Platypus Ornithorhynchus anatinus Captive Husbandry Guidelines CONTRIBUTORS Stephen Jackson Healesville Sanctuary Leslie Fisk Healesville Sanctuary Norm Holland Healesville Sanctuary 1 Melody Serena Healesville Sanctuary 2 David Middleton Healesville Sanctuary 1 Present Address – Australian Platypus Conservancy, PO Box 84, Whittlesea Victoria 3757. 2 Present Address – Mount Mary Vineyard, Coldstream West Road, Coldstream Victoria 3777. M&MSG – Low Risk. ASMP Category: 4. http://www.australasianzookeeping.org/Husbandry%20Manuals.htm i Table of Contents 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................. 4 2. Taxonomy .................................................................................................................... 5 2.1 Nomenclature ........................................................................................................ 5 2.2 Subspecies ............................................................................................................. 5 2.3 Other Common Names .......................................................................................... 5 3. Natural History ............................................................................................................ 5 3.1 Morphometrics ...................................................................................................... 5 3.2 General Description ............................................................................................... 6 3.3 Distribution ............................................................................................................ 6 3.4 Habitat ................................................................................................................... 6 3.5 Wild Diet and Feeding Behaviour ......................................................................... 6 3.6 Longevity ............................................................................................................... 7 3.6.1 Wild ................................................................................................................ 7 3.6.2 Captivity ......................................................................................................... 7 4. Housing Requirements ................................................................................................ 7 4.1 Exhibit Design ....................................................................................................... 7 4.2 Holding Area Design. .......................................................................................... 10 4.3 Weather Protection .............................................................................................. 11 4.4 Substrate .............................................................................................................. 11 4.5 Enclosure Furnishings ......................................................................................... 12 4.6 Spatial Requirements ........................................................................................... 12 4.7 Interspecific Compatibility .................................................................................. 18 4.8 Intraspecific Compatibility .................................................................................. 18 5. Handling and Transport ............................................................................................. 12 5.1 Handling Procedure ............................................................................................. 12 5.2 Catching Bags ...................................................................................................... 14 5.3 Weighing and Examination ................................................................................. 14 5.4 Release ................................................................................................................. 14 5.5 Transport Requirements ...................................................................................... 14 6. Health Requirements ................................................................................................. 15 6.1 Routine Health Checks ........................................................................................ 15 6.1.1 Tail Volume Index (TVI) ............................................................................. 15 6.1.2 Blood Samples .............................................................................................. 15 6.2 Known Health Problems ...................................................................................... 16 6.2.1 Bacteria ......................................................................................................... 16 6.2.2 Viruses .......................................................................................................... 16 6.2.3 Protozoans .................................................................................................... 16 6.2.4 Metazoan Endoparasites ............................................................................... 17 ii 7. Behaviour .................................................................................................................. 17 7.1 Habits ................................................................................................................... 17 7.2 Captive Behavioural Problems ............................................................................ 17 7.3 Behavioural Enrichment ...................................................................................... 17 7.4 Signs of Stress in Captive Platypus ..................................................................... 18 8. Captive Dietary Requirements .................................................................................. 19 8.1 Captive Diet ......................................................................................................... 19 8.2 Supplements ........................................................................................................ 20 8.3 Presentation of Food ............................................................................................ 20 8.4 Estimating the Amount of Food Consumed ........................................................ 20 8.4.1 Food Provided in Display Tanks .................................................................. 20 8.4.2 Food Provided in Off-Display Tanks. .......................................................... 20 9. General Husbandry .................................................................................................... 21 9.1 Hygiene and Cleaning ......................................................................................... 21 9.2 Daily Records ...................................................................................................... 22 9.2.1 Facilities That Handle Platypus Daily .......................................................... 22 9.2.2 Facilities That Do Not Handle Platypus Daily ............................................. 22 9.3 Marking Techniques ............................................................................................ 23 10. Breeding .................................................................................................................. 23 10.1 Breeding System ................................................................................................ 23 10.2 Timing of Breeding ........................................................................................... 23 10.3 Age at First Breeding ......................................................................................... 23 10.3.1 Wild ............................................................................................................ 23 10.3.2 Captivity ..................................................................................................... 23 10.4 Ability to Breed Every Year .............................................................................. 24 10.5 Ability to Breed More Than Once Per Year ...................................................... 24 10.6 Breeding Behaviour ........................................................................................... 24 10.7 Nesting Requirements ....................................................................................... 25 10.8 Breeding Diet ..................................................................................................... 27 10.9 Gestation and Incubation Periods ...................................................................... 27 10.10 Litter Size ........................................................................................................ 27 10.11 Growth and Age Determination ...................................................................... 27 10.12 Age at Weaning ............................................................................................... 29 11. Artificial Rearing ..................................................................................................... 29 11.1 Housing .............................................................................................................. 29 11.2 Temperature Requirements ............................................................................... 30 11.3 Diet .................................................................................................................... 30 11.4 Specific Requirements