Asian Small-Clawed Otter Husbandry Manual (1998)

Determination of Nutrient Content of Total DietsSeveral institutions have had their diets analyzed via lab assays and/or computer programs. Theingredients of these diets are listed in Table 1.2 and the nutrient content information is listed in Table 1.3.Two of the diets are fish based diets, and appear comparable in many nutrients.Behavior Related to FeedingMost institutions have experienced some type of competition for food items offered. In some cases, thiscompetition has manifested itself in the form of aggression for food. This has led to physically separatingindividuals for feeding or offering food items in separate areas of the exhibit. It has been reported thatASC otters adapt well to routines, learn the precise time of feeding on a daily basis, and, in many cases,will vocalize at feeding time. Several institutions have observed a begging behavior for food. Once fed,otters have been observed to wash their food. In mixed species exhibits, other animals have beenobserved stealing the otter’s food and vice versa, but little interspecies aggression has been observed.Alternative DietsSeveral institutions have employed alternative diets for special circumstances - lactating female diet(KMR and calcium carbonate added), weight loss diet, growing juvenile diet (Science Diet GrowthFormula), maintenance diet (Science Diet Maintenance), possible calculi reduction, etc. Few detailswere provided regarding the specific situations when each diet was used.RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FEEDINGDiet formulation should account for animal preferences, body weight, exercise, physical condition,environmental/seasonal changes, behavioral considerations, diet item availability, gastrointestinal tractmorphology, and actual nutrient requirements. Thus, providing guidelines for nutrient content rather thanspecific food items in set quantities is appropriate (Table 1.4). This allows for flexibility in dietformulation while assuring that nutrient needs are met. Feeding mustelids at least 2 times/day isrecommended due to a high metabolic rate and rapid digestion (Partridge and Jordan 1995).DietsAsian Small- Clawed Otter Husbandry Manual/Nutrition Section- 4 -