International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management

should be offered within the nestboxes. Supplemental heating sources (i.e. when necessary),
safe toys (e.g. stuffed toys attached to for companionship, cardboard boxes etc.), and feeding
and watering bowls (when weaning) should also be included in housing. Toys for behavioral
enrichment should only be used as addition to and never as a substitute for the recommended
enclosure furnishings and designs.
Land areas and nestbox bedding material must be kept dry and clean (see Chapter 2). Soiled
and wet towels and nestbox bedding should be changed. Old food and feces/urine should be
removed by dry spot cleaning the soft loose substrates daily. Swim tanks/pools must be cleaned
regularly and fresh drinking water must always be offered. This is important to help maintain
cub health. Every possibility where animals could get injured, trapped, drowned, or find an
escape route etc. should be closely inspected in all housing.
When cubs grow older (e.g. around 5 months old) and are healthy, they can be kept in large
enclosures. Refer to Chapter 2 for indoor and outdoor enclosure recommendations.
Section 14
Heating Sources for Housing, Ambient Air Temperature & Humidity Guidelines
It is critically important that the cub’s body temperature remains within a normal and healthy
range, otherwise serious health problems or death can result (see Section 2 for body temperature
ranges). As well, if appropriate humidity levels are not offered, cubs can become overly dry,
and this may result in health problems. Caution: ambient temperatures and cub body
temperature must be monitored closely and frequently to prevent overheating or
subnormal temperatures. This is especially critical for neonates and other cubs during
health problems and emergencies. Health problems including hair loss (when temperatures
are too high), more serious problems, and death can occur if ambient temperatures become too
high or low. “Otters have little heat tolerance and will die rapidly from being overheated”
(Smeeton 2001 citing Best 1962). Captive giant otters have been observed to have a low heat
tolerance (Carter & Rosas; Sykes-Gatz & Gatz pers. obs.). Housing and heating sources should
be prepared so adequate temperatures are reached and stabilized before cubs are introduced to
the housing.
To help maintain normal cub body temperature, supplemental ambient heating should be
provided for sick or very weak cubs of all ages and for young cubs (i.e. it is necessary for
neonates--cubs less than one month old). It is especially helpful to house these cubs in
incubators. Not only will an incubator provide a safe housing area, but temperature and
humidity can also be controlled within it, with accuracy and effectiveness. When incubators are
unavailable, other housing types that can be equipped with heating sources that can be
monitored and controlled can be used (see below). Reed-Smith (1994-95) cites, “Wallach and
Boever (1983) give 85 o F [29.4 o C] and a minimum 50% humidity as the desired incubator
setting for mustelids.” [The above recommendation should apply to cubs in at least the first
week of life. Especially at these higher temperatures, cub health, cub tolerance to temperatures,
and ambient temperatures must be monitored closely, as overheating can be deadly.] Meier
(1986) suggests 50% to 60% humidity and to gradually reduce the temperature “over the course
of about three weeks” (unless the neonate remains or becomes sick). Incubator/housing
temperatures should be gradually reduced to around 23.9 o C (75 o F). As cubs grow older and/or
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