The zoo director, Mike Janis, approached me to ascertain our interest in designing/building a display tank for a hellbender exhibit that will be going into the new multispecies pavilion that will soon be erected. BTW, hellbenders are large (and very ugly) large salamander amphibians that are native to this area and live in our local rivvers and streams. Personally, I have no interest since I am overextended as it is with the reef displays. Plus I know nothing about freshwater biotope systems. However, if anyone else has an interest in getting involved in this project, let me know and I will put you in contact with Mike. The zoo is very thrilled with the reef and seahorse display, and are thus hoping to see a similar level of endeavor with the hellbender display.
Hellbender display for zoo?
- Thread starter drbronx
- Start date
oceanparadise1
In Memoriam
Wow, those are awsome set ups! Come make one in my house LOL
Very awesome pics. Please, don't tempt me to start a new hobby!
If any of you guys are seriously interested, let me know and I will put you in touch with the zoo director. I will not be part of this project so you guys would be on your own. It would be a great addition to the zoo and a wonderful public service. It would be a substantial time committment during the set-up phase although once up and running, the zoo would be better equipped to maintain it as opposed to the reef display. Feel free to pm me if you want more info.
If any of you guys are seriously interested, let me know and I will put you in touch with the zoo director. I will not be part of this project so you guys would be on your own. It would be a great addition to the zoo and a wonderful public service. It would be a substantial time committment during the set-up phase although once up and running, the zoo would be better equipped to maintain it as opposed to the reef display. Feel free to pm me if you want more info.
fatrip
Yup That Stuff
i dont think it would really be a paludarium if it is just for hellbenders as they are strickly aquatic salamanders. i would suggest a larger tank that is long and wide no real need to be higher than 12-15 inchs. it would be cool if you could get a custom tank but i guess you'd need to see what room they have in store for you. the only thing to worry about is there O2 intake. the water needs to be highly oxygenated becasue they suck 90% of there O2 into there blood threw capilaries on there skin. basically need just a creek bed.
fatrip
Yup That Stuff
yea yea that is me the simpleton......i dont want the word out...thanks jerry...
also there is a need for very very very clean water conditions. these amphibians only live in the freshest of fresh water creeks and rivers. they dont do kindly to toxins in the water because of there capilaries being so openly exposed.
i do agree with O.A.J and you should lookinto a custom tank. i would also be inclined to create a sump for filtration under the exibit. as well as a closed loop system for fast water movement.
the environment would be very easy, just getting rock from creeks in the area and soak and wash them thuroughly.
i too would like to help you guys out as much as possible but i will be going back to school full time in the fall and will have limited time. LMK if you guys want any more help.
...i dont want the word out...thanks jerry...also there is a need for very very very clean water conditions. these amphibians only live in the freshest of fresh water creeks and rivers. they dont do kindly to toxins in the water because of there capilaries being so openly exposed.
i do agree with O.A.J and you should lookinto a custom tank. i would also be inclined to create a sump for filtration under the exibit. as well as a closed loop system for fast water movement.
the environment would be very easy, just getting rock from creeks in the area and soak and wash them thuroughly.
i too would like to help you guys out as much as possible but i will be going back to school full time in the fall and will have limited time.
LMK if you guys want any more help.
Dave VG
New member
Dave VG
New member
Many of you may not know this but we have a similar salamander in our Susquehanna river. People I know have caught them in the river in many different places. They are known as mud puppies (Necturus m. maculosus). Heres a link to them. I have been told they have big teeth and bite very hard lol.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proteidae
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proteidae
Last edited:
laxing22
New member
Yea, Dan and I have done tons of research on these guys. The hardest part will be in a display that give them what they need and still makes them visable to view. Not only to they need high O2 and very clean water, but they are also nocturnal and tend to spend most of their days under rocks. They do need some land area as they are know to 'rock' them selves from time to time. It is also an indication of poor water quality / low O2 if they do this often
On the Susquehanna, we actually have real Hellbenders here. I'm not really sure how as the river is so polluted.
fatrip
Yup That Stuff
yea i believe Jordan, a friend of mine was in the paper 2 years ago with one that they had caught while doing some environmental thing over in owego in the owego creek which is a tributary to the susquehanna.
i would say for a zoo display, to only have smaller rocks, and only a few larger ones that are proped so they are facing the front or side glass. i would suggest to keep it in a lowlight part of the new building if they can. Understanding that the animal needs its natural environment and all but you also need to think about the public needing to view the animal as well since it is nocturnal.
i would say for a zoo display, to only have smaller rocks, and only a few larger ones that are proped so they are facing the front or side glass. i would suggest to keep it in a lowlight part of the new building if they can. Understanding that the animal needs its natural environment and all but you also need to think about the public needing to view the animal as well since it is nocturnal.
