Observations on weight loss and fecal consistency in giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) during three transitions from a mixed natural in-house to commercial complete diets

Survey of the feeding management of giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) and tamanduas (Tamandua tetradactyla) in the EAZA ex‐situ programme

“…This means that faecal consistency is mainly described between 'moist, beginning to lose form' and 'the majority of form is lost, poor consistency'. A too-soft faecal consistency has often been described for giant anteater under human care (Gull et al, 2015;Morford & Meyers, 2003b;Stahl et al, 2012;Valdes & Brenes Soto, 2012;Wyss et al, 2013). This was also confirmed in the present study.…”

“…On the other hand, it can also be attributed to the fact that with this mixture, it was demonstrably possible to keep the animals until middle, and in some cases, old age, as well as to record good breeding successes. For consequences of changing the feeding regime of giant anteaters from an in-house mixture to a commercial complete feed often range from weight loss to feed refusal (Clauss et al, 2010;Osmann, personal communication, 2021;Wyss et al, 2013), some animals keepers tend to stick to the 'proven feed'.…”

“…In the past, animals kept under human care were often fed with a mixed unbalanced diet composed of meat, dry dog or cat food, dairy products, oatmeal and other ingredients (Puschmann, 2004), also known as the 'Dortmund mixture'. The adaption from this mixed diet to a complete balanced diet has often been accompanied by an impairment of the faecal consistency as well as weight loss up to complete refusal of the new diet (Clauss et al, 2010;Osmann, personal communication, 2021;Wyss et al, 2013). In contrast, in another study on the basal metabolic rate of giant anteaters it was described that these animals have significantly lower maintenance requirements compared to dogs, leading to a higher susceptibility for overfeeding and obesity (Stahl et al, 2012).…”