Human assisted hand rearing of six-banded armadillo (Euphractus sexcinctus) at Fresno Chaffee Zoo

Citation

Eschweiler K. 2025. Human assisted hand rearing of six-banded armadillo (Euphractus sexcinctus) at Fresno Chaffee Zoo. In Treiber K, Brooks M, D’amato-Anderson J, Nylander J, Eds. Proceedings of the Sixteenth Conference on Zoo and Wildlife Nutrition, AZA Nutrition Advisory Group, Oklahoma City, OK.

Abstract

In winter 2025, 1.1 pups were born at Fresno Chaffe Zoo. Initially, the pups were doing well raised by dam, but around three weeks of age dam was noted to be consistently moving and carrying the female pup resulting in wounds. When the pups were assessed for treatment, it was observed that the female pup was much smaller than the male pup and dehydration was noted in both individuals. The decision was made to begin assisted hand-rearing for both individuals. Due to the severity of the female pup’s wounds, she was fully pulled from dam for hand-rearing and treatment, while the male pup was returned to dam between feeds. Due to pups’ dehydration, the first assisted feed consisted of 50/50 Pedialyte unflavored to spring water. They were then transitioned over to the formula starting at the second feeding and transitioned for five feedings before fully on the formula.

Formula was based upon Julieta et al. (2004), consisting of 1-part Esbilac (Puppy Milk Replacer Newborn to 6 weeks) to 2-parts spring water provisioned at 15% of body weight per day. Initially the infants were fed eight feedings per day starting at 5 am with the last feed at 9 pm. Infants were weighed every morning before first feeding and weights entered into a milk calculator to determine feeding amount for next 24 hours. It was noted shortly after starting both pups on assisted feeding that the female was still not gaining weight as expected and was easily consuming offered volume of formula per feed. The decision was made to slowly increase her daily provision from 15% body weight per day to 25% body weight per day over the course of several days to ensure over provisioning did not occur. She maintained 25% of body weight consumption per day until the beginning of the weaning process around 66 days old. Starting on day 38 and until day 49, due to lower than anticipated weight gain of the female pup, the formula was changed from a 1:2 to a 1:1 Esbilac to spring water. The male pup showed higher weight gain due to additional feeds still occurring with the mother. After two weeks of assisted feeds with the male pup the decision was made to discontinue assisted feeds. He was maintained with mother and offered no other provisioned milk for one week until it was noted that he appeared to have an upper respiratory infection. Due to treatment and weight loss, the male pup was fully pulled from mother and assisted feeds began again at 15% of BW divided into eight feeds.

Introduction of solids began at 48 days starting with produce and insects for both individuals. Pelleted feeds were introduced at 56 days and initially soaked in formula before provisioning to individuals. Once solids were introduced, individual feeding amount per feeds were capped (10 mL for the male and 18 mL for female). The weaning process began at 66 days with reduction of feedings. As the number of feeds was reduced, the volume of the removed feedings was not reallocated to the remaining feeds. By day 76 both individuals were fully weaned onto adult diet regiment and thriving.

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