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