William
12-22-2011, 02:45 AM
This started as a reply in a thread but I decided to post it as a separate thread if someone else want to find it.
Armadillos can be tricky to keep but it is usually no problem if you can get your hands on a healthy adult.
Babies have a tendency to die without any reason but there are also the problems that they:
- Get cold and/or Dehydrated very quickly and therefore need food often.
- Have a tendency to get their food down the wrong pipe and into the lungs. They usually cough it up but if they are in anything but top condition it can be fatal.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1949401/cage/armadillo.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1949401/cage/armadillo2.jpg
Two pictures of a pet baby armadillo. They are very cute but I do not recommend getting them at this size as per above.
If you want to try I recommend feedings every two hours and that you keep it in bed with you. They like sleeping between your pillow and neck.
If you want to get an adult one the problem is that most specimens for sale, at-least here are in less than peak condition and it can be hard to rear them back to health.
If you can get a healthy specimen they can be kept on a diet based around dog food and different complements. If they can be allowed out into the garden and eat ants that helps. They love cheese but should not be given too much.
Somethings to remember (that might surprise):
- Armadillos are excellent climbers.
- Armadillos are excellent jumpers and can jump 2-3 ft into the air.
- Armadillos quickly become tame and will come and lick your feet.
- Armadillos are very strong which needs to be consider when choosing housing. (my run around the house as he please)
- Armadillos are not destructive. Despite the claws they seldom do any damage to anything besides plastic bags. Plastic bags are unresistable if you are an armadillo and must be brought back to your nest.
- Armadillos (most) Do not dig if provided a hiding place. (unless kept with soft dirt in which case the instinct to burrow takes over)
- Armadillos gets a long nicely with dogs. At least the ones I have kept. The dogs seems to consider them weird puppies.
- Armadillos become more and more day active as they become more secure in their environment.
- Armadillos love a dog pillow and will pork out on them and sleep like a big.
- Armadillos do not like to be wet but enjoy a mud puddle during warm days. (If they are secure enough to come out during the days).
- It is normal for armadillos to not come out during rainy days. In the wild they do not lie rain but come out to feast afterward.
Always make sure you know where the armadillo is. It is very easy to by mistake close them into a seldom used room or closet if you do not make sure that it haven't snuck in while you had the door open. This is especially important if you let you armadillo run loose as it might be common not to see the little guy for a couple of days and getting stuck in a room without food for that time might cause problems.
Any questions are welcome!
Armadillos can be tricky to keep but it is usually no problem if you can get your hands on a healthy adult.
Babies have a tendency to die without any reason but there are also the problems that they:
- Get cold and/or Dehydrated very quickly and therefore need food often.
- Have a tendency to get their food down the wrong pipe and into the lungs. They usually cough it up but if they are in anything but top condition it can be fatal.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1949401/cage/armadillo.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1949401/cage/armadillo2.jpg
Two pictures of a pet baby armadillo. They are very cute but I do not recommend getting them at this size as per above.
If you want to try I recommend feedings every two hours and that you keep it in bed with you. They like sleeping between your pillow and neck.
If you want to get an adult one the problem is that most specimens for sale, at-least here are in less than peak condition and it can be hard to rear them back to health.
If you can get a healthy specimen they can be kept on a diet based around dog food and different complements. If they can be allowed out into the garden and eat ants that helps. They love cheese but should not be given too much.
Somethings to remember (that might surprise):
- Armadillos are excellent climbers.
- Armadillos are excellent jumpers and can jump 2-3 ft into the air.
- Armadillos quickly become tame and will come and lick your feet.
- Armadillos are very strong which needs to be consider when choosing housing. (my run around the house as he please)
- Armadillos are not destructive. Despite the claws they seldom do any damage to anything besides plastic bags. Plastic bags are unresistable if you are an armadillo and must be brought back to your nest.
- Armadillos (most) Do not dig if provided a hiding place. (unless kept with soft dirt in which case the instinct to burrow takes over)
- Armadillos gets a long nicely with dogs. At least the ones I have kept. The dogs seems to consider them weird puppies.
- Armadillos become more and more day active as they become more secure in their environment.
- Armadillos love a dog pillow and will pork out on them and sleep like a big.
- Armadillos do not like to be wet but enjoy a mud puddle during warm days. (If they are secure enough to come out during the days).
- It is normal for armadillos to not come out during rainy days. In the wild they do not lie rain but come out to feast afterward.
Always make sure you know where the armadillo is. It is very easy to by mistake close them into a seldom used room or closet if you do not make sure that it haven't snuck in while you had the door open. This is especially important if you let you armadillo run loose as it might be common not to see the little guy for a couple of days and getting stuck in a room without food for that time might cause problems.
Any questions are welcome!