Otters tend to eat up small fish in entirety from head to tail. They have also been known to eat aquatic plants and to prey on other small mammals, such as muskrats or rabbits.They have a very high metabolism, so they need to eat frequently. Husbandry, or the care and management of otters in captivity, has improved gradually over the last two decades. Otters catch with their whiskers. Diet. Otters will mainly feed on fish (40-90% of their diet)and will take a variety of species depending on the time of year, species such as carp, stickleback and eels. 4. Neat Facts. Those gorgeous whiskers aren’t just for show, although they do look quite stylish. The Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus), also known as the oriental small-clawed otter or simply small-clawed otter, is a semiaquatic mammal native to South and Southeast Asia. Young otters will often follow their mother about on land or while swimming in single file. There are a variety of meat products upon which to base the diet. River otters eat a variety of aquatic wildlife, such as fish, crayfish, crabs, frogs, birds’ eggs, birds and reptiles such as turtles. As is the case with many species, Eurasian otters tend to live longer in captivity than in the wild. In the wild the otters eat primarily crustaceans and mollusks but will also eat fish, insects, amphibians and reptiles. During the spring months amphibians form a large part of their diet. The territory used by an otter can be 50 miles of shoreline. frozen diets) have been used to maintain ASC otters in captivity (Baer, et al 1994). Predators: The river otter has few natural predators because of its strength, sharp teeth, aggressiveness when attacked, and aquatic habits. Small-Clawed Otters (Aonyx cinereus) DIET In the Wild High metabolic rate, rapid digestion, 40-60% time in wild spent foraging/feeding In wild eat 20% of body weight per day in meals of ~500g In wild eat wide variety of food, majoring on crustaceans and molluscs Recommended Diet 20% freshwater fish, preferably fresh not frozen The undigestible scales and bones harmlessly pass through their digestive system and are deposited as scat. Asian small-clawed otters use their forepaws rather than their mouth to locate and capture food items. Otter live to around 12 years old in the wild, and longer in captivity. River otters eat mostly frogs, crabs, crayfish, fish and mollusks. To sustain a captive population of Asian small-clawed otters, the nutritional needs of the species must be met. Table 1.5 briefly describes the nutrient content of (River otters eat a less-impressive, but still-respectable 15-20% of their body weight.) Otters recline to eat. 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