Monitoring feed amounts in goliath groupers (Epinephelus itajara) using behavioral conditioning in a large mixed species exhibit.
Goliath groupers (Epinephelus itajara) are large charismatic species, which are often residents in public aquaria. This study reports a novel approach to feeding techniques for three resident goliath groupers. Because of the size and depth of their exhibit, the groupers were conditioned to hand feed from aquarists. Daily food logs were recorded including the type and number of species, how often the groupers were fed, and how often they accepted the offered food. Mackerel, herring, and sardine represented the highest percentage of the diet, whereas capelin, squid, and shrimp were the lowest percentage. Over a one-year period, records showed that grouper 1 and grouper 3 ate fairly consistently throughout the year. Grouper 2 had a higher degree of variation in his monthly feeding average with a decrease from May to September and an increase through April. Grouper 1 and grouper 3 took food from the aquarists most consistently with a monthly average of 88.8+/-10.8 and 89.7+/-6.15% of the time, respectively. Grouper 2 was not as consistent, hand feeding at only 74.5+/-16.2% of the time offered. Diet management and behavioral conditioning with the goliath groupers have established consistent husbandry records and therefore better monitoring of the individual fish's long-term health status. Zoo Biol 27:414-419, 2008. (c) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Seas, Epcot(R), Walt Disney World(R) Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
Michele M
MM
Kittell
Magan E
ME
Ratte