Mixed species exhibit ideas

As a semi-sneak peek of what I plan to add for my exhibit showcase thread. I just want to make sure if these two combinations are both compatible on a feasible level:

1. Crested Quail Dove, Bananaquit, Cuban Grassquit, Martinique Anole, Rhinoceros Iguana, Zebra Longwing, Malachite, and Julia.*

2. French Angelfish, Redband Parrotfish, Scrawled Cowfish, Reef Butterflyfish, Longspine Squirrelfish, Harlequin Bass, Sargassum Triggerfish, Striped Parrotfish, Lookdown, Saucereye Porgy, Smallmouth Grunt, Atlantic Blue Tang, Glasseye Snapper, and Caribbean Spiny Lobster.


(*Dryas iulia)

I should also mention that if there are other kinds of Bahamian reef fish that can get along with the species above; feel free to share, as I am by no means an expert.
 
Austin the Sengi said:
As a semi-sneak peek of what I plan to add for my exhibit showcase thread. I just want to make sure if these two combinations are both compatible on a feasible level:

1. Crested Quail Dove, Bananaquit, Cuban Grassquit, Martinique Anole, Rhinoceros Iguana, Zebra Longwing, Malachite, and Julia.*

2. French Angelfish, Redband Parrotfish, Scrawled Cowfish, Reef Butterflyfish, Longspine Squirrelfish, Harlequin Bass, Sargassum Triggerfish, Striped Parrotfish, Lookdown, Saucereye Porgy, Smallmouth Grunt, Atlantic Blue Tang, Glasseye Snapper, and Caribbean Spiny Lobster.


(*Dryas iulia)

I should also mention that if there are other kinds of Bahamian reef fish that can get along with the species above; feel free to share, as I am by no means an expert.
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1) I would avoid the lizards if the birds are breeding, because they may eat the eggs of the smallest species.
2) It looks fine, however I'm not an expert of Caribbean fish.
 
Austin the Sengi said:
1. Crested Quail Dove, Bananaquit, Cuban Grassquit, Martinique Anole, Rhinoceros Iguana, Zebra Longwing, Malachite, and Julia.*
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I'm with @Haliaeetus in that the lizards would likely be a risk to any eggs, though if the birds are not being bred it wouldn't be a concern.
I understand that butterflies are typically patterned in a way to deter predators, but would they be in any kind of danger from the other inhabitants?
 
@Van Beal The reason why I chose the following birds was mainly for their dietary habits; in which most of them would not be capable of eating butterflies. As for the lizards, if you both mean the Martinique Anoles; then yes, I will remove them from the list and maintain the iguanas in their place.

[Edit] I also just found out that the iguanas are capable of preying on small lizards; so in that case, my earlier statement on removing the anoles is equally justified.
 
What could you theoretically mix with pygmy hippos? I know San Diego puts Wolff's guenon in with them, but I don't fully know how well that has turned out.
 
NNM. said:
What could you theoretically mix with pygmy hippos? I know San Diego puts Wolff's guenon in with them, but I don't fully know how well that has turned out.
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In the past Brookfield mixed them with a variety of different primates and birds.
 
birdsandbats said:
I would assume fine, but perhaps I'm not the person to ask. @pachyderm pro How much do you know about the Pygmy Hippo's time in Tropic World?
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I don't believe there were ever any issues with the other inhabitants even when there were 4+ primates in the exhibit. Only reason it was moved out was because of the lack of outdoor access and softscape. Unless something changed recently Omaha also has pygmy hippos mixed with monkeys and birds and hasn't had problems. If Omaha and San Diego are any indication, pygmy hippos can be mixed with monkeys as long as the monkeys have enough vertical space away from the hippos.
 
pachyderm pro said:
I don't believe there were ever any issues with the other inhabitants even when there were 4+ primates in the exhibit. Only reason it was moved out was because of the lack of outdoor access and softscape. Unless something changed recently Omaha also has pygmy hippos mixed with monkeys and birds and hasn't had problems. If Omaha and San Diego are any indication, pygmy hippos can be mixed with monkeys as long as the monkeys have enough vertical space away from the hippos.
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I would assume larger ones like mandrills would be a terrible idea.
 
NNM. said:
I would assume larger ones like mandrills would be a terrible idea.
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Definitely not recommended. Many zoos have attempted this mix, but I don't believe any are still around. I have a photo hidden away in a photo album somewhere of a pygmy hippo and mandrill right by each other in Tropic World, but it was never an ideal set-up.
 
pachyderm pro said:
I don't believe there were ever any issues with the other inhabitants even when there were 4+ primates in the exhibit. Only reason it was moved out was because of the lack of outdoor access and softscape. Unless something changed recently Omaha also has pygmy hippos mixed with monkeys and birds and hasn't had problems. If Omaha and San Diego are any indication, pygmy hippos can be mixed with monkeys as long as the monkeys have enough vertical space away from the hippos.
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I'm sure mixing any monkeys with common hippos would not be wise. I sometimes wonder if anything at all can be mixed with hippos, other than pelicans, as evidenced by DAK
 
NNM. said:
I would assume larger ones like mandrills would be a terrible idea.
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Drills (the mandrill's smaller relative) have been mixed successfully with Pygmy hippos. They've also been mixed with multiple types of antilopes, like duikers, bongos or sitatungas. Though usually only one antelope at a time.
 
The EAZA Best Practices Guidelines for pygmy hippos mentions several things about mixing pygmy hippos.

https://www.eaza.net/assets/Uploads...Practice-Guidelines-Pygmy-hippo-approved2.pdf

They will sometimes go after birds (ducks, egrets, geese) so preferable to not keep them with pinioned and/or slow birds.

Male mandrills have been known to be aggressive towards the pygmy hippos.

With species like antelope, there are cases of both species being the aggressor.

The most apparently successful mix I have seen was pygmy hippos and blue duikers, although in that cases safe areas for the duikers away from the hippos seems advisable and prudent.
 
Mixing hippos with other animals is like mixing gorillas with monkeys - people keep saying "oh but zoo X successfully does it", but it is more the case that nothing bad has happened at zoo X yet. Mixes of this nature are only "successful" until one of the animals is killed, which is a matter of when not if.

Just last year a Sitatunga was killed by a Pigmy Hippo in an attempt at mixing them at a zoo in the USA: Pygmy hippo kills antelope intended for same enclosure at Grand Rapids zoo
 
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