Month: April 2024 (Page 1 of 3)

We were tasked with picking a species and planning an aquaculture system for the chosen species. In my life I want to use aquaculture for conservation efforts and eliminating the use of taking animals from the wild for the aquarium trade. I also, would like to work in manatee rehabilitation once I graduate from UNE. As the Florida manatee is a marine mammal you cannot legally breed them in aquarium settings, with that there is not much information on how you would go about a life support system. I ended up reaching out to both the Columbus zoo and ZooTampa for help with this project.

In this assignment we were tsked with researching an invertebrate species. we were tasked with finding the life cycle of the species, the water parameters, along with how we would go about growing the species. We had picked corals as they are a very important part of the ocean. With them not only providing a place where massive amounts of animals live, they are a large importance to humans. They provide protection for the shoreline along with economic resources for recreation along with medical studies.

Life Cycle

Life expectancy: long ass time

Spawning: in water during fall (Oct – dec) depending on water temp, moon cycle

Grow 0.4in per year

Water Quality:

Temperature 76 to 82°F (24.5 to 27.8°C)

Carbonate Hardness (KH/alkalinity) Above 120 ppm (8°dKH)

Calcium 400 – 500 ppm (mg/L)

Magnesium 1,250 – 1,450 ppm (mg/L)

Ammonia 0 ppm (mg/L)

Nitrite 0 ppm (mg/L)

Nitrate Below 40 ppm (mg/L)

System:

Basic Saltwater system

Feed

diced small fish, thawed frozen plankton, phytoplankton, krill, pieces of shrimp, squid, or clams

Global market:

Typical trade for hobby aquariums, public zoos and aquariums, estimate $5.12 billion growth of 9.4% from 2023, trade worldwide

Grown in oceania for ocean based, landbased is north america and europe 

Cold water disease is a bacterial infection that will affect freshwater fish and typically salmonid fish. The infection is caused by Flavobacterium psychropholum (previously classified under Cytophaga). The bacterium is able to survive in cole water and will thrive in temperatures below 13C and will b constant within waters that remain below 15C. If a fish is infected there are many symptoms. Tissue erosion on the caudal fin is experienced. Ulcers may form on the jaw. Fins of the fish can be seen as dark, torn, split, or completely lost. Fish can experience behavioral symptoms like spiral swimming, lethargy, and reduced feeding. This disease is able to spread through other fish and can also become chronic and is characterized by corkscrew swimming, blackened tails, and spinal deformities.

Vibrio vulnificus typically effects humans, however there is an impact on marine life. Fish and shellfish are both susceptible to contracting the bacterium. The bacterium can be lethal to the organisms and can result in not being able to harvest due to die off. The bacterium is extremally important to understand as it can have massive negative impacts on both human and marine life.

One way to make feeds from waste alcohol is the use of single-cell protein (SCP). This is a substitute source of protein. When this isn’t directly related to alcohol the production of SCP can utilize the waste material. SCP does contain the essential ammino acids needed and it can be a valuable source of protein. SCP can be made from many byproducts during the feed creation process. Things like animal byproducts, fruit, and vegetable waste (things like peels).

Food colorants are substances that are added to food to apply pigments to the feed itself. There are many types of color additives like certified colors according to the FDA, these are processed additives that are used to provide uniform color and are able to blend well allowing for the creation of different shades. Colors that are considered exempt from certification are sourced from natural sources like vegetables, plants, algae, and other animals. Salmonids are typically fed pellets for feeding during the grow out phase and they are typically fed pellets with Astaxanthin and Canthaxanthin added to their feed. These are both synthetic pigments to allow for the pink color to develop in the muscle tissue.