Sea snakes
- Thread starter SealPup
- Start date
Here an already somewhat older article about keeping sea snakes :
https://www.abqjournal.com/37160/se...e-in-captivity-being-care-for-at-abq-zoo.html
https://www.abqjournal.com/37160/se...e-in-captivity-being-care-for-at-abq-zoo.html
SealPup
Well-Known Member
Thx but it doesn't mention the captive diet, interactions w other species or the construction of the exhibit. At least some of the species don't like corners in their tank: Pelamis probably, being planktonic.
Some marine elapids are in European public collections, but they are very rare. Was just wondering if things had improved...
Some marine elapids are in European public collections, but they are very rare. Was just wondering if things had improved...
The Noumea Aquarium keeps Banded Sea Snakes and Laticauda saintgironsi.
Sea snakes are not particularly hard to keep and various species have been kept long-term. This isn't a recent development, but has been the case since the 1990s at least. However, only sea kraits have been seen with some regularity in aquariums in Europe and North America, probably because these coastal species are easier to source than the true sea snakes. True sea snakes have only very rarely been kept outside their native Asia and Australia. As long as they are healthy when entering captivity, they are not particularly prone to disease and readily feed on dead fish (there's also videos on youtube: "Sea Snakes feeding at Reef HQ Aquarium" and "Sea snake feeding at Ocean Park Aquarium, Shark Bay WA"). When well-fed they evidently tend to ignore most other fish in their exhibit. For example, a wide range of small to medium sized fish (squirrelfish, wrasse, surgeonfish, angelfish, butterflyfish, moorish idol, damselfish, maskray, etc) co-inhabit the olive sea snake exhibit at Blue Planet Aquarium (Denmark); most of these have been together for a very long time without issues. Reef HQ (Australia) has successfully kept sea snakes with lionfish and stonefish for a long time. Aquarium of the Pacific (USA) and Berlin (Germany) have kept a range of small fish with their sea kraits, but I'm unaware of their "durability", i.e., if fish remain long-term or frequently switch, suggesting predation by the sea snake. However, mixing should still be done with care. Several few years ago an aquarium in Australia lost a sea snake... when attacked and eaten by a pufferfish. Since many sea snakes feed heavily on eel, especially morays, in the wild, they presumably should never be mixed. I've seen a photo from Aquarium des Lagons (New Caledonia) where a sea krait and sea turtle share a tank, but suspect this is a very risky mix.
The world's first captive breeding of a sea snake, the olive, happened early this year at Reef HQ and a few months later it was bred at Blue Planet. I'm not aware of captive breeding of sea kraits, but I may have missed it. They obviously require a land section, being less "sea" than the true sea snakes. Yellow-bellied sea snake doesn't need an ocean tank, as one might think due to its pelagic behavior, but has done fine in normal tanks. A problem with this species is that most that have ended up in aquariums were stranded, unhealthy individuals and under those circumstances they don't live long (the same for Shedd's confiscated yellow-bellied that were in a bad state when received by the aquarium). Such sick, stranded individuals have been transferred to aquariums in USA (California, Hawaii), New Zealand, Australia and probably elsewhere. Only in Australia do I know of an aquarium, Melbourne, that kept it for a longer period. I don't know what happened to the yellow-bellied sea snake that was turned in to an ordinary aquarium store (!) in Sydney in 2015, but I know they informed the authorities about it and guess it was forwarded to a public aquarium. However, there are two issues with this species compared to the other typical sea snakes: It is an ambush predator (other true sea snakes are active hunters) and feeding has to be adapted for this. Secondly, studies in the last few years suggest that it may require access to freshwater for drinking.
The issue of keeping ultra-venomous snakes obviously hasn't changed and they require special security/handling techniques.
The world's first captive breeding of a sea snake, the olive, happened early this year at Reef HQ and a few months later it was bred at Blue Planet. I'm not aware of captive breeding of sea kraits, but I may have missed it. They obviously require a land section, being less "sea" than the true sea snakes. Yellow-bellied sea snake doesn't need an ocean tank, as one might think due to its pelagic behavior, but has done fine in normal tanks. A problem with this species is that most that have ended up in aquariums were stranded, unhealthy individuals and under those circumstances they don't live long (the same for Shedd's confiscated yellow-bellied that were in a bad state when received by the aquarium). Such sick, stranded individuals have been transferred to aquariums in USA (California, Hawaii), New Zealand, Australia and probably elsewhere. Only in Australia do I know of an aquarium, Melbourne, that kept it for a longer period. I don't know what happened to the yellow-bellied sea snake that was turned in to an ordinary aquarium store (!) in Sydney in 2015, but I know they informed the authorities about it and guess it was forwarded to a public aquarium. However, there are two issues with this species compared to the other typical sea snakes: It is an ambush predator (other true sea snakes are active hunters) and feeding has to be adapted for this. Secondly, studies in the last few years suggest that it may require access to freshwater for drinking.
The issue of keeping ultra-venomous snakes obviously hasn't changed and they require special security/handling techniques.
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@TheMightyOrca
I suspect sourcing is a primary issue. Sea kraits, being semi-terrestrial, are easy enough to catch and have turned up with some frequency in aquariums around the world. In the right time you can catch them without ever getting your feet wet. Within the range of ordinary snake catchers and allowing for easy transport (easier to manage than a water-filled tank). The fully aquatic true sea snakes are an entirely different matter. Most ordinary fish-catchers would ignore them, both because of their venom and because there is little demand. Many countries have restrictions in place that prohibit private people from keeping them. This means that any public aquarium wishing to display a true sea snake likely would have to place a very expensive special order. This also means that locals have little experince with the species: little knowledge of safe capture, feeding it once captured and just making sure it is doing fine. If, for example, ordered through the Philippines, a major fish-exporting nation, there's a good chance you'd end up with a sickly individual that wouldn't last long. The exception is Australia where there are aquariums and experts with the knowledge, but Australia has strong restrictions on export of wildlife. However, under certain circumstances they do allow it (more on that below). Furthermore, although many ordinary people may find sea snakes interesting, few would make the distinction between sea krait and true sea snake. Indeed, one may argue that the sea kraits are better looking. So, the aquarium has to ask themselves: why go through the hassle of getting a true sea snake when you can get a sea krait?
Finally, many aquariums are hesitant when it comes to the extremely venomous sea snakes. Compared to e.g., stonefish, sea snakes are highly active, can escape aquariums if not properly secured and can move at least some distance on land. Zoos/public aquariums in several countries rely on centralized antivenom centers that keep stocks of antivenom. For example, antivenom for pretty much everything (mambas, rattlesnakes, etc) is widely stocked at centers throughout Europe. The exception is sea snake antivenom that isn't stocked anywhere (no use), meaning that the aquarium has to get it themselves. It is both very expensive and has a limited durability. The price for sea snake antivenom was actually one of the primary reasons for Blue Planet getting the olive sea snake, as they are working on developing a cheaper version. In southeast Asia there are fatalities every year that likely could have been prevented if a cheaper antivenom was available for the relatively poor local population. This and other research by one of the leading sea snake experts (don't ask why one of the world's leading sea snake experts is Danish... a country no-where near the range of sea snakes!), was a primary reason for Australia allowing the export of olive sea snakes to this European aquarium.
I suspect sourcing is a primary issue. Sea kraits, being semi-terrestrial, are easy enough to catch and have turned up with some frequency in aquariums around the world. In the right time you can catch them without ever getting your feet wet. Within the range of ordinary snake catchers and allowing for easy transport (easier to manage than a water-filled tank). The fully aquatic true sea snakes are an entirely different matter. Most ordinary fish-catchers would ignore them, both because of their venom and because there is little demand. Many countries have restrictions in place that prohibit private people from keeping them. This means that any public aquarium wishing to display a true sea snake likely would have to place a very expensive special order. This also means that locals have little experince with the species: little knowledge of safe capture, feeding it once captured and just making sure it is doing fine. If, for example, ordered through the Philippines, a major fish-exporting nation, there's a good chance you'd end up with a sickly individual that wouldn't last long. The exception is Australia where there are aquariums and experts with the knowledge, but Australia has strong restrictions on export of wildlife. However, under certain circumstances they do allow it (more on that below). Furthermore, although many ordinary people may find sea snakes interesting, few would make the distinction between sea krait and true sea snake. Indeed, one may argue that the sea kraits are better looking. So, the aquarium has to ask themselves: why go through the hassle of getting a true sea snake when you can get a sea krait?
Finally, many aquariums are hesitant when it comes to the extremely venomous sea snakes. Compared to e.g., stonefish, sea snakes are highly active, can escape aquariums if not properly secured and can move at least some distance on land. Zoos/public aquariums in several countries rely on centralized antivenom centers that keep stocks of antivenom. For example, antivenom for pretty much everything (mambas, rattlesnakes, etc) is widely stocked at centers throughout Europe. The exception is sea snake antivenom that isn't stocked anywhere (no use), meaning that the aquarium has to get it themselves. It is both very expensive and has a limited durability. The price for sea snake antivenom was actually one of the primary reasons for Blue Planet getting the olive sea snake, as they are working on developing a cheaper version. In southeast Asia there are fatalities every year that likely could have been prevented if a cheaper antivenom was available for the relatively poor local population. This and other research by one of the leading sea snake experts (don't ask why one of the world's leading sea snake experts is Danish... a country no-where near the range of sea snakes!), was a primary reason for Australia allowing the export of olive sea snakes to this European aquarium.
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On balance, it should be mentioned that only a few sea snake species have been kept for a longer period in captivity (at least species from genera: Laticauda, Acalyptophis, Aipysurus, Hydrophis, Lapemis, Pelamis). We obviously have no way of knowing how the rest would do in captivity, although preliminary evidence suggests Emydocephalus is particularly sensitive and its feeding requirements would also be difficult to replicate in captivity.
SealPup
Well-Known Member
Do ppl get round the sea krait eating eels issue the way ppl do w king cobras? I knew someone had king cobras and started rubbing mice with a snake shed, and eventually he could show off by giving them unscented steak. I also knew someone had young sea kraits "off the books", but they didn't survive.
The compatibility with lionfish and stonefish, is easy to explain as they are all venomous and sympatric. Pelamis being an ambush predator is maybe not so hard: I'm presuming they strike at certain prey movements, like Erpeton or the ribbon eels? It takes more time deadfeeding such animals because you need to imitate prey movements, but it can be done. The problem is over piscivores steal the food first.
The compatibility with lionfish and stonefish, is easy to explain as they are all venomous and sympatric. Pelamis being an ambush predator is maybe not so hard: I'm presuming they strike at certain prey movements, like Erpeton or the ribbon eels? It takes more time deadfeeding such animals because you need to imitate prey movements, but it can be done. The problem is over piscivores steal the food first.
They pretty much lie motionless at the surface, waiting for a small group of fish to gather, move backwards to position themselves and then strike. The position of their fangs is specially adapted to this. In Melbourne this was resolved by putting in groups of small fish and letting the snakes feed naturally. As long as the prey is alive and is near it at the surface it'll take it; captives have even been willing to take frogs (though being a fish-specialist it is probably healthier to only feed fish). Initial force feeding has obviously been with dead fish, but otherwise the limited available information suggests this species is unlikely to easily adapt to taking dead prey. Unlike the other sea snakes.
Just received info that it was transferred to Manly.
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@SealPup
Specialists in the wild, but in captivity can easily be enticed to accept other fish, including already dead, as long as they are of suitable size. Based on the little available information on their captive care, it is the same situation for Hydrophis, also eel specialists, and Acalyptophis, a specialist of burrowing gobies. In contrast, both Aipysurus and Lapemis are generalist feeders, even in the wild.
Specialists in the wild, but in captivity can easily be enticed to accept other fish, including already dead, as long as they are of suitable size. Based on the little available information on their captive care, it is the same situation for Hydrophis, also eel specialists, and Acalyptophis, a specialist of burrowing gobies. In contrast, both Aipysurus and Lapemis are generalist feeders, even in the wild.
Unfortunately, this is incorrect. Due to increasing prices for antivenoms and lack of interest from authorities, there is less and less antivenom available in Europe, with a few noteworthy exceptions, such as Switzerland.
I'm also very surprised about the statement that seasnakes are supposed to be easy to keep. I've heard quite the contrary from people who've kept them. And the from veterinarian who's done the necropsies of the deceased ones at Berlin Aquarium.
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Was there a special technique to getting the dietary specialists to become generalists?
SealPup
Well-Known Member
A lot of sea animals, like the Taeniura rays and the moorish idols, do well close to home but take long distance shipping poorly. Perhaps it is the same with the snakes if they don't have fat reserves or store much food in their gut (my speculation), Such animals also have trouble recovering once they are in ill health, because they have no fat reserves - again this sounds like the rescue sea snakes IMO.
Consider how much other sea animals changed their physiologies upon returning to the sea, and consider that the sea snake physiology can even let them breathe subaqueously (to a degree). I don't think they have a normal land snake physiology, certainly nothing like the terrestrial sit-and-wait predators most zoos and private keepers are used to.
I do not have recent information about the current situation in southern and central Europe and it certainly may have changed there compared to the situation years ago (as your post suggest), but it still the case in Scandinavia. Fortunately, one may say, as a private citizen who was bitten by his illegally kept South American rattlesnake likely would not have survived otherwise.
I think you misread my post, or more likely I did not express myself clearly enough. "Not particularly hard" (to use the exact wording from my post) should be understod as a relative term. We're not talking about corn snake or boa constrictor easy, but likewise we're not talking about species that are near-impossible or anything like that (as had been suggested). Furthermore, as noted by keepers that I've spoken to about this exact issue at Blue Planet, Reef HQ and Melbourne, they generally do not present major problems if completely healthy when they arrive. That, unfortunately, has often not been the case as I also mentioned in earlier posts, with many arriving in a poor or suboptimal condition. Additionally, their requirements for relatively large tanks (not big for public aquariums, but very big for private keepers), combined with their toxicity, means that any would-be private keeper should seriously reconsider. Regardless, with only *two cases of captive breeding involving a single species, that clearly is a place where more knowledge is necessary, although at least in part this may be explained by the fact that many places have kept singles.
*Two full captive breeding. There are several cases, including a major study from India, where sea snakes were transferred to captivity for a period for study, gave birth and were released. That doesn't really qualify for captive breeding, as they were already gravid when placed in captivity. Since Berlin has had infertile eggs with their common sea krait one can hope that they'll eventually succeed.
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Then take it from me at face value - your original assumption is widespread, but incorrect. And I'll ask some knowledgable Scandinavian friends for their local situation, as the aforementioned decrease of available, affordable and suitable antivenom is, with few exceptions such as Australia, an international problem.
That might indeed be the case.
The health aspect SealPup suggests is imho probably the main contribution for the lack of more ex-situ husbandry success. And on a sidenote: they do have some really freaky-looking ectoparasites...
That's what I did, my mistake if was unclear. As noted I do not have up-to-date information about the situation in southern and central Europe, only Scandinavia due in no small part to the previously mentioned rattler bite (a local zookeeper involved in keeping venomous snakes was contacted by the authorities when it happened and a friend of mine was part of the team treating the bite victim). It is hardly surprising that stockpiles are declining in much of the world, considering their price.
SealPup
Well-Known Member
One odd bit of dubious knowledge I once read, is that sea kraits will lay undersea. Is this true, Y/N? This was once widely repeated, and was the source of the idea about mosasaurs, in Spinar & Burian's most beloved text. I strongly suspect it isn't but there must be a basis: someone could write a paper or blog piece on the myth.