Mixed species enclosures and other changes for Burgers Zoo

[Mr Gharial]

You could make the alpine ibex exhibit also an aviary and put them there.

I think it would look better if the entire area was aviary, as to not obstruct viewing to the ibex, since the vultures are already difficult to photograph

 

[Westcoastperson]

I think it would look better if the entire area was aviary, as to not obstruct viewing to the ibex, since the vultures are already difficult to photograph

that would make the marmots and hare easy targets for prey

 

[Jarne]

That would be way too expensive for just those 3 species of birds. I'd advise to put the marmots with the birds in an aviary. Alternatively you could also keep the ibex with the marmots and birds, if you are willing to change the layout. You could let the pathway then go through the ibex aviary (but not through the ibex exhibit) to not obstruct the view.

 

[Jarne]

that would make the marmots and hare easy targets for prey

Monk vultures are not really wel-known for regular predation on these species, and they have successfully been combined with several smaller species in the past.

 

[Jarne]

Why no griffon vultures btw? Or if you really try to represent the alps, why not bearded vultures as those are actually living there. Monk vultures and griffon vultures are more restricted to the fringes if I recall correctly.

 

[Mr Gharial]

Why no griffon vultures btw? Or if you really try to represent the alps, why not bearded vultures as those are actually living there. Monk vultures and griffon vultures are more restricted to the fringes if I recall correctly.

Because burgers zoo currently has monk vultures already, and this way I don't have to move them (I want to move as few species as possible)

that would make the marmots and hare easy targets for prey

Actually, vultures can be mixed with smaller animals because vultures don't hunt. There was even a zoo that kept rabbits in an aviary with them to show this

That would be way too expensive for just those 3 species of birds. I'd advise to put the marmots with the birds in an aviary. Alternatively you could also keep the ibex with the marmots and birds, if you are willing to change the layout. You could let the pathway then go through the ibex aviary (but not through the ibex exhibit) to not obstruct the view.

The Alpine heights region is already surrounded by rock walls, putting a net over it (and a fake tree in the middle to hold it up) wouldn't change that much since we don't need walls around it

 

[Mr Gharial]

"Goldau Landscape and Animal Park in Switzerland keep their bearded vultures with mountain hares. At least one source I have seen states that this is specifically to show local visitors (living within a reintroduction area for the vultures) that they do not prey on live animals."

~Someone on zoochat

Alps Hare - ZooChat

Bearded Vulture - ZooChat

Bearded vulture aviary - ZooChat

Can't find a picture of them together though

 

[Jarne]

Because burgers zoo currently has monk vultures already, and this way I don't have to move them (I want to move as few species as possible)



Actually, vultures can be mixed with smaller animals because vultures don't hunt. There was even a zoo that kept rabbits in an aviary with them to show this



The Alpine heights region is already surrounded by rock walls, putting a net over it (and a fake tree in the middle to hold it up) wouldn't change that much since we don't need walls around it

Such a nest does cost quite a bit more then you'd think, especially when we are talking about a net small enough to hold in choughs and partridges but strong enough to keep monk vulture in. Those rock-walls will also be extremely expensive, it might be better to work with lower walls and a tactical use of sight-lines and optical tricks.

 

[Mr Gharial]

Such a nest does cost quite a bit more then you'd think, especially when we are talking about a net small enough to hold in choughs and partridges but strong enough to keep monk vulture in. Those rock-walls will also be extremely expensive, it might be better to work with lower walls and a tactical use of sight-lines and optical tricks.

Well, I'm currently using the "spared no expenses" excuse, and not taking money into account too much (though we're obviously not going to build floating islands or anything)

 

[Mr Gharial]

Alright, I wanted to add some fishes to the indoor river of Burgers Congo and this is the species list I have so far:
True big-scale tetra
Peters elephantnose fish
Redbelly tilapia
Konye
Banded cichlid
Utaka
Angolan tilapia
Aurora cichlid
Bumblebee cichlid
Pindu
Red top Ndumbi cichlid
Altum angelfish

Can these go together and be safe with the free-roaming animals and pygmy hippos (Congo peafowl, Crested guineafowl, Great blue turaco, Speckled mousebird, White-faced whistling-duck, Snowy-crowned robin-chat, African swamphen, Greater African jacana, African lemon dove, Green crested turaco, Black-faced go-away bird, Egyptian plover, Hamerkop, Red-crested turaco, Congo dwarf clawed frog, Blue-throated agama, House gecko, West African black forest turtle)

 

[DaLilFishie]

Alright, I wanted to add some fishes to the indoor river of Burgers Congo and this is the species list I have so far:
True big-scale tetra
Peters elephantnose fish
Redbelly tilapia
Konye
Banded cichlid
Utaka
Angolan tilapia
Aurora cichlid
Bumblebee cichlid
Pindu
Red top Ndumbi cichlid
Altum angelfish

Can these go together and be safe with the free-roaming animals and pygmy hippos (Congo peafowl, Crested guineafowl, Great blue turaco, Speckled mousebird, White-faced whistling-duck, Snowy-crowned robin-chat, African swamphen, Greater African jacana, African lemon dove, Green crested turaco, Black-faced go-away bird, Egyptian plover, Hamerkop, Red-crested turaco, Congo dwarf clawed frog, Blue-throated agama, House gecko, West African black forest turtle)

I don't know much about African cichlids so I don't think I would be too much help there, but just remember that many species are territorial. If you are going for an exhibit for just the Congo River, I would omit any Lake Malawi or Tanganyika cichlids, but if it's for Africa in general I think they are fitting.

I would remove the Altum Angelfish and Banded Cichlid from the exhibit, they are South American species, not African.

I believe Pygmy Hippos should do just fine with the fish, I would be cautious keeping the fish with predatory birds, and that Congo Dwarf Clawed Frog is probably best kept in a tank by itself, they are pretty small and risk getting eaten by birds or fish.

Also what species do you mean by Utaka? The name does not refer to a particular species, but any open-water Lake Malawi cichlid.

 

[Mr Gharial]

If you are going for an exhibit for just the Congo River, I would omit any Lake Malawi or Tanganyika cichlids, but if it's for Africa in general I think they are fitting.

It's based on the central and west African rainforest

I would remove the Altum Angelfish and Banded Cichlid from the exhibit, they are South American species, not African.

Dang you, internet!

I believe Pygmy Hippos should do just fine with the fish, I would be cautious keeping the fish with predatory birds, and that Congo Dwarf Clawed Frog is probably best kept in a tank by itself, they are pretty small and risk getting eaten by birds or fish.

I'll take out the dwarf frogs then

Also what species do you mean by Utaka? The name does not refer to a particular species, but any open-water Lake Malawi cichlid.

Sorry, I hadn't realised. I was referring to Copadichromis azureus

 

[Jarne]

It would be easier if you would (also) put the scientific name of each fish species on there.

There are plenty of Cichlids from the Congo river (mostly upper I think), as it's connected to lake Tanganyika. Other fish like tigerfish and MBU-puffers (Tetraodon mbu) are other species that live both the Congo and lake Tanganyika. Malawi isn't part of the same river system, so I would certainly avoid cichlids from there.

Dwarf-clawed frogs have been combined with many fish in home-aquaria, like Epiplatys annulatus and Poropanchax normani.

 

[Mr Gharial]

It would be easier if you would (also) put the scientific name of each fish species on there.

Fair enough (give me a second though)

There are plenty of Cichlids from the Congo river (mostly upper I think), as it's connected to lake Tanganyika. Other fish like tigerfish and MBU-puffers (Tetraodon mbu) are other species that live both the Congo and lake Tanganyika. Malawi isn't part of the same river system, so I would certainly avoid cichlids from there.

Burgers Congo is not region-specific (despite the name). So the main concern is if they can safely go together.

And are we sure that this

Can safely go in the same enclosure as this?

 

[Westcoastperson]

Fair enough (give me a second though)



Burgers Congo is not region-specific (despite the name). So the main concern is if they can safely go together.

And are we sure that this

Can safely go in the same enclosure as this?

Actually, they can because the fish in the first photo has no reason to try and est the second fish it's too small for it to care.

 

[Jarne]

That’s a whole different case, but do you only have one tank/basin?

 

[Mr Gharial]

That’s a whole different case, but do you only have one tank/basin?

It's one river (and an outside region, but that's, well, outside), though it could be seperated into two regions, but there's only one spot for underwater viewing

Actually, they can because the fish in the first photo has no reason to try and est the second fish it's too small for it to care.

Bad example, there's also larger fishes, pygmy hippos, and smaller animals that have access to the river

 

[Mr Gharial]

Fair enough (give me a second though)

True big-scale tetra (Brycinus macrolepidotus)
Peters elephantnose fish (Gnathonemus petersii)
Redbelly tilapia (Coptodon zillii)
Konye (Konia eisentrauti)
Azureus cichlid (Copadichromis azureus)
Angolan tilapia (Oreochromis angolensis)
Aurora cichlid (Maylandia aurora)
Bumblebee cichlid (Pseudotropheus crabro)
Pindu (Stomatepia pindu)
Red top Ndumbi cichlid (Pseudotropheus spec.)

 

[Mr Gharial]

Any other fish we could add, maybe some that are beneficial to the hippos?

 

[chaotic_froggie]

Maybe some smaller catfish (although I don’t know many species) to clean the tank?