Mixed species exhibit ideas

[Sphenisciologist]

Thinking of making a mixed species exhibit with other sub-Antarctic birds along with penguins like Yellow-billed Pintails, Chiloe Wigeons and Black-faced Ibises. I know some of these have been used at multiple zoos before. Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Great Argus]

Thinking of making a mixed species exhibit with other sub-Antarctic birds along with penguins like Yellow-billed Pintails, Chiloe Wigeons and Black-faced Ibises. I know some of these have been used at multiple zoos before. Anyone have any ideas?

Steamer ducks have cohabited pretty well. Mainly there needs to be space for all species to get away from each other.

 

[Sphenisciologist]

Steamer ducks have cohabited pretty well. Mainly there needs to be space for all species to get away from each other.

Seems like the safest option. I’ll go with that.

 

[Bengal Tiger]

I have heard about some steamer ducks being aggressive, but as far as I'm aware, it's mainly the males that lose a problem

 

[Sphenisciologist]

I have heard about some steamer ducks being aggressive, but as far as I'm aware, it's mainly the males that lose a problem

As long as there’s adequate space, no intended food competition, established nesting areas and areas for both the ducks and penguins to avoid one another, it shouldn’t be a problem.

 

[Jurek7]

Berlin zoo kept crested ducks and yellow-billed teals together with king and rockhopper penguins. The ducks were actually more active than the penguins.

 

[Great Argus]

I have heard about some steamer ducks being aggressive, but as far as I'm aware, it's mainly the males that lose a problem

They are indeed aggressive, but so are penguins. So it typically evens out.

 

[StoppableSan]

Question: would red pandas, tufted deer and demoiselle cranes play nicely together? This would be considering that the pandas would breed, unsure about the cranes/deer on the other hand. What would be the best situation?

 

[StoppableSan]

Followup question: colobus monkeys with southern ground hornbills and an African crested porcupine: yes or no?

 

[Great Argus]

Question: would red pandas, tufted deer and demoiselle cranes play nicely together? This would be considering that the pandas would breed, unsure about the cranes/deer on the other hand. What would be the best situation?

Hypothetically yes, though the cranes would probably be best as a non-breeding situation.

Followup question: colobus monkeys with southern ground hornbills and an African crested porcupine: yes or no?

This one seems pretty risky, particularly for young/infant monkeys. Hornbill with the Porcupine really isn't great, Crested Porcupines tend to be problematic in mixed exhibits due to aggression and curiosity of other species.

 

[KevinB]

Are there any other (Australasian) bird species little blue penguins could be safely housed with?

 

[birdsandbats]

Are there any other (Australasian) bird species little blue penguins could be safely housed with?

Perhaps they could be mixed with fish that are too large for them to eat?

 

[Sphenisciologist]

Are there any other (Australasian) bird species little blue penguins could be safely housed with?

Cincinnati mixes them with freckled ducks, Australian wood ducks and New Zealand scaups. They would each need adequate space to avoid unwanted temperament.

 

[Strix]

Are there any other (Australasian) bird species little blue penguins could be safely housed with?

Little pied cormorants, wading birds like masked lapwing and red-necked avocet etc. Same goes for needing space.

 

[Great Argus]

Are there any other (Australasian) bird species little blue penguins could be safely housed with?

Low aggression waterfowl such as the species already mentioned would be the best apart from possibly fish. Little Blues are less aggressive than many species of penguins but also are quite a bit smaller so exhibit mates have to be considered carefully.

 

[Sphenisciologist]

So, I’m working on importing a new exhibit after the current project I am working on. Are there any birds, or reptiles that could mix well with Red Ruffed Lemurs?

 

[Great Argus]

So, I’m working on importing a new exhibit after the current project I am working on. Are there any birds, or reptiles that could mix well with Red Ruffed Lemurs?

Birds and primates are often tricky - easiest bet would be waterfowl if you were looking at an island type setup. I've seen Radiated Tortoise mixed with lemurs before, though that mix requires caution to make sure the lemurs are playing nice as well as separate feedings for the tortoises otherwise they won't get food.

 

[Sphenisciologist]

Birds and primates are often tricky - easiest bet would be waterfowl if you were looking at an island type setup. I've seen Radiated Tortoise mixed with lemurs before, though that mix requires caution to make sure the lemurs are playing nice as well as separate feedings for the tortoises otherwise they won't get food.

Would Madagascar Pochards work, given they have a separate island area with water in between them and the lemurs?

 

[birdsandbats]

So, I’m working on importing a new exhibit after the current project I am working on. Are there any birds, or reptiles that could mix well with Red Ruffed Lemurs?

Madagascar Crested Ibis, Radiated Tortoise, and various waterfowl have been successfully mixed with lemurs.

 

[Great Argus]

Would Madagascar Pochards work, given they have a separate island area with water in between them and the lemurs?

Hypothetically - but bear in mind nobody keeps them ex-situ