Zoo database

Black-tailed prairie dog

Cynomys ludovicianus

Natural diet Black-tailed prairie dog

The black-tailed prairie dog is herbivorous and consumes a variety of grasses, leaves, seeds, roots, stems and more. Opportunistically, they also eat insects. Most of their water comes from their diet but additional water should be available in captivity.

Grasses
Grasses
Herbs
Herbs
Leaves
Leaves

Feeding advice Black-tailed prairie dog

Feed quantity per day

10%

Sample percentage calculation

If an animal weighs 3 kg and eats 10% of its body weight, it will get
 
3 x 0.1 = 0.3 kg feed in total per day

Feed composition

10% Concentrates
15% Leafy greens and cabbages
75% Grass, alfalfa, roughage

Proportions (fresh product)

0.1 x 0.3 kg = 30 g concentrates
0.15 x 0.3 kg = 45 g leafy greens and cabbages
0.75 x 0.3 kg = 225 g grass, alfalfa, roughage

Diet Suggestions

Recommended

Variety of hay (oat, meadow, brome and orchard)
High fiber pellets
Variety of leafy and cabbage vegetables

In moderation

Other vegetables

Not recommended

Fruits

Common diseases

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

  • Obesity
  • Fatty liver
  • Dental disease
  • Gastric Impaction
  • Cardiac disease

Additional advice

  • Divide the “Feed quantity per day” over at least three feeding moments per day.
  • Supplement the diet with ad libitum roughages.
  • Do not feed more than 5% fresh grass per day because of higher toxin levels.
  • Do not feed to much lucerne hay as this is high in calcium and proteins.
  • 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).