Zoo database

Atlantic puffin

Fratercula arctica

Natural diet Atlantic puffin

Fish
Invertebrates / crustaceans

Atlantic puffins are carnivorous birds and their diet almost entirely consists out of fish. Besides this, they occasionally consume various crustaceans and invertebrates such as shrimp, mollusks and polychaetas.

Feeding advice Atlantic puffin

Feed quantity per day

10-20% of body weight

Sample percentage calculation

If an animal weighs 0.5 kg and eats 15% of its body weight, it will get

0.5 x 0.15 = 0.075 kg feed in total per day

Feed composition

99% Fish products
1% Supplements

Proportions (fresh product)

0.99 x 0.075 kg = 74.3 g fish products
0.01 x 0.075 kg = 0.8 g supplements

Diet suggestions

In moderation

Variety of insects

Not recommended

Bread

Additional advice

Divide the “Feed quantity per day” over at least three feeding moments per day.
Small fish can be offered whole, but larger fish should be cut into smaller pieces.
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.
Avoid feeding bread as the high starch content may cause gastro-intestinal disturbances.
Stimulate foraging behaviour by using stacking or hanging the prey. Another method is to use feed puzzles and feeding whole prey (read more about feed enrichment and foraging behaviour).

Common diseases

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

Pododermatitis
Hypervitaminosis A
Angel wing
Angular limb deformities

Feed quantity per day

Sample percentage calculation

Feed composition

Proportions (fresh product)

Spiering IQF - 10 kg doos

Haring groot MSC - ca. 24 kg doos

Mosselvlees IQF - 10 kg doos

DK Fish Eater Liquid

Akwavit tablet Fish eating animals

Hennie de Boer

HR