There is expanding interest in the culture of the Australian short®n eel Anguilla australis Richardson; however, there is a lack of fundamental biology and husbandry information necessary to further develop an industry within Australia. The present study was undertaken to gain a preliminary understanding of basic husbandry requirements for rearing of juvenile A. australis (glass eels and elvers) in tanks and earthen ponds. Newly caught glass eels were successfully acclimated to culture conditions. During tank culture trials, speci®c growth rates (SGR) and survival rates ranged from ±2.1 to 2.8% day ±1 and 52% to 100% respectively. Glass eels weaned onto a commercial eel diet exhibited a signi®cantly greater SGR and survival rate than those weaned onto a commercial trout diet. Glass eels weaned onto an eel diet over a 15-day period grew slightly faster than eels weaned over a 5-day period, but survival rates were not signi®cantly different for each treatment. SGRs (up to 2.8% day ±1 ) were signi®cantly higher for glass eels fed at 9 and 12% day ±1 than at 6% day ±1 . Stocking densities between 2.5 kg m ±3 and 30 kg m ±3 did not in¯uence either SGR or survival rates. SGRs were signi®cantly higher for glass eels cultured at 25°C than at lower temperatures. During pond culture trials, SGRs and survival rates ranged from 1.36 to 1.65% day ±1 and 39% to 77% respectively. The SGR and survival rates of juvenile eels stocked into ponds receiving supplementary feeding with a commercial eel diet were not signi®cantly different to those of eels stocked into ponds that did not receive supplementary feeding.
Mitchell's water monitors (Varanus mitchelli) have been maintained on display at Perth Zoo since 1997. They are generally a timid species but have been maintained and bred in a mixed species water feature exhibit. In this article we describe their captive management and behavior with an insight into their reproductive biology. Between 2002 and 2005, 11 clutches were laid ranging from 13 to 27 (X = 20) eggs from one female. Egg size ranged between 3.00 and 6.08 g (X = 4.77 g) in weight, 22.8 and 31.9 mm (X = 28.3 mm) in length, and 11.1 and 19.3 mm (X = 17.1 mm) in width. Oviposition included double and triple clutches ranging between 41 and 60 days apart (X = 48 days), events n = 6. Four clutches were incubated at three different temperatures and hatchlings emerged after 157-289 days. The weight of the hatchlings ranged between 2.60 and 4.52 g (X = 4.34 g). Total length ranged between 140.1 and 178.0 mm (X = 165.9 mm) and snout-vent length ranged from 53.8 to 70.0 (X = 64.4 mm). Juvenile growth and development information is presented from hatching through to approximately 3 years of age.
In 1997, Perth Zoo acquired six pink-eared turtles (Emydura victoriae) from the wild for display in the reptile facility. There is very little documented information on pink-eared turtles in captivity. This article looks at the reproductive biology, ecology, behavior, diet, and captive husbandry of the species. Eight clutches of eggs were documented over a 2-year period with an average clutch size of 10 eggs. Egg size was recorded with three clutches incubated to hatching. Ten hatchlings were maintained for a growth and development study. Measurements of weight, carapace length, width, height, and plastron length were recorded weekly for about 12 months, and then monthly for approximately 2 years. The data were analyzed and showed positive growth curves in all animals.Sexual dimorphism was observed after 20 weeks and sexual maturity in males observed after 2 years.
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