Practical considerations for supportive nutritional care of elasmobranchs

Citation

Maslanka M, Clauss T, Coco C, Schreiber C. 2007. Practical considerations for supportive nutritional care of elasmobranchs. In Ward A, Hunt A, Maslanka M, Eds. Proceedings of the Seventh Conference on Zoo and Wildlife Nutrition, AZA Nutrition Advisory Group, Knoxville, TN.

Abstract

Inappetence / anorexia is not always a sign of a clinical disease process in progress. Anorexia in elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, and rays) can be caused by a variety of factors ranging from injury, inappropriate water quality, environmental disturbance, and social organization to temperature changes, season or life stage, and manifestation of typical foraging behavior. The challenge is to determine, as accurately as possible, the main cause of the anorexia and whether intervention is necessary. In some cases, intervention may take the form of altering the ingredients or physical form of the diet. In other cases, assist feeding may be needed. In all cases, clear nutritional goals prior to the initiation of diet alteration and methods for follow up assessment are needed. The goal is a self-feeding animal, consuming a diet appropriate for its life stage and physiology.

Maslanka – CONSIDERATIONS FOR SUPPORTIVE NUTRITIONAL CARE OF ELASMOBRANCHS.pdf     2 MB