Successful use of tube-feeding in captive newborn lesser guitarfish (Zapteryx brevirostris)

Citation

Camilo LO, Maganhe B, Kurokawa R, and Gallo Neto H. 2021. Successful use of tube-feeding in captive newborn lesser guitarfish (Zapteryx brevirostris). In Brooks M, Koutsos E, and Henry B Eds. Proceedings of the Fourteenth Conference on Zoo and Wildlife Nutrition, Zoo and Wildlife Nutrition Foundation and AZA Nutrition Advisory Group, Virtual.

Abstract

Distributed along the coastal waters from eastern Brazil to north-eastern Argentina, the lesser guitarfish (Zapteryx brevirostris) is classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). There is little information on the captive breeding of elasmobranchs, development, and survival of newborns. Knowing that prolonged periods of starvation may lead a series of health issues, forced feeding protocols may be useful in the rearing of newborns with prolonged inappetence, preventing dehydration and extreme body weight loss. Considering that at this time there is no data available on the use of tube-feeding for the lesser guitarfish, the objective of this work was to demonstrate, for the first time, the use of enteral feeding for captive newborns. Animals were submitted on consecutive attempts of feeding with live Artemia sp., amphipods, fish fillets, cocked mussel, and frozen shrimp, all suitable for the species’ mouth size. Feeding was attempted in the mornings and late afternoons when animals showed to be more active.

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