News from Newquay
UK FIRST AS TROPICAL STINGRAYS BORN AT AQUARIUM
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The pair of southern stingray babies were born inside a giant tropical ocean display at the Blue Reef Aquarium in Newquay.
Both youngsters, who were less than 15cms long at birth, are doing well and have been transferred to a special quarantine tank to protect them from would-be predators.
Blue Reef curator Matt Slater said: "These babies have been born to parents who were themselves born in captivity - that's the first time the entire life-cycle has been completed in a
"It's a fabulous situation and we're delighted it's happened here. It's also a really good indicator of the overall health of the display and the creatures that live in it."
Southern stingrays have a gestation period of about six months. The eggs hatch within the mother's body and the pups are born folded up like a newspaper.
In the wild they must immediately fend for themselves and it is believed their tail stings are fully functional from the moment they emerge from their mothers.
Related to sharks, stingrays get their name from the razor-sharp barb on their tails which the animal uses to defend itself when threatened.
Fully grown females can reach lengths of up to two metres and the heaviest recorded specimen weighed more than 135 kgs.
"Initially the babies are able to survive from the nutrition they get from their mother and their yolk sacs however they soon have to learn how to feed themselves," said Matt
"Both of ours have now moved on to solid food which is a really positive development and we're keeping our fingers crossed for the future.
"The youngsters will remain in their own tank until they are large enough to return to the ocean display," he added.
