Spec. Zoo Design questions

What is the group size of Australian Lungfish Neoceratodus forsteri, Australian Water Dragon Intellagama lesueurii, Banded Archerfish Toxotes jaculatrix, Eastern Saw-shelled Turtle Myuchelys latisternum, Eastern Snake-necked Turtle Chelodina longicollis, Empire Gudgeon Hypseleotris compressa, and Murray River Rainbowfish Melanotaenia fluviatilis?
 
Does anyone know how many American Alligators could be sufficiently housed with unrestricted access to an approximately 5,500 sq. meter space (split indoor and outdoor) without hostility between the gators?
 
Van Beal said:
Does anyone know how many American Alligators could be sufficiently housed with unrestricted access to an approximately 5,500 sq. meter space (split indoor and outdoor) without hostility between the gators?
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That would be an incredibly large space so maybe a group of 15-30 adult alligators with a 1:3 or 1:4 male to female ratio. There would have to be several visual barriers such as logs, trees, water sections, islands, etc. The basking and feeding areas would have to be separated to prevent aggression. Before the breeding season, the less alligators the better. Have multiple water sources to reduce dominance over a single pool
 
MOG2012 said:
That would be an incredibly large space so maybe a group of 15-30 adult alligators with a 1:3 or 1:4 male to female ratio. There would have to be several visual barriers such as logs, trees, water sections, islands, etc. The basking and feeding areas would have to be separated to prevent aggression. Before the breeding season, the less alligators the better. Have multiple water sources to reduce dominance over a single pool
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The idea was one or two decently sized bodies of water in both the indoor and outdoor space, with plenty of different land areas and lots of visual barriers like logs, reeds, and other natural or semi-natural features.
 
So one thing I wanna do for my Bronx Zoo master plan is have a barn for rhinos that also has indoor viewing.

In the main guest area, I also want little birds flying around. At first, I thought of oxpeckers since they're such a classic pairing but then I remembered they're parasitic so that went out the window.

So my question is what East African birds would go well in a barn about 20m x 36m

I'd like some small passerines and some guineafowl if that's possible.
 
tigris115 said:
So one thing I wanna do for my Bronx Zoo master plan is have a barn for rhinos that also has indoor viewing.

In the main guest area, I also want little birds flying around. At first, I thought of oxpeckers since they're such a classic pairing but then I remembered they're parasitic so that went out the window.

So my question is what East African birds would go well in a barn about 20m x 36m

I'd like some small passerines and some guineafowl if that's possible.
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Assuming the guest area is totally indoor, the guineafowl should be no issue. As for small African passerines, are weavers of some kind (Taveta, white-headed buffalo, etc.) something you've considered?
 
Van Beal said:
Assuming the guest area is totally indoor, the guineafowl should be no issue. As for small African passerines, are weavers of some kind (Taveta, white-headed buffalo, etc.) something you've considered?
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Or Wattled Starling and Golden-breasted Starling.
But the passerines should be at least so big than a White-headed Buffalo because bigger galliformes are known for eating small birds.
 
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MOG2012 said:
What is the group size of Australian Lungfish Neoceratodus forsteri, Australian Water Dragon Intellagama lesueurii, Banded Archerfish Toxotes jaculatrix, Eastern Saw-shelled Turtle Myuchelys latisternum, Eastern Snake-necked Turtle Chelodina longicollis, Empire Gudgeon Hypseleotris compressa, and Murray River Rainbowfish Melanotaenia fluviatilis?
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Australian Lungfish - One per tank, no exhibit mates
Australian Water Dragon - One per tank, unless freeroaming
Eastern Saw-shelled Turtle - 1 or more, depends on enclosure size
Eastern Snake-necked Turtle - 1 or more, depends on enclosure size
Banded Archerfish - Alone or groups of 4-5
Empire Gudgeon - 4 or more individuals
Murray River Rainbowfish - 6+ individuals, the more the merrier
 
Mossman Joe said:
Australian Lungfish - One per tank, no exhibit mates
Australian Water Dragon - One per tank, unless freeroaming
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Both Sydney Aquarium and Sydney Zoo have multiple Australian Lungfish housed together, both with several other species. Sydney Aquarium also has a large group of perhaps 10-15 Eastern Water Dragons, though it is a relatively large exhibit.
 
Osedax said:
Both Sydney Aquarium and Sydney Zoo have multiple Australian Lungfish housed together, both with several other species. Sydney Aquarium also has a large group of perhaps 10-15 Eastern Water Dragons, though it is a relatively large exhibit.
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Fair point, I've just checked the galleries and it is indeed common practice to keep them with similarly sized conspecifics or smaller fish like rainbowfish.

As for the Eastern Water Dragons, I'd retract that as well. As long as the enclosure allows for each dragon to get away from another when needed, you probably can have multiples.
 
Can epaulette sharks and lemon sharks be in a tank that people walk over, I was thinking of a “sunken ship theme” with the floor being glass viewing the tank
 
Are any species compatible with epaulette sharks and lemon sharks in a "sunken ship" themed aquarium (you can see them from one wall and the floor via clear viewing windows, and also through the portholes)? This is for an Oceania islands zone (there is a brown rat enclosure also in the "sunken ship" theme)
Van Beal said:
The idea was all the species the zoo would manage would be in an open pond area so they were able to fly away if/when they were rehabilitated, and would only be living with wild animals and other animals that were being rehabbed for return to the wild.
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The only thing would they be at risk of predation as there are no boundaries between them and wild animals (ie. a coyote) and them being injured makes it worse.
 
MOG2012 said:
Can epaulette sharks and lemon sharks be in a tank that people walk over, I was thinking of a “sunken ship theme” with the floor being glass viewing the tank
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I meant Banjo Ray Trygonorrhina fasciata, and Port Jackson Shark Heterodontus portusjacksoni
 
What are some Southeast Asian animals that are both extreme heat tolerant, arid tolerant and cold tolerant, and are island endemics, found in AZA collections?
 
Would a rotational series of habitats for African Wild Dog, African Lion, and Spotted Hyena work without causing excessive stress in any of the species?
Also, have rotational aviaries ever been done? I had the idea to do some kind of rotation with Verreaux's Eagle, African Fish-eagle, Bateleur, and African Crowned Eagle, but didn't know if rotation was common and/or feasible for birds.
 
Van Beal said:
Would a rotational series of habitats for African Wild Dog, African Lion, and Spotted Hyena work without causing excessive stress in any of the species
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The Denver Zoo had accomplished this rotation with all three carnivores; although, it seems that the dogs were relocated to a separate habitat sometime ago. Nowadays, I believe it’s just the hyenas and lions that rotate; and to any Denver locals, let us know if that’s still the case.
 
Van Beal said:
Would a rotational series of habitats for African Wild Dog, African Lion, and Spotted Hyena work without causing excessive stress in any of the species?
Also, have rotational aviaries ever been done? I had the idea to do some kind of rotation with Verreaux's Eagle, African Fish-eagle, Bateleur, and African Crowned Eagle, but didn't know if rotation was common and/or feasible for birds.
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The African Wild dogs might get stressed with lions and hyenas being extremely territorial. Lions and hyenas would work.

Raptor rotational enclosures are extremely rare but feasible. Raptors are extremely territorial with avian disease transmission being possible. They also have different perching structures. This could work if they are rotated every few weeks to month
 
Out of curiosity, could I have an indoor space that alternates use between duikers and either mandrills or gorillas?
 
Van Beal said:
Out of curiosity, could I have an indoor space that alternates use between duikers and either mandrills or gorillas?
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Theoretically you could. They just both have very different spatial & environmental needs. There is some zoonotic disease risks possible with the duikers possibly being constantly stressed by the smell of the primates
 
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