How to Raise Masked Palm Civets? Detailed Explanation of Breeding Methods and Technical Points
The masked palm civet is a precious wild animal belonging to the order Carnivora and the family Viverridae. It mainly lives in forests, shrublands and similar places, and is occasionally found when land is being cleared. Masked palm civet meat has relatively rich nutritional value, but the state has regulations prohibiting the hunting and killing of wild masked palm civets, so many people have begun going through the procedures to obtain permits and carry out captive breeding. So, how should masked palm civets be raised? Below, the editor brings you the breeding methods for masked palm civets. Let's take a look!
1. Shed and Site Construction
Unlike humans, the masked palm civet is a nocturnal animal. It likes to rest by day and come out at night and to live in groups within a shed, and it does not have great requirements for the breeding site. Because it is a nocturnal animal, its periodic changes in response to sunlight are also not strict, and the main approach is generally a combination of cage rearing and group rearing. Use iron wire or galvanized material to make an iron mesh, and build small chambers and dark chambers inside the cage with bricks, setting up perches for the masked palm civets to rest on and jump between. There is not a very large range of activity, and the inside of the cage needs to be kept dry and quiet. An iron mesh should also be set on the roof to prevent escape and invasion by natural enemies, ensuring the safety of the masked palm civets.
2. Living Environment
Masked palm civets relatively prefer high temperatures and cannot tolerate dampness, so the shed must be kept dry; a long-term humid environment will very easily cause disease in masked palm civets. Although masked palm civets are generally active at night, the area where they rest must be kept free of direct sunlight; long periods of direct sunlight will very easily cause heatstroke in masked palm civets. In summer, prevent exposure to the sun and rain; in winter, prevent the threat of cold wind. Especially at night, straw curtains or cotton curtains can be used to cover the breeding shed to prevent cold wind from entering. Generally, the suitable growing temperature for masked palm civets is around 30 degrees. When raising masked palm civets, make sure the drinking water is clean, and promptly replace water that has been sun-heated in summer or frozen in winter.
3. Seed Selection and Mating
For captive-bred masked palm civets, the most suitable male-to-female mating ratio is 1:2 or 1:3, and the success rate of breeding is highest when the male civet is around 5 years old. When selecting breeding stock, choose disease-free, superior masked palm civets with a moderate body size, good growth, robust development, good fur, glossy hair and strong adaptability. The time for introducing breeding stock should be at a fixed time, and it should not be too early or too late. If it is too early, the masked palm civets' ability to adapt to the environment will decline and disease resistance will be weak; if it is too late, it will have a relatively large impact on the breeding situation the following year.
4. Raising and Feeding
Masked palm civets mainly feed on plant fruits, so when feeding them, different fruits can be selected and provided according to seasonal changes. The amount of fruit should make up at least half of the total daily ration, and the main focus when feeding should be on diversifying the types of feed and combining them properly. Fruit growth differs across seasons and regions. In summer, cucumbers and tomatoes can be fed. In winter, apples and red oranges can be fed. These can effectively increase the appetite of masked palm civets.
The above is a brief introduction to the breeding methods for masked palm civets. When raising masked palm civets, there is one more thing to pay attention to, namely disease. Although masked palm civets have relatively strong disease resistance, their physiological problems are very likely to occur, such as diarrhea and constipation. Diarrhea in particular is the disease that poses the greatest threat to masked palm civets. If it is not dealt with in time, masked palm civets can very easily die from dehydration. This article is for reference only, and I hope it is helpful to everyone.