HUSBANDRY GUIDELINE — PROJECT
The Parosphromenus Project is helping Chester Zoo create Husbandry Guidelines for BIAZA (British and Irish Assosiation of Zoos and Aquariums) and EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquaria)
In order for different Zoos in Europe to be able to maintain and keep populations of Paros, it is essential that guidelines for best Husbandry Practise is created.
This is not just describtions of experiences, or guidelines, this is at best a collection of precise data and information, gathered over a period.
Andrea Swatman is the responsible person at Chester Zoo initiating this, and the work began already in September 2019, at the International Meeting in Chester.
As a beginning, — a lot of written material has been given on from the Parosphromenus Project, — describtions of our known experience, as well as data connected with habitats — water conditions, levels of ph, and other things. Not habitat data in terms of distribution is nessesary.
But mainly we have provided basic experience and knowledge about keeping paros in tanks, — food, breeding behaviour, fry development etc.
Also a spreadsheet is being developed, — containing all important documentation and information about all species.
To gather all this information is a continuing proces, and we invite everyone to take part in it by offering their knowledge and specific experience.
If you have any information which you would like Chester Zoo to incorporate in this Husbandry Guideline, please write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (IN ENGLISH, PLEASE)
Your email will then be viewed by the PP and Chester Zoo, and any contribution will be accredited.
Captive management
- Enclosure
- substrate
- furnishing and maintenance
- environment (water quality and water chemistry)
- environmental enrichment
- lighting
- life support
Behaviour
- activity
- social behaviour/social structure
- life support systems
Breeding
- reproduction
- egg laying and development times
- development and care of young
- clutch sizes
Diet and feeding behaviour
- Basic diet
- fry
- large juveniles to adults
- special dietary requirements
- method of feeding or preparation of food items
Specific problem
Recommended research for in-situ (captive populations) — Chester Zoo has access to MSc and PhD students, — are there any questions we want answering ?