Usually when
you think of getting a pet you think of a cat or dog, maybe even a bird, fish,
rabbit or other small animal from your local breeder or pet shop. But what about something a little different,
like say an Armadillo?
Closely related
to anteaters and sloths, armadillos generally have a pointy or shovel-shaped
snout and small eyes. They vary widely in size and color, from the 6-inch-long
(15-centimeter-long), salmon-colored pink fairy armadillo to the 5-foot-long
(1.5-meter-long), dark-brown giant armadillos. Others have black, red, gray, or
yellowish coloring.
Contrary to
popular belief, not all armadillos are able to encase themselves in their
shells. In fact, only the three-banded armadillo can, curling its head and back
feet and contorting its shell into a hard ball that confounds would-be
predators.
Diet
Armadillos in
the wild are found foraging in the early morning and evening for beetles, ants,
termites, and other insects. They have very poor eyesight, and utilize their
keen sense of smell to hunt. Strong legs and huge front claws are used for
digging, and long, sticky tongues for extracting ants and termites from their
tunnels. In addition to bugs, armadillos eat small vertebrates, plants, and
some fruit, as well as the occasional carrion meal.
In captivity if
your pet armadillo is still a baby, you will need to feed it kitten formula
through an eyedropper or syringe with a nipple attached. It is important not to
over-feed a baby armadillo, as this can lead to health problems and might even
cause death.
An adult
armadillo, on the other hand, can maintain a healthy diet by eating moist cat
food. Also, in addition to its usual food, an armadillo should have a varied
diet, since it naturally has one in the wild. Other foods that you can feed to
your adult armadillo include fruit, grubs and worms.
Other considerations
Providing
access to water, shelter and space. Most species dig burrows and sleep prolifically,
up to 16 hours per day. The armadillo keeps cool and gains exercise from
swimming in water, so it is important to have water nearby, like a pond or
wading pool. Most species prefer to burrow and sleep prolifically, up to 16
hours per day. So you will need a makeshift burrow or an enclosed bed for it.
Also a pet armadillo will need its space, so an overcrowded home can cause it
to fight.
Temperature
Armadillos live
in temperate and warm habitats, including rain forests, grasslands, and
semi-deserts. Because of their low metabolic rate and lack of fat stores, cold
is their enemy. When the weather is cold, the armadillo will need a warm place
to stay as it normally lives in warm habitats and does not fare well in the
cold. So, if the armadillo is usually kept outside, you should bring it inside
during cold weather.
Somethings to remember (that might
surprise you):
- 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 irresistible 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 along nicely with dogs. At least the ones I have kept. The dogs seem 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 hasn’t snuck
in while you had the door open. This is especially important if you let your
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.
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