Asian small-clawed otters are fed a prepared meat diet called Natural Balance. They are feed with Small fish such as smelt and capelin, canned feline diet, and kibble. Like domestic cats, otters have a propensity to develop kidney stones, so they are given cat food which includes ingredients that prohibit the growth of these stones.
What do Asian small-clawed otters eat?
Their teeth are broad and robust, well suited for crushing shells. At the Smithsonian's National Zoo, Asian small-clawed otters are fed a prepared meat diet called Natural Balance, small fish such as smelt and capelin, canned feline diet and kibble.
What do otters eat at zoos?
At the Smithsonian's National Zoo, Asian small-clawed otters are fed a prepared meat diet called Natural Balance, small fish such as smelt and capelin, canned feline diet and kibble.
When and how to feed pet otters?
When and How to Feed Pet Otters: The diet should be formulated in concert with a zoo veterinarian. No one diet is “perfect”. The Asian small-clawed otter may also need to be fed 4-5x a day (some zoos feed up to 15x per day), with a twice a day minimum feeding schedule due to their energy level, quick digestion, feeding style, and nutritional needs.
Where can I buy Asian small clawed otters?
Wildwood Exotics is a licensed breeder of Asian Small Clawed Otters. You must have both a USDA license to sell otters as well as state and local permits to own them where you live. They are high energy, fun animals that need tons of space and attention. These are Asian Small Clawed Otters also known as Oriental Small-clawed Otters.
What do Asian small-clawed otters eat?
In the wild the otters eat primarily crustaceans and mollusks but will also eat fish, insects, amphibians and reptiles. Asian small-clawed otters use their forepaws rather than their mouth to locate and capture food items.
What do you feed a pet otter?
An otter's diet can vary. You can give them a complete cat food as the base, but make sure that over half of their diet is meat-based. You should include fish. Supplement their diet with vegetables, soft-boiled eggs, and insects.
How much do Asian small-clawed otters eat?
Approximately 20gms per dayApproximately 20gms per day per otter. Whole fruit and vegetables can be given as enrichment - some will be eaten but fruits such as melons and squash often are just played with and end up as pulp.
Do Asian small-clawed otters make good pets?
A short list of reasons why Asian Small Clawed Otters do NOT make good pets is as follows: 1. Keeping otters and exotic animals is a full time job not to be taken lightly. Asian Small Clawed Otters (ASCOs) are extremely intelligent and social and should never be kept alone.
Do otters make good house pets?
Keeping otters as pets isn't good for the animals, either, Taylor says. In the wild, the freshwater-loving carnivores live in family groups of up to 15. This contrasts with their lives in captivity, where they're isolated from other otters and often get no more than a dunking in the bathtub.
What do otters in captivity eat?
Mealworms, snails, earthworms, crickets, crayfish, molluscs, shell fish, grapes, raisins, apples. Raw or soft boiled eggs can be used as a treat or a medium for medicating an otter. The food should be hidden around the enclosure under rocks, in tree trunks etc to encourage the otters to forage and be active.
Can otters eat rice?
Habitat. In the wild, Asian small-clawed otters live in southeast Asia in areas where land and water exist in equal amounts. They swim and hunt in freshwater and saltwater rivers, streams, lakes and shallow coastal waters. These otters also hunt in rice paddies.
How smart are small clawed otters?
These otters are very social, living in family groups of up to 12 individuals. They have opposable thumbs. They are highly intelligent: some have even been trained to catch fish for people!
How do otters show affection?
Otters show affection to their offspring through playing, touching, and body posture. It is thought that a pup can know if their mother is 'happy' with them or trying to discipline them by how they stand.
How do you take care of a pet otter?
2:093:17OTTERS as PETS Why It's a BAD IDEA - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf you find a baby that under no circumstances could survive in their room. You can place them in aMoreIf you find a baby that under no circumstances could survive in their room. You can place them in a large enough cardboard box put in a blanket to protect them from the cold. And take them to Recovery
Do pet otters smell?
Otters are smelly, loud and extremely active; they have sharp teeth and jaws strong enough to crack open shellfish.
Are otters friendly with humans?
Nicole Duplaix, who chairs the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Otter Specialist Group, said otters are known for being friendly animals, but, like most other creatures, keep their distance from humans.
How long do otters live as pets?
Otters live for around 12 years when they are kept in wild but tend to live for 15-20 years in captivity. Otters cannot be kept as pets in homes due to their requirements; they can only be kept in specialized environments such as zoos and research centers where the living conditions are ideal.
How much does a baby otter cost?
The Oxford Brookes researchers recorded “160 sale posts from 59 individual sellers in five market groups, with a total of up to 337 individual otters posted for sale.” Siriwat says they found a large price range for baby otters, from around $39 to $203, with an average baby otter costing around $103.
How long do otters live in captivity?
River otters generally live alone or in small social groups. They can live eight to nine years in the wild but have lived up to 21 years in captivity.
What do otter cats eat?
The base can consist of nutritionally-complete cat food. 70-80% of the diet can be meat-based and can consist of day-old chicks, chicken, venison, rabbit, etc.
What temperature should an otter cage be?
The ideal temperature for their pool is 75-85°F, but they also need a dry area because if they are wet all the time, they can develop health issues. Depending on the size, the cage should provide at least 30% water. Otters do climb, adding to the complexity of the habitat, so a top is required.
How many species of otters are there?
All 13 species of otters are wild animals, extremely sensitive to environmental changes, and are a marking, latrine species. Over half of all 13 otter species are endangered or vulnerable and are not legally breed - they have to be capture, usually by killing the mother and confiscating the pups.
What is the diet of a pig?
70-80% of the diet can be meat-based and can consist of day-old chicks, chicken, venison, rabbit, etc. 20-30% should be fish. Vegetables, insects, crayfish, monkey nuts, soft-boiled eggs, etc. can also be offered to supplement the diet.
Can Asian otters be kept in captivity?
However, Asian small-clawed otters, despite being the otter species best suited for captivity, are not commonly kept, even in the exotic pet-keeping community. They are considered to be very high-maintenance, as you would imagine.
Is it illegal to have an otter as a pet?
Katouchka on December 25, 2019: In so many States in the USA it is illegal to keep a pet otter. In fact with a fast google search you’ll find that it’s 100% illegal but it seems there’s a twist depending where you live. Asian small clawed otters may be kept with a permit.
Do otters like to be restrained?
Otters and most exotic pets may not like to be restrained, especially with strangers. People who like to physically interact with their pets will be disappointed. When you see cute baby otters interacting with their keepers — such as those in the videos here — remember that these are often socialized babies that have not yet undergone maturation.
Where do Asian otter live?
This vulnerable, fish-eating small carnivore still lives in stream-fed forests of northeastern Bangladesh and other countries. But it faces increasing threats. The smallest of the planet’s 13 otter species finds its habitat shrinking every day.
What are the threats to otter populations in Asia?
Major threats: Poaching for fur and extraction to supply a recently spiked demand in pet trade is the number one threat to Asia’s most trafficked otter species. Habitat destruction, conflict with fishers, drying up streams, decreasing food supply and attacks by fer al dogs are also affecting its already sharply plummeting population.
What is the name of the otter with a white neck?
The Asian small-clawed otter ( Aonyx cinereus) has a typical otter build with webbed digits, dark brown to blackish upper parts, and a pale vent. It can be distinguished from other otter species by its blunter muzzle, acutely arched back and a white neck devoid of any spots or streaks.
Where do otters live?
These otters live in the Himalayan foothills, Ganges Delta, Northeast India, Indochina, South China and Philippines, with isolated population in southern India. Their habitats range from forests and wetlands to coasts and mangroves. In Bangladesh they’re thought to be confined to the Sundarbans mangrove.
Is the Otter Survival Fund in Bangladesh protected?
The IUCN Otter Specialist Group and International Otter Survival Fund are the strongest voices for the species. Although the animals are protected by law, there is no conservation scheme so far in Bangladesh.
What are the foods that otters eat?
Vegetables can be offered such as carrot, greens, squash, and green beans. Other occasional offerings can include hard boiled eggs, peanuts, mussels and clams [1] [4]. Their drinking water should be separate from their swimming area [2]. Destructive Tendencies: Otters are active and inquisitive.
How much should an otter eat a day?
The otter will consume about 20% of its body weight each day and should have about 350 grams per day [1]. Feeding bones may assist with dental health [4], but tooth fractures are a common problem [2]. " Asian small-clawed otter " by russellstreet is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
How much does an Asian otter weigh?
Asian small-clawed otters are the smallest otter species, rarely weighing more than 5kg, or around 11 pounds [2]. This species can adapt to living alongside humans better than other otters species [1], so perhaps they have the potential to become better “domesticated” as pets.
How hot should an otter pool be?
This pool would need to be warm (around 80-85 degrees) and filtered or changed often. Their environment should also have complexity such as dens, digging sites, plants, and other components (for outdoor enclosures). Someone who keeps otters indoors should be aware that they scent mark and may become stressed if the enclosure is cleaned entirely [2]. Otters should have access to a nest box at all times [1].
How much does a pet otter cost?
Captive bred otters are still uncommon as they are likely to always remain, and their cost generally exceeds $9000 per individual.
What do Mustelidae eat?
In the wild, they are mainly carnivorous and they consume crustaceans, mollusks, frogs, fish, and sometimes octopus [4]. It should be noted that nearly all the members of the Mustelidae family have a reputation for being “bitey”.
Where are small clawed otter found?
They are found in the Philippines, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, parts of China, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and India [2].
How to keep otters healthy?
To keep the cubs and parents healthy, owners have to feed them a highly specialized diet and give them shots to prevent infection, such as distemper. To stay healthy in captivity otters need specialized food. Fed dog food and kept in a small cage, this otter, named Ophelia, became obese. Photograph Courtesy Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand.
Where are otter poached?
Otters are being poached from the wild to become pets in Japan and Thailand. The Asian small-clawed otter has become a popular pet in Southeast Asia. People in Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, and elsewhere can pay thousands of dollars to own one. Photograph by Suzi Eszterhas, Minden Pictures. Please be respectful of copyright.
What is the otter on the CITES list?
The small-clawed otter, the smooth-coated otter, and the hairy-nosed otter are also listed on Appendix II of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), which regulates the global wildlife trade.
Is it legal to sell otters in Japan?
And, according to the Traffic report, Indonesia hasn’t explicitly outlawed the sale of wild otters. It’s only illegal to sell them there because the country hasn’t set a quota for legal sales.
Is it safe to keep otters as pets?
Keeping otters as pets isn’t good for the animals, either, Taylor says. In the wild, the freshwater-loving carnivores live in family groups of up to 15. This contrasts with their lives in captivity, where they’re isolated from other otters and often get no more than a dunking in the bathtub.
