International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management

monitored and assessed as the cub develops. This is needed to help determine what type of
swim area is the most optimal to gradually develop the cub’s full range of swimming skills in a
safe and enriched environment. See cub development in Chapter 4 and See Section 15.
A cub that does not have competent swimming skills should never be left unsupervised while in
the water.
When cubs are introduced to swim/bathing water, tubs, tanks and pools, caution should be
taken, as pool water temperature seems to be more critical than the air temperature
(Wünnemann 1995). (Unhealthy cubs should not be allowed in water, unless it is needed for
emergency care.) Cubs should be closely monitored to determine how well they tolerate
different water temperatures. For example, when healthy cubs are around 1½ months old, they
should be bathed with warm water only. Cubs 3-4 months old can be given at least room
temperature water and 5 month old cubs should not be exposed to water that is too cold (e.g. not
below 16 o C [61 o F]). (See pool temperature for adults in Chapter 2.) Cubs should be
thoroughly dried with soft absorbent clean towels after bathing, wading, or swimming lessons.
Older cubs, able to swim or wade on their own, must be provided with clean dry materials and
soft loose natural substrates (covering nearly the entire land/floor area) for drying and grooming
on.
Young healthy handreared cubs, around 1½ months old (i.e. when their eyes are open), can be
given baths in small tubs (e.g. plastic dishwashing tubs) with shallow clean warm water, but
they must be under constant supervision/observation to prevent problems (i.e. inhaling water).
The water should not extend above the cubs’ shoulder level. The cub’s head and nose should be
kept out of the water. This introduction to water helps develop water skills and it provides
stimulation. It also helps keep the otter clean and prevents skin and toe pads from drying out. If
housing humidity is too low, skin and toe pads can become overly dry (e.g. skin looks flaky),
cracked, and skin can become irritated. A cloth, dampened with clean warm water, can be used
to bath and clean younger cubs and provide moisture (this can be used for older sick cubs too).
The recommendations for handreared river otter species from Burnette (1994) are as follows:
“Young otters should not be introduced to water until they are at least 7 or 8 weeks old, and then
only gradually to lukewarm water. Otters must learn to swim, and too early an exposure to
water could result in drowning or illness. Young otters should be dried off well after swimming
sessions. Do not allow them to become chilled. Keep their water clean.”
As cubs grow older and become more confident in the water, they should be gradually
introduced to larger tubs/containers, with increasingly deeper luke-warm water, while caretakers
teach them how to swim. They should never be left unattended while in the water. Healthy
older cubs (e.g. cubs 3-4 months old), that are capable of swimming with confidence and skill,
can be introduced to and offered larger safe tubs/containers of room temperature clean water.
These tubs/containers must provide gently sloping shallow areas and easy exits for the cub to
prevent drowning. Giant otters like to especially use shallow areas for play, wading, eating fish
etc. Bathtubs could be used, although cubs may not be able to make easy exits, so wooden
ramps (with non-slippery surfaces and slats for easier climbing) etc. should be offered. Other
small safe tubs could also be offered when cubs are not under supervision. As cubs’ swimming
skills develop, small shallower pools (e.g. for cubs around 4 1/2 months old) and eventually
deep pool areas (e.g. for 5 months old cubs) can be introduced; although both must provide
plentiful areas where cubs can easily exit the water. See Chapter 2 for more pool design
information.
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