Zoo database

Tamandua

T. tetradactyla

Natural diet Tamandua

Fruits
Insects

The tamandua is an insectivore that mainly consumes ants and termites. Their diet is supplemented with honey, bees and some fruits although these fractions are small.

Feeding advice Tamandua

Feed quantity per day

3-5% of body weight

Sample percentage calculation

If an animal weighs 4 kg and eats 3% of its body weight, it will get

4 x 0.03 = 0.12 kg feed in total per day

Feed composition

10% Insects and other invertebrates
90% Concentrates

Proportions (fresh product)

0.1 x 0.12 kg = 12 g insects and other invertebrates
0.9 x 0.12 kg = 108 g concentrates

Diet suggestions

In moderation

Peat (only sifted)

Not recommended

Fruits
Vegetables

Additional advice

Divide the “Feed quantity per day” over at least two feeding moments per day.
Supplement concentrates to ensure adequate vitamins and minerals.
Feed small insects, as larger ones might cause blockages.
Fruits and vegetables with long fiber structures can injure the tongue and cause choking.
Stimulate foraging behaviour by feeding live insects or placing insects inside of rotten logs (read more about feed enrichment and foraging behaviour).

Common diseases

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

Hypervitaminosis D
Extensive hyperostosis of the thoracic
Rear limb paresis
Vitamin K deficiency
Lumbar
Flaccid paralysis
Coccygeal vertebrae

Feed quantity per day

Sample percentage calculation

Feed composition

Proportions (fresh product)

DK Insectivore diet

Meelwormen bulk

Buffalowormen bulk

Michel Janssen

Manager Finance & IT