Leopard Tortoise

Stigmochelys pardalis Order: Testudines Family: Testudinidae Natural History Information Longevity Leopard tortoises live between 50 and 100 years in the wild. Husbandry Information Housing Requirements Life Cycle Natural History Relevant Information Leopard tortoises readily drink standing water. A shallow water dish may be provided, but check it daily, and clean it as required. The size…

Green-winged Macaw

Green-winged Macaw Ara chloroptera Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittacidae Overview With regard to their availability and suitability as ambassador animals: Contact the Parrot TAG for availability of macaws through AZA facilities. Macaws do not need to be hand-reared from hatch to make good ambassador birds, in fact, allowing birds to remain with their parents until weaned…

Hooded Vulture

Hooded Vulture Coragyps atratus Order: Accipitriformes Family: Accipitridae Overview With regard to their availability and suitability as ambassador animals: Hooded vultures are an SSP species so if you are an AZA zoo it is recommended that you first contact the SSP coordinator. With good training, this species can be reliable in both flighted and non-flighted…

African Crested Porcupine

Hystrix cristata Order: Rodentia Husbandry Information Housing Requirements Avid chewers require proper flooring and cage material. Thick gauge caging and sealed concrete floor recommended. 10′ x 8′ recommend size for a single animal. Diet Requirements Will eat anything. Any fruits, any vegetables, rodent block, omnivore biscuit or leaf eater biscuit. Root vegetables and fruit are high…

Ball Python

Python regius Order: Squamata Husbandry Information Housing Requirements While ball pythons can be kept in relatively small enclosures (3″l X 2″w X 2″h is sufficient for most) they need to be provided a temperature gradient and sufficient humidity to assist with shedding. They also need a water bowl large enough to submerge in but shallow enough…

Leopard Tortoise

Geochelone pardalis Order: Testudines Husbandry Information Housing Requirements A pair of leopard tortoises can be kept in a 10 foot by 10 foot pen. The walls should be at least 18 inches high and may be made of wood, block or other material that prevents the tortoise from seeing through the wall. Enclosure should have a…

African Bullfrog

Pyxicephalus adspersus Order: Anura Husbandry Information Housing Requirements Diet Requirements In the wild, African bullfrogs will eat anything that fits into its mouth, including insects, rodents, reptiles, birds, and amphibians. In captivity, they are fed crickets and nightcrawlers. Veterinary Concerns Notes on Enrichment & Training Other Colony or Breeding Management Notes species is housed or…

African Pygmy Hedgehog

Erinaceus atelerix albiventris Order: Insectivora Also called white-bellied hedgehog Husbandry Information Housing Requirements This species can be housed in larger aquarium style tanks or wire style enclosures as long as the wire does not encourage climbing. You must provide a heat pad for hedgehogs year round otherwise they can go into torpor during cooler times…

African Spurred Tortoise

Also known as Sulcata Tortoise, African spur thigh, and just spurred tortoises Geochelone sulcata Order: Testudines   Family: Testudinidae Husbandry Information Housing Requirements Sulcata tortoises are best kept with access to an outdoor area for most, or all, of the year. Include a few large, flat rocks in an indoor enclosure. They help file down the tortoises’ nails and…

Argentine Black and White Tegu

Tupinambis merianae Order:   Husbandry Information Housing Requirements Fresh water from the tap is fine. Remove any feces that appear. Monitor temps/humidity. Heavily mist holding area 3 times a week. Animal can be placed in a shallow tub of room temperature water twice a week for a soak. No need to soak longer than 15…