![hidden islands hidden islands](https://traveldigg.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Hidden-Beach-Entrance-Photo.jpg)
![hidden islands hidden islands](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ATUBFBhkSvY/UEhWFvM-ArI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/1z7Fjz6DgBw/s640/Hidden+beach+Marietas+Island5.jpg)
Platypuses can forage for up to 14 hours a day, and they usually get to work right away. On average, we have about 250 crayfish in holding.īy 9 a.m., the lighting system has gone through its sunset cycle, and the platypuses have usually left their nest boxes to explore the pools. As their food has to be alive for them to find it, becoming a platypus keeper also meant that I became an invertebrate keeper! So after I clean out the pools and replenish our supply of crayfish and other food items, I start the process of feeding and looking after our community of crayfish. In addition to the crayfish, we offer Eve and Birra mealworms (another one of Birra’s favorites), black worms, earthworms, ghost shrimp, and crickets. These receptors can detect minute electrical signals emitted by their prey. To locate prey, they rely completely on sensitive electroreceptors that are spread out over their duck-like bill. When they dive, they close their eyes and ears, and they hold their breath. Platypuses are swift and impressive hunters in the water. Eve enjoys the smaller, brightly colored swamp crayfish, while Birra hunts after their older, larger, mud-colored relatives. At the Safari Park, we have three different varieties to offer our platypuses. Platypuses are carnivores, and they get most of their calories from small freshwater crustaceans-crayfish. While the platypuses are still sleeping, I put on chest-high waders, grab a floating waste bin, a squeegee, and a few pool nets, and start working. Not only does this help our platypuses keep track of their day, it also supplies the live plants inside the building with the lighting they need to thrive. When our platypuses start to see the lights turn up in the evening, it’s their signal that it’s time to go in and get some rest. At the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, we set up our lighting schedule inside the platypus exhibit so that “daytime” starts at around 10 p.m., and “sunset” starts around 8 a.m. In the wild, platypuses sleep during the daytime, and are most active at dawn and dusk. Male Birra (short forīirrarung) sleeps on top of his bedding, and is more of an early riser. Likes a little extra time “in bed” in the morning. Learned that our female Eve likes to curl up underneath all of her bedding, and
![hidden islands hidden islands](https://s.hdnux.com/photos/07/43/61/1981564/9/rawImage.jpg)
I carefully poke my head in each nest box until I find them. When IĮnter the keeper area, it’s only a little after 6 a.m., and the platypuses are Stuff my keys in my back pocket, so they don’t rattle gently close doorsīehind me and lower my radio and cell phone volume all the way down. Exhibit, I step in quietly, so as not to wake our two Australian friends.