Animals Archives - Page 3 of 4

What is it like to care for a porcupinefish? Our senior aquarist weighs in

Posted on August 16, 2022February 9, 2024 by Emma Leiser

It’s fair to say that Senior Aquarist Alan Tomita knows more about porcupinefish than most people. An expert on tropical fish, he’s worked at the Seattle Aquarium for more than three decades. In this Q&A, Alan shares insights from his years spent caring for porcupinefish.

Q: What’s especially amazing about a porcupinefish?
A: Its superpower is intimidation. It can scare off predators by swallowing air or water to blow itself to double its size or more. Once it does, its spines—which are otherwise tucked away—transform into dangerous spikes.

Q: Does being puffed up change the way a porcupinefish moves or swims?
A: When a porcupinefish fully puffs itself up, its buoyancy is altered, often causing it to flip upside-down. But the upside-down fish ball has no problem bobbing along. Researchers and caregivers have noticed that a porcupinefish will sometimes puff up for no known reason, and not to the point where it loses buoyancy. This is believed to be the fish’s way of stretching its “puffer” muscles.

Q: In the wild, what kinds of predators are willing to take on a porcupinefish?
A: Because of its clever emerging spikes, the porcupinefish has few enemies. Its main predators are sharks, or fish that are large enough to swallow it whole.

Q: So large fish can safely swallow a porcupinefish?
A: Yes—if the predator can deflate it with its teeth, is big and fast enough to swallow it before it inflates, or is big enough to swallow it whole, even inflated.

However, a porcupinefish has a secret weapon hidden in its organs―a lethal toxin 1,200 times stronger than cyanide. This toxin doesn’t bother all fish and is most dangerous to mammals, including humans. In Japan, where porcupinefish (called fugu in that country) are considered a delicacy, fugu handlers must undergo special training to ensure the fish can be safely eaten.

Q: Are large fish the only threat to a porcupinefish?
A: No, its biggest threats are caused by humans. Since a porcupinefish will bite at whatever it finds floating in the water, it’s at risk for consuming plastic, which is dangerous to its health. People also like to collect porcupinefish, dry out the fish’s skin and inflate it for use as a Christmas tree ornament or lamp.

Q: Where do porcupinefish make their homes in the wild?
A: The porcupinefish—like many types of pufferfish—lives mainly in tropical waters around the world.

Q: What’s an average day in the life of a porcupinefish in the wild compared to at the Aquarium?
A: Porcupinefish living at the Aquarium spend most of their time hanging out, bobbing around and enjoying their own company.

In the wild, this solitary species will mostly sleep during the day and spend nighttime looking for food. It will “hang out” in caves and under ledges, swimming around mostly alone. Only juveniles seek the comfort of other porcupinefish.

A porcupinefish can live peacefully among nearly any type of fish. It’s not often threatened and therefore doesn’t need to use its defense mechanism unless something big comes along to scare it. Kōkala—the featured porcupinefish living at the Aquarium—currently lives in a habitat with about 200 other fish, and everything is simpatico.

Q: What does Kōkala eat at the Aquarium versus what she would eat in the wild?
A: In the wild, a porcupinefish enjoys a diet of hard-shell crustaceans, sea urchins, snails and other invertebrates.

At the Aquarium, Kōkala eats a diet mainly of clams, shrimp and squid, along with a jelly made of vegetable matter.

Q: Does she like her veggie gel?
A: Not really, but it’s good for her, and I can usually get her to eat one small square before she realizes what she’s gulped down.

Q: Isn’t that like a parent trying to sneak veggies into their child’s meal?
A: Exactly!

Q: What practical knowledge have you gained while working with porcupinefish?
A: When I’m caring for Kōkala, “care” is the key word. It’s not just the spikes that make being around a porcupinefish risky; her beak-like teeth also require me to proceed with caution. The first rule is to keep my fingers clear of her mouth. I’m always aware of how easy it would be to lose a finger.

Q: What led you to your career at the Seattle Aquarium?
A: I grew up in Hawai‘i, and my degree is in zoology from the University of Hawai‘i. I’d always wanted to work for a reputable aquarium and had my eye on Seattle for a while. When a position opened, I jumped on it, which turned out to be a smart move because I’ve been here for 33 years now!

Even though Kōkala is a loner, she doesn’t mind visitors! Plan a visit to the Seattle Aquarium, and maybe you’ll be lucky enough to see Kōkala stretch her muscles and puff herself up. You might even catch a glimpse of Alan caring for his favorite fish! Look for the puffers in our care in our Pacific Coral Reef and Tropical Pacific habitats. You can also discover more cool facts about these amazing animals on our pufferfish and porcupinefish webpage.

Porcupinefish: Fact or “fishin’?”

Posted on July 21, 2022February 9, 2024 by Emma Leiser

With their bulbous bodies, large eyes and beak-like teeth, porcupinefish stand out from the crowd. But there’s more to these quirky fish than meets the eye. Test your ability to parse porcupinefish fact from “fishin’” by mousing over the boxes below!

With their bulbous bodies, large eyes and beak-like teeth, porcupinefish stand out from the crowd. But there’s more to these quirky fish than meets the eye. Test your ability to parse porcupinefish fact from “fishin’” by tapping the boxes below!

When a porcupinefish is threatened or provoked, it can puff itself up to twice its size

Fact!

Porcupinefish can inflate their bodies by swallowing water (or air), becoming rounder and doubling in size. This makes them appear larger, scaring off potential predators.

A porcupinefish gets its name from the round shape of a porcupine's body and its shy but curious nature

Fishin'

A porcupinefish is covered with sharp spines (up to 2 inches long) that lay flat against its body. When it puffs up, the spines stick out and become sharp spikes (like a porcupine)!

Porcupinefish is just another name for pufferfish

Fishin'

While the two fish are often collectively referred to as pufferfish or “puffers,” and many people use the names interchangeably, they are indeed distinct. Other pufferfish have soft spines that are unnoticeable in some species, but only the porcupinefish has sharp, protective spines.

A porcupine fish sometimes swims upside down

Fact!

When a porcupinefish puffs itself up, the modified buoyancy causes it to turn upside down, although its movement looks more like bobbing than swimming. When the danger has passed, a porcupinefish will deflate, turn right-side up and continue on its way.

Porcupinefish (and other pufferfish) are an exotic delicacy

Fact!

In many parts of the world, porcupinefish and puffers are served in high-end restaurants even though their internal organs contain a neurotoxin that’s 1,200 times stronger than cyanide. It takes a trained eye to prepare the fish correctly. In Japan, chefs are required to undergo rigorous training and testing before they can serve the potentially lethal fish. Despite these precautions, several dozen people worldwide are poisoned each year by eating the fish.

One way to protect porcupinefish—and all the animals in the ocean—is to skip your daily shower

Fact (kind of)!

Taking shorter showers, or showering less frequently, is one way to conserve water and reduce energy use, which benefits all the animals that live in the ocean. How does saving energy at home help the ocean? Reducing your energy use reduces your carbon footprint—which in turn reduces the carbon emissions that contribute to ocean acidification.

When a porcupinefish is threatened or provoked, it can puff itself up to twice its size

Fact!

Porcupinefish can inflate their bodies by swallowing water (or air), becoming rounder and doubling in size. This makes them appear larger, scaring off potential predators.

A porcupinefish gets its name from the round shape of a porcupine's body and its shy but curious nature

Fishin'

A porcupinefish is covered with sharp spines (up to 2 inches long) that lay flat against its body. When it puffs up, the spines stick out and become sharp spikes (like a porcupine)!

Porcupinefish is just another name for pufferfish

Fishin'

While the two fish are often collectively referred to as pufferfish, they are indeed distinct. Other pufferfish have soft spines that are unnoticeable in some species, but only the porcupinefish has sharp, protective spines.

A porcupine fish sometimes swims upside down

Fact!

When a porcupinefish puffs itself up, the modified buoyancy causes it to turn upside down. When the danger has passed, a porcupinefish will deflate, turn right-side up and continue on its way.

Porcupinefish (and other pufferfish) are an exotic delicacy

Fact!

In many parts of the world, porcupinefish and puffers are served in high-end restaurants even though their internal organs contain a neurotoxin that’s 1,200 times stronger than cyanide.

One way to protect porcupinefish—and all the animals in the ocean—is to skip your daily shower

Fact (kind of)!

Taking shorter showers, or showering less frequently, is one way to conserve water and reduce energy use, which benefits all the animals that live in the ocean.

Want to know more about the puffers in our care? Explore our pufferfish and porcupinefish webpage. Then plan a visit to the Aquarium and stop by our Pacific Coral Reef habitat!

Saying goodbye: End-of-life animal care at the Seattle Aquarium

Posted on March 31, 2022May 9, 2024 by Emma Leiser

In a recent series of blog posts, we described what it’s like to care for the 12,000+ animals that live at the Aquarium and how we aim to provide the best lives possible for them. This post is devoted to the final stage: end-of life care and, when necessary, euthanasia—which means producing a humane death that is rapid, avoids pain and minimizes any distress. While many of the animals in our care die of natural causes, euthanasia is a critical and compassionate element of the care we provide. No animal can live forever, and we want the animals in our care to pass as peacefully as possible when it’s time.

The Seattle Aquarium has carefully developed a comprehensive set of lifelong care and euthanasia policies and protocols as well as quality-of-life assessments to guide the process of determining when humane euthanasia is called for. These policies and protocols are in alignment with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal Welfare Act and Animal Welfare Regulations, as well as the standards set forth by the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians and the Association of Zoos & Aquariums. They apply to all animals at the Aquarium, from fur seals to sea stars, as well as rescued animals that we care for (such as sea turtles). These decisions are not taken lightly and always involve veterinary and animal care staff.

Emergency euthanasia and planned euthanasia for health and welfare reasons are two categories of humane euthanasia described in the Aquarium’s policy:

Emergency euthanasia may be the most humane and compassionate choice if an animal is in acute distress and we can’t relieve that distress. An example might be a rescued sea turtle with severe injuries from a boat strike that we can’t fix. These situations are always hard, but we do everything we can to minimize pain and suffering. Fortunately, emergency euthanasia is rare at the Aquarium.
It’s more common that euthanasia decisions are planned. This is because we monitor our animals closely and usually know when an animal is getting toward the end of its life. This is often due to symptoms that are affecting quality of life and where there are no additional diagnostic, treatment or management options.

“Our harbor seal, Q, was diagnosed with cancer in early 2021,” says Senior Veterinarian Dr. Caitlin Hadfield. “The cancer responded really well to chemotherapy, and he was his normal happy self for several more months. The cancer came back, and we went into what is called rescue therapy. We used his individual quality-of-life assessments, other monitoring and regular discussions with his animal care professionals to help understand how he was doing. We knew that the rescue therapy was unlikely to give him much time, and so we were ready to provide a peaceful euthanasia when we saw signs that he wasn’t thriving.” Q was humanely euthanized in June of 2021.

Regardless of the reason, when euthanasia is deemed necessary, the Seattle Aquarium is committed to always providing appropriate methods that are in the animal’s best interest and that cause the most rapid, painless and distress-free death as possible.

While the decision to humanely euthanize an animal can be emotionally difficult, it’s also one that needs to be made when the situation calls for it—and we’re grateful for the clear policies and protocols, aligned with governing bodies and best practices in animal care, that help guide us.

Saying goodbye to elderly Adaa

Posted on February 28, 2022February 9, 2024 by Emma Leiser

We are sad to announce the passing of Adaa, the male northern sea otter under our care, from cancer. The disease was diagnosed in mid-February and considered terminal. Adaa was treated with medications to manage his symptoms and provide him with a good quality of life for the time he had left. The staff had hoped this would give him several weeks, but his condition recently deteriorated and he was humanely euthanized on Sunday, February 27.

This beloved animal was the oldest male sea otter at zoos and aquariums in the U.S., and he became the oldest male sea otter on record in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) “studbook” when he reached 22 years and 2 months old. (On average, sea otters in the wild live 15–20 years.) An AZA studbook dynamically documents the entire demographic history of each individual of a species—this is an invaluable tool to help us understand how individuals and groups are doing and allows us to provide the best standard of care.

Curator of Birds and Mammals Julie Carpenter describes Adaa as “a beautiful animal with a gentle way about him. He had his quirks, such as hopping with his rear flippers when on land instead of walking and making soft cooing sounds while chewing.”

Adaa, which means “come ashore” in the Aleut language, was approximately 4 months old when he was found on an airport runway at Port Heiden, Alaska, in January 2000. Julie explained this about his age: “While we don’t know Adaa’s exact date of birth, we have a very close estimate. As pups, sea otters have unique pelage [the fur covering of a mammal] and pup teeth that change as they grow. The stage of pelage and teeth growth, in addition to size and time of year, allows us to accurately estimate the age of the pup within a couple of months—sometimes even weeks or days—of birth.” At the time of his passing, Adaa was approximately 22 years and 8 months of age.

Adaa then lived at the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, Oregon, until April 2004, when he was transferred to the Seattle Aquarium. In 2012, Adaa was temporarily moved to the Oregon Zoo following the birth of his daughter, Sekiu, to allow mother (Aniak) and daughter space to bond without the presence of a male. In the wild, females with pups are often found in rafts without males. Once Sekiu was older and weaned, Adaa returned to Seattle Aquarium.

“He was a gentle male and was always amazing with the females,” says Julie. “In his older years he was often seen holding onto Mishka, a younger female, while he slept and was even seen grooming her.”

Adaa had some favorite enrichment activities, like playing with or crunching on ice and solving puzzle feeders. He will be dearly missed by the staff and volunteers at the Aquarium and by the many in-person and live-webcam visitors who enjoyed his company.

“Adaa had an enormous amount of trust in the people who cared for him,” says Senior Veterinarian Dr. Caitlin Hadfield, “particularly the animal care professionals who worked most closely with him. It was always inspiring to see that relationship. It allowed us to work together to provide the care he needed as he got older.”

Four policies to help salmon in Washington

Posted on January 26, 2022February 9, 2024 by Emma Leiser

Each year, thousands of Washington salmon migrate, swimming against the current to return to the rivers and streams where they were born. If you visit the Cedar River in the fall, you may spot bright-red sockeye flashing underwater, Chinook building a redd or coho migrating farther upstream to spawn. Adult salmon die within a few weeks after spawning, and the salmon life cycle begins again with the eggs left behind. Right now, young salmon may be emerging from the gravel, foraging for food and making their home in the Cedar River, where they will live and grow before heading out to sea.

Salmon are keystone species and critical for Washington ecosystems, economies and communities, as well as for the survival of the endangered southern resident orcas. Yet our salmon populations face many threats, and some species are dangerously close to extinction.

Salmon rely on a healthy habitat during all phases of their life cycle, including freshwater, estuarine and marine ecosystems. How can we recover salmon populations and protect their habitat? The Seattle Aquarium is working to advance several actions during the 2022 state legislative session that would support critical ecosystems and healthy salmon and orca populations for years to come. Learn more about these priorities and how you can take action below!

Marine Shoreline Habitat (SB 5885)

The time after juvenile salmon leave streams and rivers behind and enter the Salish Sea is a critical survival period. But along Puget Sound shorelines, structures like old docks and bulkheads that are either unpermitted or have fallen into disrepair disrupt and pollute that nearshore habitat. This bill would require shoreline surveys to map these types of structures, then enable steps to restore nearshore habitat.

Duckabush River Estuary Restoration Project

Estuaries—tidal wetland environments where rivers meet salt water—are important environments for all sorts of species, from migratory birds to juvenile salmon. A $50.2 million state investment in the Duckabush River Estuary Restoration Project would restore critical habitat that fish rely on, including threatened summer chum and Chinook salmon. With estuary restoration, there will be pools and slow water areas for fish to hide, rest and grow until they are ready for the marine environment.

Kelp Forests and Eelgrass Meadows (HB 1661/SB 5619)

Washington state is a global hotspot for kelp diversity and is home to eelgrass meadows that provide nursery habitat for juvenile salmon and feeder fish. Unfortunately, these habitats have declined dramatically. This bill would enable creation of a plan to restore or conserve 10,000 acres of kelp forests and eelgrass meadows by 2040—supporting vital habitat for all kinds of species in our coastal waters.

Lorraine Loomis Act for Salmon Recovery (HB 1838/SB 5727)

Named in honor of late Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission chair and Swinomish Tribe member Lorraine Loomis, this bill would protect and restore riparian habitat along Washington state rivers and streams. Shading these waterways keeps the water cool and clean, making salmon populations and the broader ecosystem more climate resilient as air and water temperatures rise. Stay tuned for updates on this bill as the legislative session advances.

Join us in taking action for salmon!

There are steps you can take right now to help salmon have a better chance of recovery:

If you live in Washington state, speak up this week for salmon. Email your elected officials or call the toll-free legislative hotline at (800) 562-6000 (TTY for hearing impaired (800) 833-6388) between 8am and 7pm, Monday through Friday, to leave a message for all three of your legislators at once. Ask them to support HB 1838/SB 5727, SB 5885, HB 1661/SB 5619 and a $50.2 million investment in the Duckabush estuary project.
Discover other ways to help salmon and protect ocean health.

Read about our other 2022 legislative priorities and sign up for our email action alerts.

Animal care at the Seattle Aquarium: The AZA’s Species Survival Plans

Posted on November 1, 2021May 9, 2024 by Emma Leiser

Have you ever wondered about the animals under our care at the Aquarium, such as how they came to live here and why they need our care? Those are big questions, and part of the answers can be found through our accreditation with the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) and participation in its Species Survival Plan (SSP) Program. What is that exactly, and how do we participate? Let’s dive in!

According to the AZA, “an AZA Species Survival Plan (SSP) Program strives to manage and conserve a select and typically threatened or endangered species population with the cooperation of AZA-accredited institutions. SSP Programs develop a Breeding and Transfer Plan that identifies population management goals and recommendations to ensure the sustainability of a healthy, genetically diverse, and demographically varied population.”

Staff at the Seattle Aquarium participate in several SSPs as well as the Taxon Advisory Groups (TAGs), which select the SSP Programs. All four mammal species in our care are in an SSP: sea otter, harbor seal, northern fur seal and river otter, though the SSPs for the last three are led by staff at other facilities. We participate in five TAGs—aquatic invertebrate, marine mammal, Charadriiformes (shorebirds, auks, gulls, and related species), freshwater fishes and marine fishes—and 10 SSPs: North American river otter, northern sea otter, southern sea otter (although we don’t provide a home for this species at the Aquarium), harbor seal, common murre, horned puffin (also not currently a resident at the Aquarium), tufted puffin, lined seahorse, spotted eagle ray and bowmouth guitarfish. (The spotted eagle ray and bowmouth guitarfish will be part of the new Ocean Pavilion habitats!)

Seattle Aquarium Curator of Birds and Mammals Julie Carpenter explains more: “For species that are part of a managed SSP, we work cooperatively with the SSP coordinator and studbook keeper* to meet necessary reproduction and transport plans to best suit the animal’s needs and conservation initiatives set forth by the TAG and Regional Collection Plan.”

*(Not sure what a studbook is? Keep reading!)

“Lined seahorses, for example, are cared for by many AZA organizations,” says Curator of Fish and Invertebrates Tim Carpenter. “It is the job of the SSP coordinator and studbook keeper to be sure any inter-facility trades and reproduction support the long-term sustainability of the genetics in the AZA collection as a whole. As many institutions care for this species, it is a complex and detailed job to manage the program.”

You may wonder: When does the Seattle Aquarium get picked to lead an SSP program or manage a studbook, versus a different AZA-accredited institution? Julie notes, “An individual keeper, aquarist, biologist, trainer, registrar, etc., can apply for a vacant SSP coordinator position or studbook role and must have support of the facility via permission of their direct manager and CEO. It’s a lot of work and is done on top of your regular job.”

The studbooks Julie refers to are part of the AZA Regional Studbook, which is part of the SSP program. The AZA’s website explains that “an AZA Regional Studbook dynamically documents the pedigree and entire demographic history of each individual in a population of species—they’re invaluable tools that track each individual animal cared for in AZA-accredited institutions.” Studbooks keep track of information such as age, significant events like births or deaths, parentage, taxonomy and any unique individual history.

Aquarium staff have managed studbooks for over 10 years and are currently managing five: northern and southern sea otter, tufted puffin, horned puffin and common murre.

“I find managing a species studbook to be extremely interesting,” says Julie, “and it helps me see the care and welfare of the species in a new light. It also allows me to work with each facility that cares for that species and provides me with a deeper appreciation of the amazing work each accredited zoo and aquarium does to support our common missions.”

Interested in learning more about animal care at the Aquarium? Read our previous post on what it’s like to care for the 12,000 individual animals entrusted to us.

Glossary

AZA: Association of Zoos and Aquariums
SSP: Species Survival Plan through AZA
TAG: Taxon Advisory Group through AZA

Expert care for hundreds of species and thousands of animals

Posted on September 7, 2021February 9, 2024 by Emma Leiser

The Seattle Aquarium is home to nearly 400 species and over 12,000 individual mammals, birds fish and invertebrates. And, just like humans, these species have their own distinct care needs that change as they age. “All animals at the Aquarium have care plans that are customized to their species and the needs of the individuals or groups,” says Senior Veterinarian Dr. Caitlin Hadfield, MA VetMB DAZCM DECZM.

Being responsible for so many species and individuals means that animal care at the Seattle Aquarium is a team effort. Our veterinary and husbandry staff monitor the health of the animals every day and work together to provide the best life possible for them. “That’s the essence of good animal welfare,” notes Dr. Hadfield.

What’s it like being the doctor in charge for so many mammals, birds, fish and invertebrates? “It’s a mixture of routine preventative care—like wellness exams and environmental quality assessments—and reactive care, where we respond to changes we’ve seen in the animals or their environment,” says Dr. Hadfield. “With so many animals, we rely heavily on our professional staff and animal records to identify anything of concern, then work together to understand the situation and identify the best solution if needed. Because of the variety of species, I often reach out to colleagues with different fields of expertise so that, together, we can provide a great quality of care.”

Long (long!) lives

Here’s a fast fact: The average life span of a male Pacific harbor seal (Phoca vitulina vitulina) in the wild is 26 years¹. Longtime Seattle Aquarium favorite Barney is now 36 years old, well above the average in the wild population. “Like any elderly animal, including us humans, he has some health issues, but is enjoying life,” says Dr. Hadfield.

Barney is just one example of how animals in human care at zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), including the Seattle Aquarium, tend to live significantly longer lives than those in the wild. “Over the Aquarium’s history, lessons learned and the application of new, innovative technologies designed for animal care have enabled our team to provide a good quality of life well beyond the expected life span for their counterparts in the wild,” notes Director of Life Sciences Grant Abel.

Speaking of Barney…where did he come from?

Visitors often ask about the origins of the Aquarium’s birds and mammals (and not in the “birds and bees” way!). Barney was born right here, in 1985—as was sea otter Aniak, in 2002. In fact, every marine mammal and bird in our care was either born in a zoo or aquarium, like Barney and Aniak, or rescued and deemed non-releasable by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the National Marine Fisheries Service, like sea otters Adaa and Mishka. Rescued animals that are deemed non-releasable either have a health issue or stranded too young to be able to survive in the wild.

Stay tuned for our upcoming blog posts for details about how we care for aging animals, as well as the AZA species survival plans for maintaining healthy, genetically diverse populations of animals within accredited zoos and aquariums.

Lastly, another fast fact: The Seattle Aquarium was first accredited by the AZA in 1979 and, like all accredited members, is subject to a thorough on-site inspection every five years to renew that accreditation.

¹ https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Phoca_vitulina/#A79C1289-12A8-441B-8408-D30C2A18F1BE

Specialist surgeon visits Aquarium to help a red Irish lord

Posted on July 6, 2021May 9, 2024 by Emma Leiser

An egg-bound red Irish lord (Hemilepidotus hemilepidotus) at the Seattle Aquarium needed surgery, so a board-certified surgeon from Animal Surgical and Orthopedic Clinic (ASOC) performed the necessary procedure. Senior Veterinarian Dr. Caitlin Hadfield and Curator of Fish & Invertebrates Tim Carpenter here at the Aquarium explain more:

Q: What can you tell us about this species?

Tim: Red Irish lords are part of the sculpin family. They tend to rest on the bottom of shallow waters, down to depths of 1,500 feet. They’re common from the Bering Sea, near Alaska, to Washington, and are rarer south to central California. These fish are highly camouflaged and often overlooked by divers. Given that this species is not a common commercial or recreational fishing target, complete biological data on the species is not well-published. Based on limited fishing and other data gathered by the state of Washington, they can grow up to 20 inches long and 2.45 pounds in weight. Their maximum age is at least 6 years old.

Q: What does it mean for a fish to be egg bound?

Tim: Egg binding occurs when a female produces eggs but is not able to release them. This can lead to a buildup of eggs with each successive “clutch”, and the eggs become increasingly abnormal over time. There are many possible causes; we’re not sure why this species gets egg bound.

Q: Why was a board-certified surgeon needed to assist on a surgery for this red Irish lord fish’s case?

Dr. Hadfield: Aquarium and zoo veterinarians frequently reach out to specialists when we think it’s in an animal’s best interest. In this case, the anatomy is the main reason.

In fish like koi and salmon, the ovaries are two separate structures that sit loosely within a thin membrane and are easy to remove if they cause issues. In Irish lords, the two ovaries combine at the back, making them U-shaped, and that caudal aspect (i.e., near the tail) is tightly adhered to the body wall and the colon. Combined with that, these abnormal ovaries are very large—about 50% of the fish’s body weight—and the ovarian wall holding in all the little eggs is fragile.

These factors make this a particularly difficult surgery. We had tried environmental changes and hormones to induce egg laying but without success, and this surgery was needed to save the fish’s life. Dr. Alex Aguila, a board-certified surgeon from ASOC, and his surgical assistant, Sarah Gagliano, have extensive experience with difficult surgeries.

Alex was able to remove all the ovarian tissue, which is great news. The surgery is challenging and it is common to have to leave some of the ovarian tissue; this can regrow and cause more issues later on. Dr Aguila was also fast! This meant we were able to reduce the total anesthetic time to about 90 minutes, which also helps improve the long-term prognosis for the fish. And this was also a great opportunity for us all to work together and learn. The Seattle Aquarium has worked with ASOC for over 30 years, and we look forward to continuing our strong relationship well into the future.

Q: How does surgery happen on a fish?

Dr. Hadfield: To anesthetize a fish like this, we use a drug that is dissolved in the water. We keep that medicated water flowing over the fish’s gills through the surgery using a pump that moves the water through a big loop while we monitor the condition of the water. This lets us keep the fish’s belly out of water for the surgery. We also provide pain relief, similar to what you or your pet would receive, including anti-inflammatories, opioids, and local anesthesia around the surgery site. Once the fish is pre-medicated and on our surgical system, the surgeon can drape the site and get started. While there are differences in anatomy (like a lack of fur!), how surgery is done is similar to dogs and cats, including using the same types of sutures (stitches) to close up the body wall and skin.

Q: What happens next for the care of this red Irish lord?

Dr. Hadfield: The surgery was about a month ago, and the fish is doing great. She is eating again and looking like a healthy red Irish lord. She will get some more recheck exams and then move back to the Window on Washington Waters habitat. She has a small transponder now (just like your dog or cat), so we will be able to monitor her over time to see how she does.

Q: What are other examples of when specialists visit the Aquarium to help the animals in our care?

Dr. Hadfield: We are lucky enough to have a large support network of specialists in the zoo and aquarium field as well as in the private sector, including anesthesiologists, cardiologists, radiologists, ophthalmologists, and oncologists (lots of -ologists, really!). These specialists routinely donate their time and expertise to help improve the health and welfare of the animals under our care. One of the things that I appreciate most about this field is that we all want to learn and help each other out.

Q: When has the Aquarium shared our expertise in the community or with peer institutions and other organizations or efforts?

Dr. Hadfield: This is a hugely collaborative field, and we each try to help where we can. People often reach out to us to discuss challenges they may be having with species that we have under our care, as well as programs that we are particularly well known for, such as our animal welfare assessments and conservation programs.

You can come check out our Tropical Pacific habitat and try to find a red Irish lord during your next visit to the Aquarium. Be sure to book your ticket in advance; we look forward to seeing you!

Saying farewell to harbor seal Q

Posted on June 23, 2021February 9, 2024 by Emma Leiser

It is with great sadness that we announce the loss of Q, one of our beloved harbor seals, at the age of 22.

Q started showing some health issues in March of this year. X-rays at the time showed a mass inside his chest. “Diagnostic tests suggested that the most likely cause was a cancer known as lymphoma,” says Dr. Caitlin Hadfield, senior veterinarian at the Seattle Aquarium. “This is seen commonly in dogs, although there are very few reports of it in harbor seals and they were all found at postmortem exams (necropsies). For Q, we could not be sure of the diagnosis without taking samples of the mass inside his chest, but he was started on treatment based on this most-likely diagnosis, and he responded rapidly.”

However, this type of cancer is incurable; treatment is really good at shrinking the cancer for a while, and Q did great for two months, but remission is always temporary with this disease. “He showed a decline again in late May,” says Dr. Hadfield, “which looked to be due to recurrence of the cancer, and he was started on a rescue treatment to try to get him feeling better.” This type of rescue is rarely successful in dogs, but we are happy to report that Q got back to his usual self for an additional three weeks.

We closely monitor how all the animals are doing, and our teams work tirelessly to give them the best quality of life we can for as long as they are in our care; this includes giving them a peaceful passing when we know that they cannot live their full lives again. Q’s care team recently saw signs that his last-line treatment was no longer working, and he was humanely euthanized on June 23, 2021.

The Seattle Aquarium also recently lost sea otter Aniak, who passed away at age 19 last week. “The Aquarium is fortunate to provide a home for some amazingly long-lived animals, and we’re extremely proud of the care they receive with us,” comments Curator of Birds & Mammals Julie Carpenter. “It’s always hard to say goodbye to one when their time comes.”

Our other elderly mammals, including 35-year-old harbor seal Barney and 21-year-old sea otter Adaa (currently the oldest sea otter in the U.S.), continue to do well.

"Q was our go-to animal for new staff to learn feeding and training as he was incredibly patient and gentle. His laid-back personality and eagerness to participate in so many health care and husbandry trained behaviors made him a very unique harbor seal that the entire Bird and Mammal Team will miss greatly."

Kelli Lee, animal care specialist for the Aquarium’s Bird and Mammal team

Q was born at Sea World San Diego and brought to the Seattle Aquarium in 2002. Over the course of his time in the Pacific Northwest, he was a wonderful ambassador for the Seattle Aquarium, including participating in a harbor seal breeding exchange with the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium (PDZA) in 2012. It was a successful exchange, with Q becoming the dad of Saya and Hogan (who currently resides at our Aquarium) with harbor seals Qilak and Shila, respectively, from PDZA.

“We will continue to learn a lot from Q and hope that we can use this information to help with diagnosis and treatment of this disease in other seals,” explains Dr. Hadfield. “He will be missed—and his impact will live on.”

In the wild, harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) spend equal time on land as at sea, and they’re inquisitive, though sometimes elusive. They have a thick layer of blubber, which stores energy, makes them buoyant, and influences their streamlined shape. Male harbor seals are often 4–6 feet long and weigh between 150 and 375 pounds, and Q was no exception, with his weight ranging between 180 and 240 pounds. (Pinnipeds—including both harbor seals and northern fur seals—show a wide range in weight across the year as part of their normal annual cycle.)

Harbor seals are a common sight around inland marine waters like Puget Sound. You’ve likely seen them in the water when you walked along the shore or rode a ferry, and they often sit on top of buoys or piers—like around Elliott Bay, where the Aquarium is located. They also live in coastal waters and estuaries.

Q was a beloved fixture at the Aquarium, and he will be missed greatly by all. His legacy of Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment will live on in Saya and Hogan and through all those who knew him and enjoyed watching him in his habitat or on our live webcams.

We invite you to learn more about harbor seals by visiting the Aquarium in person or our website’s fact sheet, and you can view Hogan and Barney in their habitat via our live webcams.

A tribute to Aniak the sea otter

Posted on June 18, 2021February 9, 2024 by Emma Leiser

We are deeply saddened to announce the loss of Aniak, one of our beloved sea otters. Aniak was a 19-year-old female born here at the Seattle Aquarium to Lootas, our former sea otter matriarch. Aniak became a mother during her time at the Aquarium, giving birth to a male named Chugach in 2005, who moved to Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, and a female named Sekiu in 2012, who now lives at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium.

At 19, Aniak was an elderly sea otter. She had been dealing with chronic skin issues for six years, and while she continued to do all the normal sea otter things, it had been a delicate balance to maintain her comfort while also minimizing side effects from the medications needed to reduce her symptoms. Working with other sea otter veterinarians and dermatologists, we continued to adapt her care in the face of this chronic issue. In spite of the care provided, her health swiftly declined this week and the decision was made to humanely euthanize her early this morning.

This brings up the good question of how we know it’s time to provide humane euthanasia. “If an animal is in pain or distress that cannot be relieved, that decision is obvious and it is a great privilege as a veterinarian to be able to relieve suffering and provide an animal with a peaceful passing,” comments Senior Veterinarian Dr. Caitlin Hadfield. “However, just as with your dog or cat, that decision is harder with chronic relaxing-remitting health issues,” she continues. We want to give all the animals at the Aquarium the opportunity to live their best lives. To help with that, every animal at the Aquarium has regular welfare assessments to identify any opportunities to improve their well-being.

When an animal has a serious health condition or is past their expected life span, we use very frequent assessments that are tailored to that animal’s needs. For example, for a tufted puffin with arthritis, we may evaluate how well they are moving around on land and how much they explore their environment. We use these and other metrics as a base to talk about their quality of life, prognosis and the options available to us. For Aniak, we reached a point this morning where the best decision for her was humane euthanasia.

Aniak was a wonderful ambassador for her species. In addition to being absolutely adorable, sea otters are a vital part of our ecosystem in the Pacific Northwest. They feast on sea urchins, which prevents that population from eating all the kelp, which in turn offers habitat and protection to many species in our waters. Since sea otters need to eat around 25% of their body weight every day, that adds up to a lot of sea urchins, shellfish, squid, fish, crabs and shrimp.
There are around 2,800 sea otters living off the Washington coast; this is thanks to population recovery efforts after they were hunted nearly to extinction at the turn of the 19th century for their amazingly thick fur—anywhere from 500,000 to 1 million hairs per square inch, the densest fur on Earth! All that hair keeps sea otters from needing a layer of blubber to keep warm, but they do have to regularly groom their fur and blow air into it to maintain its incredible insulating qualities.

The Bird and Mammal team’s expert and diligent attention, along with the amazing veterinary care provided by Dr. Hadfield, allowed us to give Aniak the best life possible. She inspired not only our staff and volunteers but also countless people who visited her in person or watched her on our webcams. She was gentle, yet spirited, and a devoted mother, and will be dearly missed by our staff, volunteers and visitors.

We invite you to learn more about sea otters by visiting their fact sheet on our website and seeing them in person during your next visit to the Aquarium. You can also watch our sea otters in real time in their habitat via our live webcams.