Are Asian small-clawed otters good pets?
A short list of reasons why Asian Small Clawed Otters do NOT make good pets is as follows: 1. Keeping otters and exotic animals is a full time job not to be taken lightly. Asian Small Clawed Otters (ASCOs) are extremely intelligent and social and should never be kept alone.
Are Asian short clawed otters endangered?
Although not yet endangered, this is a valuable species to begin research on before breeding of other endangered otters was needed.
How big do Asian small-clawed otters get?
16 to 24 inches
The world’s smallest otter. It ranges in size from 4 to 11 lbs (2 – 5 kg), with a head and body length of 16 to 24 inches (41 – 61 cm) and a tail length of 10 to 12 inches (25 – 30 cm).
How many Asian small-clawed otters are left in the wild?
I would estimate there are probably around 5000 left in the wild, but there actually could be far fewer. Where Do They Usually Hunt For Food? These otters prefer shallow water and muddy areas, so they mainly hunt in swamps, small creeks, estuaries, beaches, ditches and paddy fields.
How much does a pet otter cost?
The Oxford Brookes researchers recorded “160 sale posts from 59 individual sellers in five market groups, with a total of up to 337 individual otters posted for sale.” Siriwat says they found a large price range for baby otters, from around $39 to $203, with an average baby otter costing around $103.
Can otters be potty trained?
They aren’t easily housetrained and they’re very active, social animals. Keeping an otter as a solitary pet can make them very sad. Not having enough entertainment or putting stress on your pet otter can also lead to destructive, aggressive behavior. Living in captivity is simply not a good life for an otter.
Are giant otters real?
The giant otter or giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is a South American carnivorous mammal. It is the longest member of the weasel family, Mustelidae, a globally successful group of predators, reaching up to 1.7 metres (5.6 ft).
How smart are small-clawed otters?
These otters are very social, living in family groups of up to 12 individuals. They have opposable thumbs. They are highly intelligent: some have even been trained to catch fish for people!
Do otters make good household pets?
Keeping otters as pets isn’t good for the animals, either, Taylor says. In the wild, the freshwater-loving carnivores live in family groups of up to 15. This contrasts with their lives in captivity, where they’re isolated from other otters and often get no more than a dunking in the bathtub.
Can otters be house trained?