Unless feeding babies, Toucans do not require live food for general upkeep. They need access to free choice fresh fruit, along with a protein source. Fruit should make up around 80 - 90% of a pet Toucans diet. Do not feed your Toucan any acidic fruits like oranges, lemons, grapefruit or tomatoes because this will lead to stomach problems. Use low iron Softbill pellets to supply protein, vitamins and minerals that fruits do not provide.

With a proper fruit supply water is mostly used for bathing. Toucans with their large beaks can't use small bowls and need large water bowls that will not tip over, as the birds love to perch on the side and "dive in" for bathing.

Your Toucan should have water readily available at all times.

Toucan droppings should be removed daily and the bottom of the Cage disinfected at least weekly.

Use Gravel Paper already cut to size and made especially for bird cages. This is the cleanest and easiest low maintenance way to go. It will absorb spilled water and droppings.

Once a month you'll want to disinfect the walls of the cage to protect your Toucan's health. The Water Dispenser and Feeder Bowl should be rinsed out daily and disinfected weekly. This helps protect against harmful bacteria. Cage Cleaners disinfect and dissolve hard dried-up droppings.

Trim your Toucan's nails and beak. Wing clipping is also recommended if you want to limit or eliminate the bird's flying abilities. If you do not feel comfortable trimming or clipping, an avian veterinarian or breeder will do it for a small fee.

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Toucans are not birds fit for everyone, they take to few and do not handle stress well. Conflict with other pets, unusual noises, harmful dietetic irregularities, and irritants not found in the wild can over stress them. A toucan's beak size does not allow it to maneuver and climb up the sides of the cage so wing clipping is not suggested.

A toucans flight cage should be no less than 48"x 96" x48". Toucans enjoy exercise and flying and needs wingspan allowances to be comfortable moving around. Pet toucans need big airy cages, and familiar placement of water and food. To ensure healthy growth domesticated toucans need attention, care and observation. Maintenance cannot slack off or toucan pets will suffer and possibly die. Hand raised toucans will be tame enough to raise without growing pains.

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Toucans are a family, Ramphastidae, of near-passerine birds from the neotropics (i.e. Southern Mexico, Central, South American, and Caribbean region). The family is most closely related to the American barbets. They are brightly marked and have large, colorful bills. The family includes five genera and about forty different species. The name of this bird group is derived from Tupi tucana, via French.

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