Zoo database

Two-toed Sloth

Choloepus spp.

Natural diet Two-toed Sloth

Fruits
Leaves

Two-toed sloths are herbivores that consume leaves from a wide variety of species, as well as occasionally fruits, flowers and stems. Sloths have the lowest basal metabolic rate (BMR) of any animal, which means that they require the lowest amount of calories relative to their body size.

Feeding advice Two-toed Sloth

Feed quantity per day

5-7% of body weight

Sample percentage calculation

If an animal weighs 6 kg and eats 6% of its body weight, it will get

6 x 0.06 = 0.36 kg feed in total per day

Feed composition

10% Concentrates
50% Leafy and cabbage vegetables
20% Other vegetables
20% Browse

Proportions (fresh product)

0.1 x 0.36 kg = 36 g concentrates
0.5 x 0.36 kg = 180 g leafy and cabbage vegetables
0.2 x 0.36 kg = 72 g other vegetables
0.2 x 0.36 kg = 72 g browse

Diet suggestions

In moderation

Calcium-rich products
Phosphorus-rich products
Vitamin D-rich products

Not recommended

Fruits
Starch-rich products

Additional advice

Divide the “Feed quantity per day” over at least two feeding moments per day.
Two-toed sloths are diurnal. Therefore, feeding moments should be spread out during the day.
Although present in their natural diet, feeding fruits might lead to abnormal fermentation in the hindgut because of high sugar levels in cultivated fruits compared to wild fruits (read more about nutritional values of (wild) fruits and vegetables).
The diet must have adequate large particles size to maintain the fiber-fermenting microbes.
Sloths are sensitive to calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D. Therefore, concentrates should fed accordingly.
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:

Hypercalcemia
Bloat
Soft tissue mineralization
Ruminal acidosis
Renal disease
Urinary tract disease

Feed quantity per day

Sample percentage calculation

Feed composition

Proportions (fresh product)

DK Leaf-eater Basic

DK Leaf-eater S

Primate Leaf eater (cold pressed)

Walnut leaves - 10-20 kg bag

Raspberry leaves - 10-20 kg bag

Birch leaves - 10-20 kg bag

Blackberry leaves - 10-20 kg bag

Martijn den Blijker

Director Kiezebrink Rodents