STINGRAYS

STINGRAYSBy Rachel White

7th Period

IntroductionMentor: David Houghton, Curator of AnimalsSite: Landry’s Aquarium at Kemah BoardwalkProject Topic: Stingrays in Captivity vs. Stingrays

in the WildFinal Product/Tangible Item: Model of a Stingray

Habitat and Model of a Stingray

How I Chose My MentorOver the summer, I went to a dolphin research

center and I was interested in how it was run and how they took care of the dolphins

My neighbor is the head Marine Biologist for all of Landry’s

Over the break, I asked him if he could get me in touch with someone that could be my mentor

He got me in touch with my mentor

About the AquariumTheir main attraction is the Stingray Reef, which

allows guests to touch and feed the stingraysFirst floor: cylinder tanks, S tanks, herps

(reptiles), tower tankSecond floor: tower tank, dining room tank, J

roomThird floor: tower tank, quarantineThere are also animals that aren’t on display,

which are usually new or used for education

Frontosa•From the Cichlid family

•Originate from Africa

•Freshwater fish

•Hump becomes more pronounced as they get older

•Hump present in both sexes

•Can be found in one of the S tanks

www.theaquariumwiki.com

Yellow Discus•Freshwater fish

•Very flat and very thin – about the size of your palm

•Slightly territorial when breeding

•Originate from South America

•Can be found in the quarantine tanks on the third

floor

www.forum.simplydiscus.com

Achilles Tang• Saltwater fish

•Tangs are also known as Surgeonfish

•Aggressive toward other Tangs and Surgeonfish but calm around

other fish

•Dorsal fin has a hard bone that is used in self-defense

•Can be found in the Tower Tank and the Dining Tank

www.waterworld.pk

Piranha•Freshwater fish

•Originate from South America

•Very aggressive; however, they rarely attack humans

•Very sharp teeth

•Can be found in cylinder tank by the restrooms next to the

Stingray Reef

www.de.wikipedia.org

Freshwater Stingray•Freshwater fish

•Originate from South America

•Both freshwater and marine rays have two stingers; the

new one grows in and the old one falls off

•Breed aggressively

•Freshwater rays are found in one of the S tanks

www.blogs.thatpetplace.com

Behind the ScenesLab: their office, keeps all the equipment

(necropsy tools, pH tester, microscope, etc.)Dive Locker: wetsuits, oxygen tanks, masksFood Prep: refrigerators, food, feeding schedule

for all of the tanks and animalsFilter Room on First Floor: pipes, filters, a

quarantine tank, the education animalsFilter Room on Third Floor: pipes, filters, several

quarantine tanks

What I’ve Done With My Mentor

Toured entire AquariumFed stingraysWatched a necropsy on a red snapperLearned about zoonosis and hybrid vigorObserved a dive safety drillWatched the feedingsWatched a water changeObserved the morning and afternoon checks

New Diving Mask

•Full face shield•Mouthpiece that

connects to oxygen tank

•Wireless microphone for diver to contact people above the

surface of the water

Medications•Used to treat fish in

quarantine•Rather than treat the fish individually, they treat the entire tank.

This is also true in display tanks that have

a bacterial infection.

Necropsy Kit•Contains scalpels and

other surgical equipment•Used when performing a

necropsy•May not be used with

larger fish, as they require larger knives

(usually taken from food prep)

Thank You!David Houghton, for being my mentor and

teaching me so much about stingrays and marine biology

Jim Prappas, for helping me find my mentorMrs. Click, for giving me the opportunity to learn

more about marine biology and stingraysMy family, for always being supportive

Works Citedhttp://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display

.cfm?c=830+831+841&pcatid=841

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=830+834+1548&pcatid=1548

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+43+325&pcatid=325

http://www.animalplanet.com/fish/piranha-info.htm