Mixed species exhibit ideas

[Mr Gharial]

South American:
An exhibit mimicking that of a treetop rainforest canopy with branches, vines, etc. where guests can watch monkeys playing. In such an exhibit could black howler monkeys be exhibited with white-faced saki, capuchins, Goeldi monkeys, squirrel monkeys, and emperor tamarins? What if the exhibit is taken a step further to include extended flooring with soth American plants, and a swimming area where capybara and Brazillian tapirs can swim (complete with underwater viewing)? Could the two get along with the monkeys, or would the monkeys cause them irritation?

Your first suggestion requires a bit more thinking capability than I have at the moment (it's late in Europe), but I can probably answer this one:

Howlers monkeys, Sakis and Tamarins (including Goeldi's) have all been mixed together before. And capybaras should have zero problems with these animals. Though Lowland tapirs would be a new addition to this mix, I don't see them causing any problems to this exhibit. However, Capuchins and Squirrel monkeys are usually kept separate from Saki's or Tamarins.

If you want it both ways, I would suggest having this exhibit setup:

Exhibit 1 with Black howler monkey, White-faced saki, Emperor tamarin, Goeldi's marmoset and Capybara

Exhibit 2 with Capuchin or Squirrel monkeys and Brazilian tapirs.

For an extra interesting exhibit complex though, you could create a moat in between the two areas which the monkeys cannot get over, but the Capybaras and Tapirs can swim through as they please. This way the semi-aquatic animals can get to both exhibits while keeping the monkeys safely separate (though there might be risk of monkeys hitching a ride on a tapir. Make sure the moat is large and deep enough that the Monkeys won't risk jumping on a tapir head to get to the other side. A bridge or platform between the islands that forces the larger mammals to dive would prevent this best, but it would be difficult to incorporate while keeping it good-looking).

Also: there does exist a thread specifically to ask these sorts of questions

 

[birdsandbats]

Hi everyone, I am wondering if the following mixed-species ideas could work:

North American:
A large open grassy enclosure surrounded with pine and North American trees, complete with a cliff on the side (as seen in many elephant enclosures) that releases a roaring waterfall, creating a lake within the exhibit (or large pond technically) that covers a third of the exhibit. The enclosure holds a single moose that can walk along the large long field or eat from surrounding trees and bushes, or go for a swim in the lake. Alongside the moose, beavers are stored in the lake, where they can swim, make a dam, etc. Part of the enclosure can feature underwater viewing. Would such an exhibit be possible? I know moose are very aggressive animals, but I wonder if the two could get along, especially if there is a narrow stretch of water allowing the beavers access to a separate section that the moose cannot access. I think this would make for a very nice immersive exhibit. If not, what if:
A: Replace beavers with American river otters.
B: Replace the moose with a small heard of Bighorn sheep and provide rocks along the cliff for climbing.
C: Replace moose with a small heard of bison.
D: Replace moose with small herd of elk?

South American:
An exhibit mimicking that of a treetop rainforest canopy with branches, vines, etc. where guests can watch monkeys playing. In such an exhibit could black howler monkeys be exhibited with white-faced saki, capuchins, Goeldi monkeys, squirrel monkeys, and emperor tamarins? What if the exhibit is taken a step further to include extended flooring with soth American plants, and a swimming area where capybara and Brazillian tapirs can swim (complete with underwater viewing)? Could the two get along with the monkeys, or would the monkeys cause them irritation?

Beavers would kill all of your trees and Moose don't mix well. American Elk do much better in mixed exhibit generally. I've never seen Bighorn Sheep mixed with anything, I suspect there's some reason for that.

 

[BenFoxster]

Your first suggestion requires a bit more thinking capability than I have at the moment (it's late in Europe), but I can probably answer this one:

Howlers monkeys, Sakis and Tamarins (including Goeldi's) have all been mixed together before. And capybaras should have zero problems with these animals. Though Lowland tapirs would be a new addition to this mix, I don't see them causing any problems to this exhibit. However, Capuchins and Squirrel monkeys are usually kept separate from Saki's or Tamarins.

If you want it both ways, I would suggest having this exhibit setup:

Exhibit 1 with Black howler monkey, White-faced saki, Emperor tamarin, Goeldi's marmoset and Capybara

Exhibit 2 with Capuchin or Squirrel monkeys and Brazilian tapirs.

For an extra interesting exhibit complex though, you could create a moat in between the two areas which the monkeys cannot get over, but the Capybaras and Tapirs can swim through as they please. This way the semi-aquatic animals can get to both exhibits while keeping the monkeys safely separate (though there might be risk of monkeys hitching a ride on a tapir. Make sure the moat is large and deep enough that the Monkeys won't risk jumping on a tapir head to get to the other side. A bridge or platform between the islands that forces the larger mammals to dive would prevent this best, but it would be difficult to incorporate while keeping it good-looking).

Also: there does exist a thread specifically to ask these sorts of questions

Hi Gharial, thank you so much for your input, those are really good ideas! The moat would be a really cool idea. Like you said, my biggest fear in this hypothetical would be monkeys hitching rides on the tapir, I've heard of similar instances occurring when monkeys escape their island by riding on the backs of waterbuck and similar animals. I'll take these into consideration, thanks for the help! I'm hoping to draw out some ideas for animal exhibit ideas I have eventually! Thanks for letting me know about the thread, I won't make this mistake again, thanks!

 

[BenFoxster]

Beavers would kill all of your trees and Moose don't mix well. American Elk do much better in mixed exhibit generally. I've never seen Bighorn Sheep mixed with anything, I suspect there's some reason for that.

Ok, I should have known, sounds like both species may be too problematic for one another. Any ideas of what can be mixed with elk by any chance?

 

[birdsandbats]

Ok, I should have known, sounds like both species may be too problematic for one another. Any ideas of what can be mixed with elk by any chance?

I've seen bison, pronghorn, Red Deer, Blackbuck, and some other hoofstock mix successfully with elk.

 

[Charles]

Would Ambiona box turtle, black marsh turtle, painted terrapin, Malaysian giant turtle and roti island snake necked turtle work together

and could red rainbow fish be kept with them?

 

[pichu]

can andean bears be mixed with anything?

 

[Platypusboy]

can andean bears be mixed with anything?

Andean bears can actually be kept with a lot of different primates, such as squirrel monkeys, howler monkeys and lemurs. Coatis also work with Andean bears.

 

[Platypusboy]

Would Ambiona box turtle, black marsh turtle, painted terrapin, Malaysian giant turtle and roti island snake necked turtle work together

and could red rainbow fish be kept with them?

I don’t see why not, most turtle species can be mixed with each other and rainbow fish would most likely work as well.

 

[Charles]

I don’t see why not, most turtle species can be mixed with each other and rainbow fish would most likely work as well.

How big would the enclosure have to be do you think, I’m not an expert on turtles at all

 

[ZooElephantMan]

Would it be possible to mix Pygmy Hippos and Spotted Necked Otters in a ~5,000 square foot exhibit? The area would be around 50% land and 50% water. There would be fake mangrove trees in the water, allowing the otters to swim through the narrow gaps in the roots to hide/escape if the hippos became aggressive. The otters might also be able to climb the trees. I am imagining having 1 hippo and 2-3 otters on exhibit at once.

 

[Van Beal]

Could a mix of Black-tailed Prairie Dogs and Nine-banded Armadillos with Costas hummingbirds free flying in the same room work?

 

[Great Argus]

Would it be possible to mix Pygmy Hippos and Spotted Necked Otters in a ~5,000 square foot exhibit? The area would be around 50% land and 50% water. There would be fake mangrove trees in the water, allowing the otters to swim through the narrow gaps in the roots to hide/escape if the hippos became aggressive. The otters might also be able to climb the trees. I am imagining having 1 hippo and 2-3 otters on exhibit at once.

Mmm I'm highly skeptical given the potential for damage on both sides. I've not heard of such a mix being attempted; it might work but it very well might not too. Both species are known to bother exhibit mates, not sure it'd be worth the risk.

Could a mix of Black-tailed Prairie Dogs and Nine-banded Armadillos with Costas hummingbirds free flying in the same room work?

Possibly? Not sure if the armadillos would annoy the prairie dogs too much by expanding their burrows and what not. Also hummingbirds seems kind of random in this exhibit?

 

[birdsandbats]

Could a mix of Black-tailed Prairie Dogs and Nine-banded Armadillos with Costas hummingbirds free flying in the same room work?

Not sure about the prairie dog/armadillo mix, but I wouldn't mix prairie dogs and hummingbirds. Hummingbirds need vegetation to feed from and take shelter in, and I don't think the prairie dogs would allow those plants to live.

 

[pichu]

would a mix with bactrian camel and przewalki horse work?

 

[Dhole dude]

would a mix with bactrian camel and przewalki horse work?

Yes, it has been done many times before with no issues.

 

[Great Argus]

would a mix with bactrian camel and przewalki horse work?

This mix typically works as long as the exhibit is sufficiently sized and there's options to separate males if necessary.

 

[pichu]

This mix typically works as long as the exhibit is sufficiently sized and there's options to separate males if necessary.

yes, the males would likely be separated if need be for the camels at least, because i know dynamics are very important with the wild horses

 

[Mr Gharial]

Could Chinese giant salamanders be kept with fish and turtles?

These would be Chinese high-fin banded shark, Amur bitterling, Golden barb, Oriental weatherloach, Paradisefish and Japanese pond turtle

I know similar mixes exist with Chinese alligators, but I don't know if Giant salamanders are more voracious than Alligators

 

[Great Argus]

Could Chinese giant salamanders be kept with fish and turtles?

These would be Chinese high-fin banded shark, Amur bitterling, Golden barb, Oriental weatherloach, Paradisefish and Japanese pond turtle

I know similar mixes exist with Chinese alligators, but I don't know if Giant salamanders are more voracious than Alligators

The salamanders would eat the smaller fish species readily - would likely take them some time to decimate the fish but I don't doubt they would. Easier for the salamander since they feed by suction, vs the Alligator has to actually grab them.