Zoo database

African penguin

Spheniscus demersus

Natural diet African penguin

Fish

African penguins are carnivores (piscivores) and their diet primarily consists of fish. They mostly prefer anchovies, mackerel, herring and sardines. Besides this, they may also consume squids and crustaceans.

Feeding advice African penguin

Feed quantity per day

10-14% of body weight

Sample percentage calculation

If an animal weighs 3 kg and eats 12% of its body weight, it will get

3 x 0.12 = 0.36 kg feed in total per day

Feed composition

99% Fish products
1% Supplements

Proportions (fresh product)

0.99 x 0.36 kg = 356.4 g fish products
0.01 x 0.36 kg = 3.6 g supplements

Diet suggestions

Additional advice

Divide the “Feed quantity per day” over at least two feeding moments per day.
Small fish can be offered whole. Large fish are generally not accepted by penguins.
When feeding thawed whole fish, then supplementation is recommended.
The supplements should be given according to the appropriate dosage that is mentioned on the labelling.
Stimulate foraging behaviour by using feeding puzzles and scatter feeding (read more about feed enrichment and foraging behaviour).

Common diseases

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

Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism
Metabolic bone disease
Fibrous osteodystrophy
Pododermatitis/ Bumblefoot

Feed quantity per day

Sample percentage calculation

Feed composition

Proportions (fresh product)

DK Fish Eater Liquid

Akwavit tablet Fish eating animals

Jan van Zeumeren

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