Kinkajou Basics
Kinkajous are members of the raccoon family and are native to the rainforests in both Central and South America. They live in the canopy of trees and are rarely seen by humans.
Recently, kinkajous have become more and more popular as pets but information on kinkajou care is scarce.
One of the most important parts of keeping a pet kinkajou is providing it a diverse and complete diet. Following is a guide to basic kinkajou food.
Diet Staples
Kinkajous basically eat fruit. Since these are exotic animals, it is best to have a large part of their diet be exotic fruits.
Among these fruits are:
* Banana
* Mango
* Kiwi
* Pineapple
* Grape
* Papaya
* Melons
* Pomegranates
* Figs
Other fruits such as apples can also be offered if your kinkajou shows an interest in them.
It is best to feed these foods to your kinkajou whole. Do not peel or slice them before offering them to your pet.
Commercial Pet Foods
When it comes to feeding a kinkajou, many owners think it would be easiest if they could feed their pet food bought from their local pet store. This can be done, however only as a supplement. Your kinkajou will likely show little to no interest in these types of foods and refusal to eat can cause your kinkajou to become malnourished.
If you do chose to feed commercial pet food to your kinkajou, only do it in moderation and in addition to the fresh fruits mentioned above.
Among the foods some feed to their kinkajous is dried dog food, primate biscuits and leaf-eater primate diet.
Insects and Flowers and Honey, oh my!
In the wild, the kinkajou will mainly eat fruit. They do, however, substitute their diet with insects. This can be done in captivity as well. Live insects are available at most pet supply stores.
Kinkajous have frequently been called "honey bears" for a reason. Kinkajous have long, long tongues used for sucking the nectar out of flowers. Sometimes they will even eat the entire flower. If you are going to feed flowers to your pet, make sure they have not been sprayed with any kind of pesticides.
Foods To Be Avoided
Like any other pet, there are many foods that you simply should not feed to your kinkajou. First and foremost, kinkajous (like any other pet) should never be fed any kind of chocolate or caffeine. Milk should also be avoided.
Many kinkajous tend to be allergic to strawberries and they should only be served under supervision.
Experts also suggest avoiding citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits and avocados.
Any kind of fruit with large, hard seeds should be avoided. These seeds can be hard for your pet to digest and can leave to stomach upset.
How Much and How Often
The basic fact of the matter is your pet kinkajou is going to be expensive to feed. Kinkajou food is varied and because of their need for exotic fruits, can be very pricey.
A kinkajou should be fed two or three times a day. They can eat six whole bananas at every single meal. That is, of course, not suggested. Variety is the spice of life, but that is a good indication of exactly how much your kinkajou should be eating.
And Don't Forget...
Water, water, water. Kinkajous will drink large amounts of water and it must be provided to them every day, all day.
Jessica Gadziala - Jessica Gadziala is a full-time freelance writer from New Jersey. She is also currently working on a career in novel writing. A ...
Join the Conversation