Members of the Bradypodidae (three-toed sloths) are rarely seen in the zoological setting. To date, minimal published accounts of the medicine and husbandry needs of this family have been documented. It therefore is often presumed that the same techniques of care and handling of the genus Choleopus (two-toed sloths) can be applied; however, these taxa demonstrate substantial differences in natural history despite their phenotypic similarities (Montgomery and Sunquist [1978]; Edmund [1979]; Montgomery et al. [1985]). Historically, three-toed sloths have presented poor maintenance records in captivity, rarely exceeding captive lifespans of more than 1 month. With accommodations for their unique needs, it is a species that can be maintained more successfully in captivity with application of established care techniques from a successful collection. Zoo Biol 0:1–12, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.