Exotics dietary requirements

Question 1

Rabbits

Answer 1

• Diet is 90% high fibre e.g grass or hay plus green vegetables and high fibre concentrate pellets
• Need a neutered male and female to live together
• Have to be handled very early on
• Can synthesise vitamin C

Question 2

Guineau pigs

Answer 2

• Require dietary vitamin C (best pellets have 800mg/kg)

- Diet is high fibre (mainly grass and hay)

Question 3

Chinchillas

Answer 3

• Require dietary vitamin C
• Diet is hay and pellets (shouldn’t have more than 3.5% fat in diet)
• Nocturnal herbivore

Question 4

Small furies

Answer 4

• Require a diet containing animal protein

Question 5

Ferrets

Answer 5

• Strictly carnivores

- Will get dental disease if kept on wet cat food diet

Question 6

Birds

Answer 6

Need vitamin A

Question 7

Finches and canaries

Answer 7

‘egg food’ to give essential AAs, seed mix and fat soluble vitamins

Question 8

Budgerigars

Answer 8

Need iodine (in trill)

Question 9

Parrots

Answer 9

Need animal protein for Abs

Question 10

Reptiles

Answer 10

Need to balance calcium with supplements

Question 11

Snakes

Answer 11

Don’t need quality lighting