Zoo database

Striped skunk

Mephitis mephitis

Natural diet Striped skunk

The striped skunk is an opportunistic omnivorous species. Its diet is very diverse and dependent on the region and time of year. The diet may include: insects, small mammals, leaves, grasses, carrion and more.

Grasses
Grasses
Insects
Insects
Invertebrates / crustaceans
Invertebrates / crustaceans
Leaves
Leaves
Vertebrates
Vertebrates

Feeding advice Striped skunk

Feed quantity per day

3-5%

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

40% Meat and whole prey
30% Insects and other invertebrates
15% Concentrates
10% Other vegetables
5% Other

Proportions (fresh product)

0.4 x 0.12 kg = 48 g meat and whole prey
0.3 x 0.12 kg = 36 g insects and other invertebrates
0.15 x 0.12 kg = 18 g concentrates
0.1 x 0.12 kg = 12 g other vegetables
0.05 x 0.12 kg = 6 g other

Diet Suggestions

Recommended

Variety of insects
Variety of vertebrates (mice and chicks)
Live insects

In moderation

Variety of vegetables
Eggs

Not recommended

Fruits

Common diseases

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

  • Obesity
  • Diabetes
  • Hepatic lipidosis
  • Metabolic bone disease
  • Dental disease
  • Dermatitis
  • Anorexia
  • Cardiac disease

Additional advice

  • Divide the “Feed quantity per day” over at least two feeding moments per day.
  • Supplement a variety of diet components to avoid nutrient deficiencies in the animal.
  • By feeding smaller portions, issues related to vomiting can be prevented.
  • Stimulate foraging behaviour by hiding, stacking or hanging the feed (read more about feed enrichment and foraging behaviour).