Zoo database

Black-tailed prairie dog

Cynomys ludovicianus

Natural diet Black-tailed prairie dog

Grasses
Herbs
Leaves

The black-tailed prairie dog is herbivorous and consumes a variety of grasses, leaves, seeds, roots, stems and more. Opportunistically, they also eat insects. Most of their water comes from their diet but additional water should be available in captivity.

Feeding advice Black-tailed prairie dog

Feed quantity per day

10% of body weight

Sample percentage calculation

If an animal weighs 3 kg and eats 10% of its body weight, it will get

3 x 0.1 = 0.3 kg feed in total per day

Feed composition

10% Concentrates
15% Leafy and cabbage vegetables
75% Grass, lucerne and other roughages

Proportions (fresh product)

0.1 x 0.3 kg = 30 g concentrates
0.15 x 0.3 kg = 45 g leafy and cabbage vegetables
0.75 x 0.3 kg = 225 g grass, lucerne and other roughages

Diet suggestions

In moderation

Other vegetables

Not recommended

Fruits

Additional advice

Divide the “Feed quantity per day” over at least three feeding moments per day.
Supplement the diet with ad libitum roughages.
Do not feed more than 5% fresh grass per day because of higher toxin levels.
Do not feed to much lucerne hay as this is high in calcium and proteins.
Stimulate foraging behaviour by hiding, stacking or hanging their feed. Besides this, scatter feeding is also a good option (read more about feed enrichment and foraging behaviour).

Common diseases

An unbalanced diet may result in one of these more commonly occurring diseases/conditions:

Obesity
Fatty liver
Dental disease
Gastric Impaction
Cardiac disease

Feed quantity per day

Sample percentage calculation

Feed composition

Proportions (fresh product)

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Michiel Derks

Director Petfood & Zoos

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Alfachunk rabbit 5062

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Michiel Derks

Director Petfood & Zoos