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Presented by

Paula Branshaw Carlson

Director of Husbandry

The Dallas World Aquarium

Seadragon Husbandry in the

New Millennium:

Lessons Learned from the Past will Create a Sustainable Future

2 Leafy seadragon, Phycodurus eques

3 Weedy seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus

4 South Australia Exhibit at The Dallas World Aquarium

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Timeline ofSeadragon Husbandry Collaborations

1994 - DWA joint venture with National Aquarium in Canberra, Australia.

1996 - DWA allowed to bring in wild caught animals from South Australia.

Spring 1997 - First “captive born” animals arrive at DWA from Ascidian ( now PQ Aquatics).

Fall 1997 –Seadragon Husbandry Presentation Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) National Conference.

Fall 1997 - DWA begins loan program with New England Aquarium and Shedd Aquarium.

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1998 – Shedd Aquarium hosts meeting with Project Seahorse. 35 participants from 9 countries. Syngnathidae list serve established.

April 1999- Stuttgart Aquarium, Germany experiences egg transfer to male Weedy seadragon.

Sept, 1999 – Second Husbandry Presentation at AZA National, Minnesota. Describe temperature/lighting influences on egg production.

Sept. 2000 Informal Meeting of the Seadragon Minds, AZA National Orlando, Florida.

Nov. 2000 International Informal Meeting of the Seadragon Minds, IAC, Monaco.

2001 – 2003 Long Beach Aquarium and Tennessee Aquarium successfully reproduce and raise Weedy seadragons.

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What is still needed?

More research on their natural behaviors, and environmental conditions!

More research into their behaviors in an aquarium environment!

More research into alternative diets and culturing methods!

Better exchange of information between public aquariums and between public aquariums and field researchers!

Question asked in the early years:

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Diseases and other Problems

● Buoyancy caused by stress or disease.

● Infection from protozoans such as Uronema. ● Bacterial infections such as Mycobacterium.

● Snout damage and subsequent secondary bacterial infection.

● Coccidea in weedies and trematodes in leafy digestive tracts and livers.

● Underdeveloped air bladders which cause lack of growth and buoyancy issues.

13 “Runt” Leafy seadragon, common problem with small air bladder.

14 Young leafy seadragon from PQ Aquatics

15 Holding for juvenile leafies at DWA

16 1,000 gallon holding aquarium at DWA

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Sept. 2004 – Roundtable at AZA National to discuss acquisition, exhibitry, nutrition, health, reproduction and conservation.

August 2005 – Melbourne Aquarium Australia successfully breeds Weedy seadragons.

Sept. 2005 – AZA National – Workshop on Syngnathid husbandry.

2005 – Leafy and Weedy seadragon Husbandry Manuals published in Project Seahorse Husbandry Manual.

April, 2008 - DWA Hosted First International Seadragon Husbandry Symposium.

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19 Participants in First International Seadragon Husbandry Symposium

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Hosted by the DWA - 45 participants from five countries.

Sponsored by the Georgia Aquarium and Aquatic Indicators.

Topics included :

Acquisition, Husbandry, Natural environment, Exhibit design, Nutrition, Diseases and Treatment, Conservation, Research opportunities, Management Plans and Identification of individuals.

21 Seadragon exhibit New England Aquarium

22 View into 10,000 gallon leafy exhibit, formerly at DWA

23 1500 gallon Seadragon Cylinder at DWA

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Feeding Regimens Among Public Institutions

Most Frequently Fed Diets Frequency

1. Live Mysid shrimp 3x daily - 1x weekly

2. Frozen mysid shrimp 2x weekly - 2x daily

3.  Live Palaeomonetes and Acetes spp. 1-2x daily 4.  Live Panaeid shrimp 2x -3x daily

Supplements Most Frequently Used

1. Artemia nauplii with Selco

2. Artemia nauplii with Algae or HUFA

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Seadragon exhibit Georgia Aquarium

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June 2008 - Georgia Aquarium experiences a pregnant male Weedy seadragon. In June 2010 again achieves reproduction and raises offspring. Achieves success again in 2012.

Dec. 2010 - Moody Gardens experiences egg transfer to male Weedy seadragon.

Feb. 2011 – Melbourne Aquarium successfully breeds Weedy seadragons for the second time.

April 2011 -Monterey Bay Aquarium experiences egg transfer to male Weedy seadragon.

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November 2011- John G. Shedd Aquarium hosts The Husbandry, Management and Conservation of Syngnathids. The 5th International Zoo and Aquarium Symposium. 92 participants from 14 Countries

Sponsored by the Shedd Aquarium, Zoological Society of London, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and Project Seahorse

Began work on new edition Syngnathid Husbandry Manual.

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July 2012 – Monterey Bay Aquarium achieves successful reproduction of Weedy seadragons.

July 2012 – Sea World of Florida achieves breeding success with Weedy seadragons.

September 2012 – International Aquarium Congress meeting, Cape town, South Africa – Informal meeting of the seadragon minds?

29 Male Weedy seadragon with babies July 2012

Photo courtesy of Randy Wilder, Monterey Bay Aquarium.

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There is still some work to be done

Female Leafy seadragon with abdomen swollen with eggs

31 Male with swollen tail ready for breeding

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In 2012

What is still needed? More research/collaboration on their natural behaviors, and environmental conditions!

More research into their behaviors in an aquarium environment!

Continued research into nutrition and supplementation!

Continued exchange of information between public aquariums, and between public aquariums and field researchers!

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Continued research and collaboration with pathologists and veterinarians into the diseases and other problems especially in terms of Mycobacteria, biliary trematodes, fungal infections and buoyancy issues!

In press 2012 – A Retrospective Study of Pathologic Findings in Weedy and Leafy Seadragons, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus and Phycodurus eques.   Christopher J. Bonar, Michael M. Garner, E. Scott Weber, Christian J. Keller, Michael Murray, Lance M. Adams, and Salvatore Frasca Jr.

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What’s next?

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What’s next?

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The possibilities are endless!

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Special Thanks

International Aquarium Congress Program Committee.

Pang Quong and the late Roger Wilson.

Daryl Richardson, and the DWA staff.

Herb Hickox and the staff at Aquatic Indicators.

All the aquariums world wide who continue to share invaluable information and insight on their dragon exhibits and behavior.

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