Zoo database

Gelada

Theropithecus gelada

Natural diet Gelada

Grain / seeds
Grasses
Herbs
Leaves

Geladas is a species of baboons that primarily consume grasses. Next to this, they may also eat other vegetation such as leaves, herbs and roots. Occasionally, fruits and invertebrates like insects may be consumed.

Feeding advice Gelada

Feed quantity per day

10-15% of body weight

Sample percentage calculation

If an animal weighs 15 kg and eats 15% of its body weight, it will get

15 x 0.15 = 2.25 kg feed in total per day

Feed composition

9% Concentrates
30% Leafy and cabbage vegetables
10% Other vegetables
50% Grass, lucerne and other roughages
1% Other

Proportions (fresh product)

0.09 x 2.25 kg = 202.5 g concentrates
0.3 x 2.25 kg = 675 g leafy and cabbage vegetables
0.1 x 2.25 kg = 225 g other vegetables
0.5 x 2.25 kg = 1125 g grass, lucerne and other roughages
0.01 x 2.25 kg = 22.5 g other

Diet suggestions

In moderation

Nuts and seeds

Variety of insects

Not recommended

Fruits

Starchy/ sweet vegetables

Additional advice

Divide the “Feed quantity per day” over at least two feeding moments per day.
The diet should be rich in fiber and low in starch and sugars.
Seeds and grains (including wheat and oats) should be limited as geladas easily exploit these nutrients and can become overweight.
Insects can be supplemented occasionally.
Supplement a diverse selection of vegetables (read more about differences between vegetables).
Provide less palatable food in the morning, when hunger is greatest.
Feeding in bowls is not recommended.
Stimulate foraging behaviour by hiding, stacking or hanging the feed. Examples can be feeding puzzles, tubes, hanging boxes and/ or scatter feeding (read more about feed enrichment and foraging behaviour).

Common diseases

An unbalanced diet may result in one of these more commonly occurring diseases/conditions:

Metabolic bone disease
Obesity

Feed quantity per day

Sample percentage calculation

Feed composition

Proportions (fresh product)

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DK Leaf-eater Basic

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Martijn den Blijker

Director Kiezebrink Rodents