General Information
Kinkajous live in tropical forests and are found in Central and South America. They spend most of their time in the trees where they can run forward or backward due to the fact that they can turn their feet backwards. This animal also has a prehensile tail and can use it as an arm.
Size
The Kinkajou is about 15-22 inches long from head to tail. As an adult the weight can range from approx. 3-10 pounds.
Appearance
They have thick soft brown fur, a rounded head with small ears. They have a long body with a prehensile tail is longer than their head and body. Their feet are hand like with sharp claws.
Lifespan
The average lifespan in the wild is around 20 years however, in captivity they can live up to 30 years. The average is approx. 23-25 years.
Habitat
The Kinkajous can be found in tropical rain forests in the tree tops, they rarely come down out of the trees. They can be found in Central and South America, from southern Mexico to Brazil.
Diet
They are Omnivores They eat fruit, flowers, insects, nectar and even small animals such as frogs. They are also called honey bears because they raid bee hives for their honey. However, DO NOT FEED them STRAWBERRIES. Strawberries can make them very sick and even cause death.
Reproduction
Females reach sexual maturity at about 2.5 years while males reach theirs at about 1.5 years. Kinkajou gestation is approx. 98-118 days.
Other facts
Kinkajous are nocturnal, they will sleep in their dens most of the day and come out to forage at night. They are very social animals and will sit in the treetops grooming one another.
Basic Care
Feeding
Kinkajous eat a variety of foods like fruit, insects, eggs, frogs, plants, nectar and honey. You can feet them commercial omnivore foods as well. You want to make sure they are getting a balanced diet appropriate for their life stage. As a baby we use PETLAC Cat Formula and add a little bit of baby banana food or even honey. This mimics the mothers milk because it is a little sweet and will help the baby latch onto the bottle. Juveniles ages 12-18 months, then an active adult and finally as a senior adult you will want to give fewer calories You will want to give your Kinkajous fruits, vegetables that are in season and some protein.
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Water
Make sure that they always have fresh water available
Cleanliness
You will want to bathe your kinkajous regularly because can get messy and they
secrete a brown oil. You can wipe them down with baby wipes between bathing. Trim their nails on a regular basis as well.
Enclosure
Your Kinkajous needs a spacious enclosure with toys that will encourage them
to play, climb and hang on to mimic their natural tendencies in the wild. a cement floor on the enclosure will help with an easy clean-up You will want to make sure the cage is both escape and predator proof.
Temperature
Kinkajous are tropical animals and do best in temperatures between 75-85 degrees. You can use a ceramic heater in the colder months. To avoid injury make sure that your kinkajous do not have direct access to the heating element.
Enrichment
Kinkajous require toys and stimulation to prevent them from getting board and
become aggressive. Hanging toys like used for parrots, ladders, swings and
pvc pipes that they can fit and crawl through are a must Dog, cat and primate
toys are all good enrichment items.
Requirements
For 1-2 Kinkajous you will need a cage that is 6×8 feet, and 6 feet high. For each additional kinkajous you need to increase the cage size by 25% of the original floor are Each cage needs to have nest boxes and perching areas that is large enough to
accommodate all the animals in the cage simultaneously.
The cage also needs the items accessible to give physical stimulation or manipulation that is compatible with this animal. Every item should be non injurious and may include but is not limited to balls, mirrors, climbing apparatus, foraging items and boxes.