DK Omnivore DietDK017
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More informationArmadillo
Dasypodidae spp.
Natural diet Armadillo
Armadillos are opportunistic omnivores that consumes largely consumes insects but also other plants and prey depending on what is available. While some armadillo species are specialist, others may have a very diverse diet and eat just about anything.
Feeding advice Armadillo
Feed quantity per day
3-8%
Sample percentage calculation
If an animal weighs 2 kg and eats 5% of its body weight, it will get
2 x 0.05 = 0.1 kg feed in total per day
Feed composition
30% Meat and whole prey
40% Insects and other invertebrates
20% Concentrates
10% Other vegetables
Proportions (fresh product)
0.3 x 0.1 kg = 30 g meat and whole prey
0.4 x 0.1 kg = 40 g insects and other invertebrates
0.2 x 0.1 kg = 20 g concentrates
0.1 x 0.1 kg = 10 g other vegetables
Feeding advice Armadillo
Feed quantity per day
3-8%
Sample percentage calculation
If an animal weighs 2 kg and eats 5% of its body weight, it will get
2 x 0.05 = 0.1 kg feed in total per day
Feed composition
30% Meat and whole prey
40% Insects and other invertebrates
20% Concentrates
10% Other vegetables
Proportions (fresh product)
0.3 x 0.1 kg = 30 g meat and whole prey
0.4 x 0.1 kg = 40 g insects and other invertebrates
0.2 x 0.1 kg = 20 g concentrates
0.1 x 0.1 kg = 10 g other vegetables
Diet Suggestions
Recommended
Variety of insects
Variety of root and watery vegetables
Live insects
Eggs
Day old chicks
Not recommended
Fruits
Common diseases
An unbalanced diet may result in one of these more commonly occurring diseases/conditions:
- Rear limb paresis
- Anorexia
- Vitamin K deficiency
- Obesity
- Tongue tip constriction
- Diabetes
Additional advice
- Divide the “Feed quantity per day” over at least two feeding moments per day.
- Supplement the diet with sufficient vitamin K. When feeding appropriate concentrates, this is not necessary.
- Supplement a variety of diet components to avoid nutrient deficiencies in the animal (read more about differences in vegetables).
- 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).
- Stimulate foraging behaviour by hiding, stacking or hanging the feed (read more about feed enrichment and foraging behaviour).
Diet Suggestions
Recommended
Variety of insects
Variety of root and watery vegetables
Live insects
Eggs
Day old chicks
Not recommended
Fruits
Common diseases
An unbalanced diet may result in one of these more commonly occurring diseases/conditions:
- Rear limb paresis
- Anorexia
- Vitamin K deficiency
- Obesity
- Tongue tip constriction
- Diabetes
Species within this group
- Six-banded armadillo (Euphractus sexcinctus)
- Big hairy armadillo (Chaetophractus villosus)
- Southern three-banded armadillo (Tolypeutes matacus)
