Recommendations and Action Plans to Improve Ex Situ Nutrition and Health of Marine Teleosts

Scott Williams; Michael Stoskopf; Ruth Francis-Floyd; Liz Koutsos; Ellen Dierenfeld; Todd Harmon; Eileen Cicotello; Donovan German; Kent Semmen; Jeffery Keaffaber; Francisco Olea-Popelka; Shannon Livingston; Kathleen Sullivan; Eduardo Valdes

doi:10.1002/aah.10150

Recommendations and Action Plans to Improve Ex Situ Nutrition and Health of Marine Teleosts

J Aquat Anim Health. 2022 Jun;34(2):69-81. doi: 10.1002/aah.10150. Epub 2022 Apr 27.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Disney's Animals, Science and Environment Animal Nutrition, 1200 East Savannah Circle, Bay Lake, Florida, 32830, USA.
² Center for Marine Sciences and Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, 303 College Drive, Morehead City, North Carolina, 28557, USA.
³ Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida, Post Office Box 100136, Gainesville, Florida, 32610, USA.
⁴ EnviroFlight LLC, 1118 Progress Way, Maysville, Kentucky, 41056, USA.
⁵ Ellen S. Dierenfeld, LLC, 4736 Gatesbury Drive, St. Louis, Missouri, 63128, USA.
⁶ Disney's Animals, Science and Environment, Animal Care, 2012-A North Avenue of the Stars, Bay Lake, Florida, 32830, USA.
⁷ Zoological Consultant, 250 N.Banana River, Drive E20, Merritt Island, Florida, 32952, USA.
⁸ Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, 321 Steinhaus Hall, Irvine, California, 92697, USA.
⁹ Disney's Animals, Science and Environment, Water Sciences, 2016 North Avenue of the Stars, Bay Lake, Florida, 32830, USA.
¹⁰ SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, Environmental Design, 9205 South Park Center Loop, Suite 400, Orlando, Florida, 32819, USA.
¹¹ Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.

Abstract

The International Workshop for Ex-Situ Marine Teleost Nutrition and Health, hosted by Disney's Animals, Science and Environment in conjunction with the Comparative Nutrition Society, brought together over 50 animal experts and scientists representing 20 institutions to review current science and identify challenges of marine teleost nutrition and health. Invited speakers presented critical information and current research topics for areas of emphasis and expertise. Subject matter experts identified knowledge gaps and primary areas of focus to guide the scientific community's research efforts to improve the care of ex situ marine teleosts. The clinical medicine working group highlighted standardized approaches to ante- and postmortem sample collection, diet biosecurity and supplementation, advanced diagnostic methods, and expanded training in fish nutrition. Nutrition identified the creation of a husbandry and feeding management manual, comprehensive feeding program review and design, and specialty feeder/life stage nutrition as areas of focus, while animal husbandry focused on body condition scoring, feed delivery techniques, and behavioral husbandry topics. The physiology and chemistry and water quality working groups discussed components of the aquatic environment and their effects on fish health, including organic matter constituents, microbial diversity, disinfection, and managing microbiota. Finally, we reviewed how epidemiological approaches and considerations can improve our evaluation of aquarium teleost nutrition and health. The goals outlined by each working group and supporting literature discussion are detailed in this communication and represent our goals for the next 3 to 5 years, with the ultimate objective of the workshop being the production of a husbandry manual for marine teleost nutrition and health. Any scientists who feel that their experience, research, or interests align with these goals are invited to participate by contacting the authors.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animal Husbandry* / methods
Animals
Diet*

Grants and funding

Nutrition Society