Puggle

[den]

Snorkle still isn't feeding properly but he hasn't lost any weight. He hasn't gained any either, which is a worry but not as much a worry. How do mother echidnas feed their puggles? Do they just keep walking around and ooze milk, or do they curl up at feeding time? Do they lay on their side or backs? What can I do to make him feel natural enough to start drinking.

I wonder if anyone has actually studied this.

Comments

[sanderling.livejournal.com]

Surely there has to have been an echidna hatched at a zoo somewhere at some point, the keepers/vet/curator of which would hopefully be willing to share any observations or insight they may have gained.

The Philadelphia Zoo (http://www2.philadelphiazoo.org/about/AboutZoo/Contact-Us.htm) seems to have had numerous babies, from 2000, 2003 and 2005 (http://www.aza.org/Publications/2005/10/Conservation.pdf) (and maybe this year, following that pattern?).

The Saint Louis Zoo (http://www.stlzoo.org/contact/) claims to be (http://www.stlzoo.org/animals/abouttheanimals/mammals/egglayingmammals/shortbeakedechidna.htm) one of only two zoos to successfully breed the species in captivity (I assume the other is Philly, but they don't say), and continue to be "in the forefront of captive research and breeding of this species".

Probably in both cases the female raised the young from start to finish, but they may have some observations on her behaviour during that time...

Here is hoping.

[(Anonymous)]

I hope your little puggle is doing well and I am amazed at your common sense ability to try everything natural to this animal to get it to feed.