND PIPE
CONTROLS
WATER LEVEL
1.5” (3.8 cm) PVC BALL
DRAIN VALVE
COMMON DRAIN LINE
1.5” (3.8 cm) SCH40 PVC PIPE
FERNCO
® FITTINGS
ALLOW BASINS TO
BE DISASSEMBLED
FERNCO
® FITTINGS
ALLOW STAND PIPE
HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT
WATER
LEVEL
3/4” (2 cm) PVC BALL VALVE DELIVERS
WATERS TO 2 BASINS
1123_C16 Page 433 Tuesday, November 12, 2002 8:28 AM
433
present in pens consume a significant portion of the food offered, depending on sea
turtle activity. More than the target 5% is offered to compensate for competition
from fish. Large squid are cut to facilitate feeding of smaller turtles. Turtles in pens
have been observed catching and eating fish, barnacles, and crabs. Often, turtles
kept in pens will be returned to a tank or basin system, if significant amounts of
sand, rock, and shell debris are found in the feces. Whether the turtles consume the
rock and sand along with food or prey items or whether they eat these items for
another purpose is unknown.
16.11.1.4 Behavioral Problems
Occasionally, loggerheads and Kemp’s ridleys reared in isolation, when placed
together, will fight. What triggers the fighting is unknown. Stocking density, water
clarity, water temperature, tidal level, wave action, and the presence of other animals
in the pens have been investigated in an attempt to isolate the cause of fighting.
Thermal stratification and temperature inversions in the pens can force the turtles
into a single plane of water, crowding the turtles at the surface or on the bottom. In
any large group of loggerheads, there will be a few turtles that cannot coexist with
other turtles. If these aggressive turtles can be identified and removed from the
general population early in the stocking phase, fighting can be reduced or even
FIGURE 16.6 Temporary basin-holding system at the Panama City, FL, facility. The system
can be broken down for storage and expanded to hold additional turtles (Fernco ® , Fernco,
Inc., Sparks, NV).
WATER RETURN
TO BAY
WATER EXCHANGE AT 2-3 TIMES/HOUR WITH
A 0.5 HP, 115 VOLT, 11 AMP PUMP SUPPLYING
2 ROWS OF 20 BASINS
SUBMERSIBLE
PUMP
WATER RETURN
TO BAY
76 I CAPACITY
PLASTIC LAUNDRY TUB
INCOMING WATER
1” (2.5 cm) SCH 40 PVC
STAND PIPE
CONTROLS
WATER LEVEL
1.5” (3.8 cm) PVC BALL
DRAIN VALVE
COMMON DRAIN LINE
1.5” (3.8 cm) SCH40 PVC PIPE
FERNCO
® FITTINGS
ALLOW BASINS TO
BE DISASSEMBLED
FERNCO
® FITTINGS
ALLOW STAND PIPE
HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT
WATER
LEVEL
3/4” (2 cm) PVC BALL VALVE DELIVERS
WATERS TO 2 BASINS
1123_C16 Page 433 Tuesday, November 12, 2002 8:28 AM