Commercial feed acceptance of diets for Amazonian manatees (Trichechus inunguis) in captivity

Keeping Amazonian manatees (Trichechus inunguis) in captivity is expensive and complex. Access to natural food is seasonal, and feeding manatees farmed plants is quite costly, requiring expensive logistics and planning. This study aimed to obtain alternative, good-quality feed to reduce feeding costs and decrease the risk of infectious and contagious diseases transmitted by contaminated food. The experiment was conducted in two stages: an acceptance test and a palatability test. Four adult animals in good health were used, two males and two females. Two types of extruded commercial feed were tested, one specific for horses and the other for laboratory rodents. During the experiment, the body and health status of the animals were monitored by biometrics and complete blood counts. The animals studied behaved favorably toward the introduction of the new feed and maintained satisfactory health status and body mass, considering the stressful conditions to which they were subjected. The two females were less receptive to the new feed, and the ration size directly affected intake because larger diameter pellets are more easily captured by the prehensile lips of T. inunguis. Captive Amazonian manatees accept the addition of concentrate to their diet as long as the size is conducive to capturing the pellets.