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Hand Rearing of Pygmy Marmosets
and Re-introduction into the Colony
Written by: Gordon and
Ann Rollinson (Marmoset and Tamarin Captive Breeding Centre, Oban, Scotland)
Our colony consisted of male and female adults and 5-month-old male and female
progeny.
New twins were born during the night between 18th/19th December 1997.
Observed being carried by, both parents about 18.00hr on 19th. At
21.00hr one baby noticed lying on the shavings on cage floor, appeared to be
dead; however on closer examination when lifted, there was a slight movement.
Infant very cold, the first priority was to bring the body temperature up
sufficiently, by holding in a warm hand and gently breathing on him. This
worked quite well and movement increased. At this stage glucose feeds were
started and the commitment to attempt hand rearing had begun.
Whilst infant being warmed, an incubator was set up at 80°F and feeding
equipment sterilised. A fleecy toy was placed inside for it to cling to as a
surrogate parent.
These marmosets are so tiny that it was decided to use medicine droppers
with rubber bulbs. The dropper is easier to control than a syringe, for only
drops would be taken, not any significant amount. When feeding it is
essential not to place dropper into the infant's mouth but just touch the
lips and then the excess will run out and not into the infant's lungs.
When hand-rearing it is essential to watch that the infant does not have
an extended stomach as some of them will take too much food. Generally they
turn their heads away when they have had enough.
The first feeds were a glucose solution, which is easily absorbed and high
in energy, and this also enables the gut to get used to gradual increases in
milk concentration. The glucose was given in the ratio of 5ml to 28ml of
sterile water.
Day 1 1 drop every
10 minutes until stabilised and then every 30 minutes for two hours. Feeds of
50% glucose and 50% SMA Gold Milk (10ml of SMA to 28ml sterile water) were
introduced for two feeds at two-hourly intervals, after which time feeds were
SMA Milk. After each feed, damp cotton wool was gently used to massage
genitalia to stimulate urine and faeces to be released. Infant urinating
after each feed but defaecating every second feed.
Day 2 SMA Gold
every two hours. By now infant showed signs of being ready for his feeds.
Showing increase in movement and strength.
Day 3 Continuing
two-hourly feeds but with the addition of Casilan at 25%. (Casilan is best
mixed with SMA milk powder whilst dry before sterile water added, otherwise
it tends to be lumpy). One of the daily feeds contained a small spot of
Abidec Vitamins. Still progressing well.. First photograph taken.
Day 4 Continuing
two-hourly feeds SMA Gold and Casilan. One feed contained Cytocon 1/2 drop. Food intake increasing. Maintaining
good progress. Second photograph taken.
Day 5 Maintaining
good progress.
Day 6 Starting to
move about incubator and taking more food.
Day 7 Continuing
two-hourly feeds. Incubator put into cage with parents so that they can see
him and also to let infant see his own kind and bond to them rather than
humans. All very inquisitive. The incubator was removed from the cage at
night for ease of night feeding. The night feeds were lengthened to
2V2-hourly. Incubator returned to cage every morning. This incubator
procedure carried out throughout unless otherwise stated.
Day 8 Infant is
following movement of handlers. Also observed scratching himself.
Day 9 Weighed in at
25 grams.
Day 10 Tried on
Milupa today, took an interest and had a little.
Days 11-18 Infant
continuing to progress and taking a great deal of notice of others in the
cage. The twin continues to progress with parent care. On day 12 a photograph
taken on owner's finger (gripping well). Night feeds dropped to just two.
Daily feeds continue at two-hourly intervals.
Day 19 Weighed in
at 30 grams.
Day 20 Addition of
Farex and Vitamin D3.
Day 21 Daily feeds
cut to 21/2-hourly and night feeds to one at 3.00am.
Days 23-25 Farex
given every morning, infant moving around incubator quite a lot. Climbs well
on handler when being fed.
Day 26 Added
Vitamin D3 again.
Day 27 Weighed in
at 35 grams.
Day 28 Night feed
time extended to 4.00am.
Day 29 Removed
incubator lid and put a wire top on instead for approximately one hour
morning and afternoon. This enabled the natural smells of each other in
colony to mix. The temperature is not so important at this stage.
Day 30 Continued to
leave wire top on for longer, all very interested in each other.
Day 31 Giving
banana now with Farex. Wire top left on incubator all day, but perspex top at
night.
Day 32 Night feed
extended to 5.30am. D3 added again.
Days 33-35 Weighed
in at 40 grams. Had some banana. Not necessary now for night feeds, slee ing
through. Very active.
Day 36 Tried him on well-mashed
tinned peach today, which was enjoyed.
Day 37 Gave grape
and peach and D3.
Day 38 Infant out
of incubator and running along shavings on cage floor.
Day 39 Trimmed away
fur on infant's tail to aid identification from mother-reared twin.
Day 40 Tried him on
pear and banana.
Day 41 Put a dish
of fruit and some cheese in his incubator with him, to which only he had
access.
Day 42 Left top off
incubator all day and tried putting him on a branch. He was uncertain, the
previous youngsters frightened him by jumping around. Gave him another dish
of fruit.
Day 43 Put him on
branch again toddy, still apprehensive but moving around on his own. The
mother tried to get hold of him but he moved away.
Day 44 Does not cry
so much and getting used to others.
Day 45 Putting dish
of fruit in with him. He is now climbing onto the branches up to the father
but staying about 4 inches away.
Days46-52 Very
active now, running about and playing with the plants. Sits next to older
family members and seems quite relaxed.
Day 53 Incubator
which was his bed has now been removed as he sleeps with the others in the
nest box. He is now settling in with the group. The mother-reared twin is
also moving around on its own, trying to play with hand-reared twin.
The colony continues to thrive together with both infants bonding- and
previous progeny and parents accepting the 'incomer'. It is very hard to
measure food intake with this species because of their size, but it is
noticeable as time progresses that the food intake increases in relation to
size. Intake is measured in drops rather than millilitres and for this reason
it is difficult to count exactly how many drops are taken in each feed. It
was pleasing that the infant had bonded to his own kind with interest in his
handlers waning more as he became increasingly integrated within the group.
Products used
SMA Gold Milk - powdered human milk substitute; manufactured by John Wyeth
Bros, Maidenhead, Berks.
Casilan - protein multivitamin concentrate, manufactured by Glaxo-Farley, Torr
Lane, Plymouth, Devon
Abidec - Multivitamin solution, manufactured by Parke-Davis & Co., Pontypool
Cytocon - Vitamin B 12 solution, manufactured by Glaxo-Farley
D3, manufactured by Univet 2, 1 10 Churchill Road,
Oxford
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