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Dama (Tammar)
Wallaby (Macropus eugenii) Article By Karen Stoica Pet Potential Dama wallabies are quiet, shy and independent. So they don't require lots of interaction with you. As they mature you will find they don't really want you other than to come for a treat or if curious at that time. When joeys, the damas are dependent, will follow at your feet, want to snuggle in their pouch or on you. This is the best time. The down side is when they mature you will lose that dependence on you and find they are just as happy to hop around in their outside enclosure. The dama is not like a dog, cat, prairie dog or any of the highly social animals. They are inclined to be nervous, hiss when upset/angry, do not want your attention very often and could be compared to housing a tiny deer. They can stress easily and require a safe outside environment. Care Outdoor Housing - The wallaby will require outside living quarters and heated house for cold climate areas. Naturalizing with bushes, ground cover and the thatched fencing helps prevent startling of this creature and outside the fenced area animals from charging at the tiny macropod. If you live in an area that has large prey birds, over head netting may be needed to protect the 8 pound dama. The fencing is usually around 5' in height and sure NO pressure treated wood posts are used as support poles. (contain arsenic and will taint the surrounding soil/grass with the poison) Feeding - Commercial feeds like Happy Hopper Booster, Happy Hopper and Mazuri Wallaby Chow are fed daily along with fresh grass for browsing, timothy hays, and tender apple branches for strengthening gums and teeth. A little treat of coarse wheat bread, raw yam or carrot can be given too. Stay away from overly rich legumes like alfalfa and from clovers which are too high in nitrogen for daily feeding. Feeding of joeys is done every 4 hrs or so. This is contingent on the age of the joey. Esbilac powdered milk replacer is used for the formula. Lactaid is added to the mixture to breakdown the lactose and helps to prevent the formation of cataracts later during the course of the joey's development. Special elongated nipples are necessary for nursing and should be used to prevent the joey from aspirating. Prior to feeding the baby it must be stimulated to defecate and urinate. If not done you may find the little one doesn't want to nurse or is fussy. Indoors Housing While Young - While a joey you will need to house indoors. Some supplies that are needed are:
Later when the joey is around 8-9 months old, I used a large dog kennel with a cat crate as a private sleeping area. I place the heating under the crate which was fasten to a piece of plexiglass for safety against chewing or movement of the crate. The food dished were clipped to the sides of the kennel to prevent kicking, spilling and wasting of the foods. The kennel floor was covered with newspaper and the immediate area outside of the kennel. This was only a temporary housing for the young wallaby and an outdoor area would be built later. Concerns while Indoors - Wallabies can be curious, destructive and your home should be wallaby proofed. Remove rugs that have fringe, tassels, loose strings as wallabies will chew and graze on the materials. This poses a risk of intestinal blockage, torsion, bowel rupture, choking and death. Cover or remove all extension cords, lamp cords, cover electrical outlets. Risk of shock and death from chewing. Remove all valuable knick-knacks, candy dishes, small objects, cleaners, etc. from your end tables, dressers, countertops. Wallabies can jump 5-6 ' straight up from a sitting position. Look up high and low for potential risks. Cover windows with your curtains and raise your blinds (venetian/slat types). Tie the blind cord up high and secure. A wallaby will see the window glass as an opening and may try to jump through it. Also cover screens as they can either claw, push, tear or fall through it. Cover furniture with sheets and you may wish to cover the cushioning of the chair seat with a large lawn and leash trash bag to water proof. Your wallaby may wet on the chair seat and it is easier to wet sponge the urine from fabric versus trying to cleanse the cushion pad. Gate doorways to rooms off limits or close the door. These are just some things to consider doing for safety. Personality Medical Needs
When considering if a dama wallaby is the right exotic pet for you, please think it over long and hard. They are a wonderful and beautiful little creature. Some things to consider are:
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