Would These Mixes Work?

AverageWalrus

AverageWalrus

Well-Known Member
Im wondering of these animals would work together in a single exhibit

Dolphin and Seal
Dolphin and Sea Lion
Dolphin and Sea Turtle
Dolphin and Reef Fishes (like Angelfish, Butterflyfish, Wrasse, Parrotfish ect)
Manatee and Sea Turtle
Flamingo and Hippo
Alligator and Turtle
Indian Rhino and Blackbuck
 
Probably not, AW. If a gharial is mixed with turtles, it would work because a gharial does not eat turtles. Cleveland Zoo in Ohio has this mix at their RainForest.
 
Vienna zoo does keep Indian rhino together with Blackbuck, Axis deer and Nilgai.
 
Would these mixes....

Flamingo and Hippo is too risky for the Flamingos. Big potentially bad tempered mammal in with panicky easily damaged bird.
 
Dolphin and Seal [Yes]
Dolphin and Sea Lion [Yes]
Dolphin and Sea Turtle [Yes]
Dolphin and Reef Fishes [Yes]
Manatee and Sea Turtle [Yes]
Flamingo and Hippo [Not really]
Alligator and Turtle [Possibly]
Indian Rhino and Blackbuck [Yes]


For the dolphins and seals/sea lions, it is very dependent on the personalities of the animals involved, however there are several zoos and aquariums that successfully house Pinnipeds and Odontoceti together.

Sea Turtle and Dolphin is a bit tougher as some dolphins can become aggressive with the turtles, however many smaller species of dolphins can and are/have been successfully house with Sea Turtles. Large Green Turtles should be fine with Bottlenoses (personalities permitting) as well.

Many different facilities house several different species of dolphins with various tropical fish, and the mixes work well, however the dolphins might make snacks of their fishy tank mates on occasion.

I've seen Manatee/Dougong and Sea Turtles housed together before and they always seem to get along well, permitting the Manatees are in Salt Water.

Hippos can tend to eat/kill birds in captive situations, so generally not the best mix.

Alligator and Turtle can be done and is actually a fairly common mix (especially with smaller gators), however as mentioned very large gators can make meals of all but the largest, toughest water turtles if hungry, although the mixes can often work very well for a number of years.

Rhino and Blackbuck is explained above.
 
San Diego Safari Park has their Indian Rhinos in with quite a mix which includes blackbucks, gaur, nilgai, and a bunch of others I dont remember.

Hippos have proven to be extremely dangerous to their exhibit mates, so much so the AZA only recommends they be kept with tilapia. Males were mostly to blame for the killing and occasional eating of exhibit mates. They have been tried with a number of antelopes, monkeys, birds and crocs (in one instance). Unfortunately it tends not to go well for the exhibit mates.
 
Bottlenose Dolphins & California sea lions: Tierpark Nuremberg
Bottlenose Dolphins & reef fish: Epcot Center

Manatees & Sea turtles: possibility of Mycobacteria/Salmonella transmission
Dolphins & Sea Turtles: chronic stress for the reptile; same health risk
Alligator & Turtles: often practised; depends on size ratio. Large turtles can dominante/bully gators.
 
Manatee and Sea Turtle - Yes.

Columbus has their manatees in with Buddy, their sea turtle and their new rescued Pelican. Ive been told they all get along quite well.
 
FBBird said:
Flamingo and Hippo is too risky for the Flamingos. Big potentially bad tempered mammal in with panicky easily damaged bird.
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Doesn't Disney's Animal Kingdom mix their pelicans and flamingos with the hippos? I can't remember.
 
TZFan said:
Hippos have proven to be extremely dangerous to their exhibit mates, so much so the AZA only recommends they be kept with tilapia. Males were mostly to blame for the killing and occasional eating of exhibit mates. They have been tried with a number of antelopes, monkeys, birds and crocs (in one instance). Unfortunately it tends not to go well for the exhibit mates.
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It is pretty obvious that hippos are a dangerous species, potentially to any species that they might share an exhibit. Mixing any other hoofstock is foolhardy, unless the hippo pond is part of a much larger open-range style exhibit. I am interested to know more about the experiences of mixing primates, birds and crocs. I presume that these mixes were all with Commons rather than Pygmys?
 
Not on your list but mentioned above : Hippos and pelicans : at Antwerp Zoo the large pool is for both species but there is also a second pond which only the pelicans can use.
 
gharial with...
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Many, if not most, places that keep gharials combine them with other species, most often turtles. Many zoos also combine other crocodilians with fish, but I'm fairly sure this involves the occasional loss. Similar to shark tanks with smaller fish; they mostly stay safe, but on occasion one is taken by a shark.

Alligator and Turtle can be done and is actually a fairly common mix (especially with smaller gators), however as mentioned very large gators can make meals of all but the largest, toughest water turtles if hungry, although the mixes can often work very well for a number of years.
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Quite a lot of zoos combine alligator and turtles. Especially American alligator+snapping turtle is a favorite of North American zoos (also done elsewhere less frequently). However, thinking about the relatively large number of places where I've seen this combination, I don't remember any of them doing it with large gators, involving animal(s) that are 9 feet/2,75 meters or more. Did I forget? Does anyone know of a place combining large alligators with snapping turtle?
 
temp said:
However, thinking about the relatively large number of places where I've seen this combination, I don't remember any of them doing it with large gators, involving animal(s) that are 9 feet/2,75 meters or more. Did I forget? Does anyone know of a place combining large alligators with snapping turtle?
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Haus der Natur, Salzburg, Austria
 
temp said:
Many, if not most, places that keep gharials combine them with other species, most often turtles. Many zoos also combine other crocodilians with fish, but I'm fairly sure this involves the occasional loss. Similar to shark tanks with smaller fish; they mostly stay safe, but on occasion one is taken by a shark.



Quite a lot of zoos combine alligator and turtles. Especially American alligator+snapping turtle is a favorite of North American zoos (also done elsewhere less frequently). However, thinking about the relatively large number of places where I've seen this combination, I don't remember any of them doing it with large gators, involving animal(s) that are 9 feet/2,75 meters or more. Did I forget? Does anyone know of a place combining large alligators with snapping turtle?
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West Midlands Safari Park.
 
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