A new disease has been discovered; a disease that effects both Leafy seadragons (Phycodurus eques) and Weedy seadragons (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus).

The disease, which as now been described by veterinary pathologists, is a type of melanised fungus that causes extensive lesions and necrosis of the gills, kidneys and other areas of the body in seadragons. The disease was discovered in seadragons kept in aquariums.

Experts from the Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science at the University of Connecticut has identified the presence of both Exophiala angulospora and an undescribed Exophiala fungus in sick seadragons.

You can find more information in the paper[1] by Nyaoke et al published in the Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation[2] in January this year.

The Leafy seadragon (Phycodurus eques) and the Weedy seadragon (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus) are both marine fish species belonging to the same family as seahorses and pipefish. The Leafy seadragon is covered in long leaf-like protrusions that serve as camouflage, while the Weedy seadragon is camouflaged by weed-like projections. Both species are native to Australian waters.

Today I thought I would report on some happy news, animal babies being born in aquariums around the country.

The first happy occasion is that a beluga whale in the Vancouver Aquarium has given birth to a health young female. The whale gave birth during open hours and the staffs as well as visitors watch the calf being born. This is the mothers’ first birth.

Breeding whales and dolphins in captivity is important to avoid having to catch new specimens in the wild: many aquariums including the Vancouver Aquarium have a policy against obtaining new whales ad dolphins in the wild.

You can read more about this birth here:

Another happy occasion is about to take place in the Georgia Aquarium where a rare weeded se dragon is pregnant. The male (yes you read right, It is the male that carries the eggs) carries about 70 fertilized eggs and he is expected to give birth in early to mid-July. The Georgia aquarium have been trying to breed this species and recently made a number of different changes to the setup to try and trigger spawning. Apparently it worked. This is only the 3^rd time this species is breed in an aquarium in the US.

Read more here