THE NATION - News from May 28, 2009
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Most of the National Zoo’s stingrays died over the holiday weekend, probably the victims of water problems in the Amazonia exhibit’s aquarium, zoo officials said.
Eleven of the zoo’s 18 freshwater stingrays, as well as two arowana fish, were found dead Monday morning.
Zookeepers tested the water, found low levels of oxygen and began supplementing the tank with reservoir water, officials said.
Low levels of dissolved oxygen in water are the most common cause of fish kills, both in captivity and in nature.
The zoo performed necropsies Tuesday and did not find a definite cause of death, which makes it more likely that the oxygen levels were to blame, officials said.
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