Walrus: captive breeding success rates?

forumbully said:
using substrate in a walrus enclosure is NOT a good idea. it would have to be a thick enough layer for the walrus to dig in, without risking damaging the bottom of the tank. this would clog in no time creating a great feeding ground for germs and bacteria.
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Could the pools not have a thick layer of pebbles at the bottom, i know walruses have died in the past hoovering up foreign objects in the bottom of the pool, surely the answer is no viewing of the pool from above.
Walruses have been bred in the past at Harderwijk, Cincinnati and the New York aquarium and all their pools have access to the public at the surface.
So i think i may have proved myself wrong:mad:
 
The issue is that the animals welfare in terms of their tusks is being comprimised due to people not willing to accept the fact that if they want to keep healthy walrus with all tusks they must provide sand or other such things.
 
not much larger than an average seal/sea lion food bill, it's actually suprising which seals/sea lions cost more to feed.
 
One of those surprising facts I assume, ... may I ask is it the quality or the quantity?
 
Considering the high-octane life of cali's and the slumbering life of Walrusses perhaps a little less surprising, but still only a little ;)
 
Hannover used to keep walrus. the last years they had an old animal, it's partner has died several years ago. no breeding as far as I remember.

using a think layer of substrate in a walrus exhibit is a bad idea because of anaerobic bacterial activity, which can have desastrous effects. this might not be that much of an issue because the walrus will shift through the bottom, but I'm afraid this will not prevent waste buildup resulting in a toxic cocktail.

all of that is avoidable, but then again it's very challenging to build an undergravel filter of that size AND that is walrus proof.

as much a shame is I find it: but cut the tusks and keep them as simple as possible. bare pool, easy to clean surface.
 
Could a giant sponge not be used as a substrate? Like a sponge that is used in an everyday fish tank filter? A pipe system could be fitted underneath and it could be used as a filter system as well. I can't see a walrus injuring itself on a sponge? :confused:
 
probably, until they get the hang of shredding it. if not with their tusks, then with their claws. then they'll probably try to swallow it and your zoos vet will have a field day with a few dead or very sick walrus on his table.
 
Reviving old thread:

I saw pictures of old Walrus pool at Hagenbeck minus water. It had surprisingly very flat edges, like 20 degrees slope. This resulted that the pool was almost all very shallow (it was rather narrow pool), and only a small part near visitors path was deep.

Maybe it was Hagenbeck Walrus With Tusks trick? Wild walrus use tusks to help crawl out of the water. In a pool with extremely flat sides they probably never do it, so they don't damage their tusks...
 
I've seen walrusses at four diffrent places during my trip to Japan ( Kamogawa Seaworld, Aquamarine Fukoshima, Toba Aquarium, Hakkejima Seaparadise )

Some of the animals especially the breeding male at Kamogawa Seaworld, had very big tusks. Kamogawa Seaworld is breeding Walrusses, the first one was born and raised in 1994. I don't know, how many calfs were born since then, but I've seen a 2010 born calf in the group of 1.3 walrusses. I don't know, if one of the others holders in japan has bred walrusses.
 
Yes, it is. I hope, they can get a new male, maybe together with the planned walrus importation for Pittsburgh, or do they have now walrusses ?
 
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