Donato Bird, Reptiles, and Exotic Mammals

can we mimic the natural environment of animals we bring into our home?

no

bird diet

80% - pellet

15% - veggies

5% - treats

what can you not feed birds?

chocolate, avocado, caffeinated beverages and alcohol

peanuts = contain aflatoxins

food conversion for birds?

1/4 c each week until on the new food

will see decrease stool at 3/4c of the new food

how long does feed conversion take?

4 weeks

important concepts for birds (4)

pellets over seed

stool production monitoring for 24 hours

brown or multi-colored pellet before bread

veggies = lifelong process

what is lacking in reptiles?

calcium

what do reptiles need in order to absorb calcium?

need proper UV light and temp

UV light

needs to be an actual UV light and not an incandescent light with purple film

reptiles and temperature

important for digestion and absorption

POTZ

preferred optimal temperature zone

what is bad about temperature?

need to be out of reach

can cause burns

reptiles - herbivores

iguanas

reptiles - omnivores

bearded dragons and turtles

reptiles - insectivores

geckoes and chameleons

reptiles - carnivores

monitors and snakes

herbivore requirements

dark veggies

minimal fruits

insectivore diets

lizards

need to gut load - feed food before feeding to pet

carnivore diets

whole prey item

typically frozen

what dietary supplement is added for reptiles?

calcium - young animals

only when changing diets

should not contain phosphorus

ferrets

carnivores

able to tear and swallow prey

3 hour transit time

ferret diet

high protein and fat

feed through the day

rabbits

herbivores

monogastric hindgut fermenters

ceoctrophes - stool made from fermentation and ingested

rabbit diet

fiber and low energy dense food items

free choice hay

1c veggies per 4lbs

1/4c pellet per 4lbs (min 18%)

guinea pig diet

Free choice hay – timothy/orchard grass

1/2cup veggies

1/8 cup pellets - Minimum 18% fiber

Vitamin C\*\*\*

lack of Vitamin C

scurvy; natural source better than manufactured

chinchilla

Vit C endogenously produced

cecotrophy

hamsters/gerbils etc

omnivores

hindgut fermenters monogastric

extruded pellet

hays

veggies

hedgehogs

omnivores with love for insects

monogastric no cecum

veggies

extruded pellets

sugar gliders

omnivores hindgut fermenters

tree sap, nectar and insects

gut load insects