Caring for Selected Otter Species (Asian small-clawed, Cape ...

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- Offer lower calorie items: Lower calorie items can be substituted in the diet. For example, fish varies in energy content from species to species. If weight loss is desired, a leaner fish, such as pollock, could be substituted for a fattier fish, such as herring or capelin, to reduce total calories in the diet. This would be the preferred method for all otter species fed fish. Diets The one best diet for any of the captive otters has not been found and requires further research. Current recommendations are that a variety of fish species should be offered 3-4 times a week, preferably daily. Currently, due to the Asian small clawed otter’s tendency to develop uroliths there is great variation in the diet offered by different zoo organizations. The AZA Otter SSP recommends a specific diet for A. cinereus (see Diet 1). Sample diets A. cinereus: Diet 1 The following food items represent the recommended daily diet per animal for A. cinereus (AZA Otter SSP recommendation 2006). The items are given as percentage of diet fed: • 54.5% commercial canned diet designed to meet the nutrient requirements for domestic cats and control occurrence of calcium oxalate uroliths (e.g., Hill’s x/d ® , IAMS Moderate pH/O ® ). • 2.5% commercial dry food to meet nutrient requirements for domestic cats and control occurrence of calcium oxalate uroliths (e.g., Hill’s x/s ® , IAMS Moderate pH/O ® ). • 17.4% capelin • 24.6% lake smelt • 1% cricket and meal worms • 100 IU vitamin E per kg of fish offered • 25-35mg thiamin per kg of fish offered Diet 2 U.K. based institution. These foods should be divided by the number of daily feedings, preferably three but at least two. (Heap et al. 2009) • Day old chicks: 2 per day (some institutions remove the yolk sac due to salmonella concerns) or a similar amount of rabbit with fur on. • 70% to 80% of the diet can be meat - this should be of a good quality and can consist of, non-fatty beef including ox heart, chicken, horse, or venison. Tripe is an easily digested protein rich in vitamins and useful for sick or weak animals. Alternatively, dry food concentrates such as “Iams ® cat food can be offered. • Vitamins: about a quarter of a 5ml teaspoon of SA 37 or Vionate®, or similar products per otter. o Vionate: ARC Laboratories 4280 Northeast Expressway, Atlanta, GA 30340 U.S.A., 770-454-3200, Order Desk: 800-755-7056; prets@gimborn.com o SA 37: Trilanco Bracewell Avenue, Poulton Business Park, Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire, FY6 8JF, U.K. Sale Phone: 01253 888188; http://www.equos.co.uk/webstore/ 30
• Grated fruit and vegetables: carrots, celery, apple, tomatoes, blueberries, squash. Approximately 20gms per day per otter. Whole fruit and vegetables can be given as enrichment - some will be eaten but fruits such as melons and squash often are just played with and end up as pulp. • 20 to 30% of the diet should be fish: non-oily and fresh is better when available. Oily fish should only be given at most 2 or 3 times per week. Feed the whole fish chopped into chunks including head and tail. If the otters are young score the fish skin into small squares and remove all bones to avoid choking. If only frozen fish is available, research shows a vitamin B 1 (thiamine) supplement should be offered. • Potassium citrate: one quarter of a 5ml teaspoon (1.25ml) per otter x 2 per week (thought to help prevent kidney stones). • Cod liver oil - optional 2.5mls per otter, three times per week. • To improve coat condition, or in cold weather, suet, lard, butter or olive oil can be added to their meat meal or coated over a chick.; no more than one 5ml teaspoon per otter per day. Diet 3 This diet has been used successfully over thirty years by the Chestnut Centre, located in the north of England where they experience cool summers and snowy or wet winters (Heap et al. 2009). • Morning feed: chicks, rabbit, 2 crayfish or 2 to 4 herring. • At least 2 scatter feeds between morning and afternoon feeds • Afternoon feed: meat minced or cut into small pieces then mixed with grated carrot and apple, vitamins and cod liver oil; also fish prepared as previously suggested. Feeding times should be varied somewhat to prevent habituation of the otters to specific feeding times. This habituation leads rapidly to stereotypic behavior, intra-group aggression, and begging as the otters anticipate the approach of a meal time. If this cannot be done for operational reasons e.g. the otter talk is always done at 3.30pm, then it is important to be prompt, so the otters know the food WILL come on time so reducing stress. Scatter Feeding: these foods can be used as enrichment throughout the day. Mealworms, snails, earthworms, crickets, crayfish, molluscs, shell fish, grapes, raisins, apple, unsalted peanuts i.e. monkey nuts (no more than 3 to 4 per otter per week). Raw or soft boiled eggs can be used as a treat or a medium for medicating an otter. The food should be hidden around the enclosure under rocks, in tree trunks etc. to encourage the otters to forage and be active. This natural behaviour makes a very enjoyable spectre for the visitors. Scatter feeding should be done at least twice per day with the time varied slightly to prevent habituation. In hot conditions relative to the otters’ normal climate, ice, and the above foods frozen can be offered. These items should be included in calorie counts when calculating diets to prevent over-feeding and obesity. A. capensis: The following food items represent a sample daily diet per animal for A. capensis in captive environments. • 182g Dallas Crown Carnivore Diet • 908g fish (herring, capelin, sardines, two choices daily) • 1.5 dozen large crayfish a week • 30g lamb & rice dry dog food • 90 IU vitamin E • 6.25mg thiamin L. canadensis: 31
Page 1 and 2: Version 3, 9 December 2009 Caring f
Page 3 and 4: Table of Contents Taxonomy ........
Page 5 and 6: Pup development ...................
Page 7 and 8: * Some recent resources are still u
Page 9 and 10: This semi-aquatic species is found
Page 11 and 12: Facilities that rely on climate con
Page 13 and 14: - Chlorine: Chlorine can be used, i
Page 15 and 16: The minimum exhibit size (including
Page 17 and 18: olfactory, and audio separation to
Page 19 and 20: CHAPTER 3: Transport Preparations T
Page 21 and 22: oth institutions notified as quickl
Page 23 and 24: The only social grouping not recomm
Page 25 and 26: a daily basis, allowing all animals
Page 27 and 28: CHAPTER 5: Nutrition Nutritional Re
Page 29: Diet formulation should account for
Page 33 and 34: - Vitamin E: 400 IU/kg dry weight b
Page 35 and 36: Preventive Medicine It is important
Page 37 and 38: Parasite control Otters should have
Page 39 and 40: Urination Defecation Frequency, amo
Page 41 and 42: - Ketamine: 12-15mg/kg & midazolam:
Page 43 and 44: Kimber, K. DVM, G.V. Kollias DVM, P
Page 45 and 46: Pair management Group management Si
Page 47 and 48: infections, which frequently cause
Page 49 and 50: Gestation is roughly 60-63 days (R.
Page 51 and 52: L. canadensis: Pups can be removed
Page 53 and 54: and scattered around the enclosure.
Page 55 and 56: formula feeding and 8-10% body wt i
Page 57 and 58: 3:1* 22.90 10.97 8.63 1.54 1.59 1.5
Page 59 and 60: - First spots seen ~6 days, whitish
Page 61 and 62: CHAPTER 8: Behavior Management Anim
Page 63 and 64: Behavior Verbal cue Visual cue Crit
Page 65 and 66: - Can it be used as a weapon - Can
Page 67 and 68: Factors that should be considered w
Page 69 and 70: CHAPTER 9: Education/Conservation M
Page 71 and 72: References AAFCO 1994. Association
Page 73 and 74: Gatz, V. 2002. Protected contact tr
Page 75 and 76: Arbeitstagung der Zootierärzte im
Page 77 and 78: Yerke, R. and A. Burns. 1993. Evalu
Page 79 and 80: APPENDIX A: Photos Included here ar
Page 81 and 82:
Squeeze cage design used by several
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niacin helps the body to convert en
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APPENDIX C: Pup Weights of Captive
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APPENDIX D: List of Commonly Traine
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APPENDIX E: Enrichment Items Common
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APPENDIX F: Resources for Enrichmen
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Bloomsmith M, Laule G, Thurston R,
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Age of Game Fish in Ozark Otter Sto
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The husbandry, maintenance, enginee
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o o o o o Microbiology Incubator Fu
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APPENDIX 1: GLOSSARY OF RELEVANT TE
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The use of any filtering substance
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION Project: Otter
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Have you ever failed to complete an
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OTTER EXHIBIT LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM R
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1. Inspection a. Examination: The c
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APPENDIX 3: DISINFECTION Bromine Br
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In its liquid form (sodium hypochlo
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APPENDIX 4: SKIMMER BOXES All skimm
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APPENDIX 5: ALGAE CONTROL Algae in
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APPENDIX I: Female Otter Reintroduc
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Version 3, 9 December 2009 APPENDIX
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____________ live in aquatic ______
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Otter is hungry. Can you help him f
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