Zoo database

Great white pelican

Pelecanus onocrotalus

Natural diet Great white pelican

Fish

Great White pelicans are carnivores (piscivores). They primarily consume fish such as cichlids and carp. Also small invertebrates may be eaten but this is a small fraction.

Feeding advice Great white pelican

Feed quantity per day

10-15% of body weight

Sample percentage calculation

If an animal weighs 11 kg and eats 13% of its body weight, it will get

11 x 0.13 = 1.43 kg feed in total per day

Feed composition

99% Fish products
1% Supplements

Proportions (fresh product)

0.99 x 1.43 kg = 1415.7 g fish products
0.01 x 1.43 kg = 14.3 g supplements

Diet suggestions

Not recommended

Bread

Additional advice

Divide the “Feed quantity per day” over at least two feeding moments per day.
When feeding thawed whole fish, then supplementation is recommended.
The supplements should be given according to the appropriate dosage that is mentioned on the labelling.
Avoid feeding bread as the high starch content may cause gastro-intestinal disturbances.
Stimulate foraging behaviour by using feeding puzzles and 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:

Hypervitaminosis E
Osteodystrophy

Feed quantity per day

Sample percentage calculation

Feed composition

Proportions (fresh product)

Akwavit tablet Fish eating animals

Akwavit tablet Pinnipeds

DK Fish Eater Liquid

Michiel Derks

Director Petfood & Zoos