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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elow 240 m² (2,583.4 ft²) in size, requires a different l<strong>and</strong> to water area ratio based on its<br />
specific size. Enclosures between 240 m² to 600 m² (6,458 ft²) require other l<strong>and</strong> to water ratios,<br />
as do enclosures above 600 m².) Continual direct exposure to more than a small area/proportion<br />
of enclosure l<strong>and</strong>/floor substrates that are hard, tightly packed/compacted (i.e. they are not loose<br />
enough for otters to easily dig into), artificial, continually wet or very damp (see below), slow<br />
drying, or poor draining or any direct exposure to coarse, rough, or abrasive substrates will cause<br />
health problems or/<strong>and</strong> abnormalities. Inappropriate substrates that create the aforementioned<br />
conditions that otters must not be directly exposed to include: concrete, cement, tile, artificial or<br />
natural rockwork, bricks, gunnite, wood, fence; soil (with/without vegetation) that is poor<br />
draining, slow drying, or tightly packed or compacted; small rocks, gravel, or pebbles (smooth,<br />
rounded, or otherwise), river rocks, construction s<strong>and</strong>, abrasive s<strong>and</strong>, <strong>and</strong> mulch, soil, or s<strong>and</strong><br />
mixed with any kind of pebbles, gravel, small rocks, construction s<strong>and</strong>, or abrasive s<strong>and</strong><br />
throughout. Various problems occur when the depth of soil, s<strong>and</strong>, or mulch fall below (i.e.<br />
become more shallow than) the minimum depth recommended or substrate quality (esp. when<br />
new mulch is not added on top of existing mulch that has broken into small pieces <strong>and</strong> packed<br />
down) is not maintained. Problems can develop when deep digging areas are insufficient in size<br />
(see the recommended minimum size needed in Chapter 2).<br />
A significant amount of water will always be tracked, carried, or splashed onto the l<strong>and</strong> by the<br />
otters. Continually very damp or wet surfaces are caused by not enough l<strong>and</strong> area because of<br />
inappropriate l<strong>and</strong> to water ratios, substrate depths that are below the recommended minimum<br />
depth, or inappropriate substrate types or qualities (esp. hard or artificial surfaces, poor<br />
draining/slow drying soil, mulch bark pieces that have broken into small pieces <strong>and</strong> packed<br />
down). (Note: new mulch must be added on top of existing mulch that has broken into small<br />
pieces <strong>and</strong> packed down <strong>and</strong> new s<strong>and</strong>, mulch, or soil must be added on top of the already<br />
existing layer when it falls below minimum depth.) Even after continual use (i.e. regular<br />
digging <strong>and</strong> grooming throughout the entire enclosure <strong>and</strong> digging away large areas of<br />
vegetation/turf [these natural behaviors must not be prevented] <strong>and</strong> exposure to water), soil (<strong>and</strong><br />
all substrates) with/without vegetation, needs to retain all of the recommended qualities. When<br />
it can not, it will erode too easily, not remain dry enough, or become tightly packed/compacted.<br />
Surfaces will also remain very damp or wet when there is not enough l<strong>and</strong> area bordering <strong>and</strong><br />
extending away from the water’s edge, more l<strong>and</strong> area is exposed to the water’s edge than<br />
recommended, inappropriate water area contour lines are used, or nestboxes, dens, or areas for<br />
natural underground dens are located too close to the water. Nestboxes (including bedding<br />
substrates), dens, <strong>and</strong> natural underground dens, as well as a significant proportion of the other<br />
l<strong>and</strong>/floor areas, can remain very damp or wet when any of the inappropriate enclosure<br />
conditions aforementioned exist. Note: wet or damp conditions can occur easily <strong>and</strong> rapidly or<br />
become worsened from rain or high humidity, esp. extended periods. Daily enclosure cleaning<br />
with water is not necessary when the recommended substrates are offered, but when unsuitable<br />
substrates are offered (e.g. hard surfaces) this form of cleaning can cause l<strong>and</strong> areas to remain<br />
damp/wet. Small or limited grooming areas will also remain very damp/wet when they are the<br />
only areas offered for grooming. The smaller the amount of l<strong>and</strong> area available, the more<br />
difficult it is to keep the l<strong>and</strong> dry. This is one crucial factor that determines l<strong>and</strong> to water ratios<br />
for enclosures. It is also just one reason why l<strong>and</strong> area percentages (in the l<strong>and</strong> to water ratio)<br />
must be increased proportionately <strong>and</strong> water area percentages must be decreased<br />
proportionately, as the enclosure size is decreased below 240 m 2 (2,583 ft²).<br />
It is necessary that nearly the entire base surface area that otters are directly exposed to in every<br />
indoor <strong>and</strong> outdoor enclosure is soft, well-draining, easily drying, <strong>and</strong> loose enough in texture so<br />
that otters can effectively groom on (which includes digging <strong>and</strong> scratching on/into the<br />
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