International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management

dig into, well-draining etc.) are needed to offer appropriate surfaces. See the soil types,
qualities, and depths that can be used on outdoor natural land areas and the mulch piece sizes
that should be used in Chapter 2 Section 2. [Mulch and sand are ideal to cover over all surface
types (e.g. hard or artificial surfaces etc.) that exist both indoors and outdoors. Although if
areas of soil, sand, or mulch mixed with pebbles, gravel or small rocks throughout, construction
or abrasive sand or any substrates mixed with these, or areas of any of these aforementioned
individual or combined subtrates (e.g. an area of small rocks alone or mixed with sand) already
exist within the enclosure they should be totally removed from the enclosure. After their
removal, then nearly the entire base surface area needs to be covered over with mulch, sand,
and/or soil as recommended. If these furnishings cannot be removed, then they must be
completely covered over with mulch and/or soft sand that is at least 60 cm (24”) in depth,
although at least 100 cm (3.28 ft) depth is highly advisable. A depth of at least 100 cm is
needed when land or floor areas with the aforementioned unsuitable substrates are intended to
serve as the deep digging areas. There are important easy and quick care techniques that are
necessary to maintain the substrates’ effectiveness, but they are not described here. See
Chapter 2 Section 2-3 for a full description of necessary substrate types, qualities, depths, and
husbandry/care techniques needed for them and why these substrates are so important to
provide. E.g. the recommended substrate types, qualities and depths, in addition to the
recommended land to water ratios, are needed to keep the otters sufficiently dry when they are
on land and are necessary to keep the animals’ entire land area, including nestboxes,
sufficiently dry. These conditions are also needed to make the land area soft and to allow
playing, exercising, digging and grooming activities to be fully, effectively and comfortably
carried out on land. With daily dry spot cleaning of feces, urine, and fish remains the land area
will remain clean and sanitary and the otters will remain clean.
In addition, if the sand/mulch is not 40 cm to 60 cm in depth over nearly the entire floor/land
area, then an additional large area (as large as possible) of these soft loose natural substrates,
must be at least 40 cm to 60 cm [16" x 24"] in depth. This will serve as the deep digging area
which must be provided. Note: for adult giant otters, in addition to the necessary land and floor
substrates aforementioned, each indoor enclosure and each outdoor enclosure must have at least
a 40 m 2 (430.56 ft²) area or significantly larger area, where soft sand or mulch, a minimum of
40 cm to 60 cm (16” to 24”) in depth, or hillsides, with the recommended designs and soil
qualities, allow for deep digging. The same substrate qualities, types and husbandry techniques
needed for enclosure land and floors are also necessary for the deep digging areas (see above).
Small tubs of shallow room temperature water for wading should be provided when the animal
is healthy, old, and skilled enough for unsupervised wading. (See Section 15 for cub
ages/abilities and swimming containers.) The otter must be able to easily exit (and enter) the
tub and the tub’s water level should not go over the cub’s front shoulders and head. The tub
should also be stable so it does not tip over easily. Logs or hollow logs, that can not roll on and
crush cubs, should also be given for the cub to play and rest on/in etc.. It is highly advisable to
offer cut tall bamboo with long thin diameter flexible stalks that can be stood up (sunken deep
into the soft loose substrates or hung in fence mesh etc.) so they overhang the otter and are
within its reach. (See Chapter 2 Section 4 for the bamboo stalk size that is needed so that otters
will be able to use the bamboo to play with it and instructions for use. E.g. bamboo with stalk
sizes that are too thick in diameter can not be used by the otters.) Such bamboo will provide
safe natural furnishings that cubs can pull on/pull down, manipulate, and play with and under.
Bamboo should be re-stood daily after they are pulled down and some should also be left on the
land for use. One or two nestboxes should also be provided. Clean dry soft bedding materials
(i.e. towels, blankets, straw, leaves, or mulch or sand types and qualities as recommended)
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