BayCare Kids Check-Up Exhibit - Clearwater Marine Aquarium

The new interactive exhibit teaches families about taking care of their health, just as CMA cares for marine animals.

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BayCare Kids is the leading health care provider for pediatrics in the region, committed to keeping children healthy throughout childhood so that they can become healthy adults. And they’ve dedicated an entire network to the unique medical needs of kids. They offer a continuum of care for children that starts before birth and continues through early adulthood. Learn more: BayCareKids.org

Exhibit Details

Location: Mangrove Key Kids Zone

Species in this Area: Diamondback Terrapin, Moray Eel, Loggerhead Musk Turtle, Various Fish Species

Animal Care & Human Care

Animals at CMA receive preventative care where they receive a thorough evaluation by a veterinarian on a regular basis. For some animals, such as dolphins, this could be quarterly, and for others like the otters, it is annually.

The most important part of the preventative care is the exam. The veterinarian will check the mouth, listen to the lungs and heart, and feel the abdomen and joints for any discomfort.

Samples are collected such as blood, urine and feces to evaluate organ function and overall health.

Diagnostics imaging, such as radiographs, ultrasound and CT scan, allows veterinarians to look inside and evaluate the organs and bones for any abnormalities.

Some animals require advanced care from veterinary specialists, such as dentist, surgeon, cardiologist, ophthalmologist, etc.

Preventative care helps veterinarians to identify any health concerns early and make sure all the animals are receiving the care they need.

Just like the animals at CMA, regular check-ups with your doctor will include an exam for general overall health and provide an opportunity to discuss any health concerns to identify and address potential problems as early as possible.

Preventative exams and screening are the best way to stay healthy.

Animal Weights & Diets

Right Whale

88,000 – 140,000 Pounds

Food Source: Primarily eat copepods (tiny crustacean) the size of a grain of rice
Quantity: 1-2 tons daily

Manatee

880 – 1,200 Pounds

Food Source: Aquatic plants (Seagrasses, Eelgrass, Water hyacinth, Hydrilla)

CMA Diet: Romaine, Escarole, Endive, nth and hydrilla
Quantity: 35-180 pounds daily

Bottlenose Dolphin

330 – 800 Pounds

Food Source: Fish, including mackerel, herring, sardines, spot, corakers, menhaden, silver perch, cephalopods, such as squid and octopus, crustaceans including crab and shrimp, other marine life such as small rays

CMA Diet: Herring, Capelin, Silversides, Mullet, Squid
Quantity: 15-30 pounds

California Sea Lion

200 – 850 Pounds

Food Source: Fish including anchovies, herring, mackerel, Pacific sardine, Pacific hake, rockfish, and shortbelly rockfish, squid, octopus, krill

Quantity: 10-68 pounds daily

Loggerhead Sea Turtle

155 – 412 Pounds

Food Source: Gastropods including conchs and whelks, clams, crustaceans, such as crabs and shrimp, horseshoe crabs, fish, jellyfish

CMA Diet: Capelin, Clam, Shrimp, Squid
Quantity: 675 grams daily

Great White Pelican

11 – 20 Pounds

Food Source: Fish; mostly small fish that are less than ½ the length of their bill including minnows, carp, and suckers, crustaceans and amphibians, such as crayfish, salamanders, tadpoles, other aquatic animals, such as squid and shrimp

CMA Diet: Capelin, Herring, Silversides, Trout
Quantity: Up to 4 pounds daily

Atlantic Octopus

6 – 22 Pounds

Food Source: Clams, shrimp, crabs, snails, fish, and sometimes other octopuses

CMA Diet: Capelin, mullet, shrimp
Quantity: 20 grams three times/week

River Otter

10 – 33 Pounds

Food Source: Fish, frogs, crayfish, turtles, crabs, insects, terrestrial animals, such as birds, and their eggs, and small mammals, aquatic plants

CMA Diet: Mullet, capelin, trout, silversides, lake smelt, feline diet, shrimp
Quantity: Up to 20% of its body weight daily

Cownose Stingray

26 – 50 Pounds