Growth and production of bullfrog Rana catesbeiana shaw, 1802, at three stocking densities in a vertical intensive culture system

doi:10.1016/0144-8609(96)00262-2

Aquacultural Engineering

Volume 15, Issue 4, June 1996, Pages 233-242

https://doi.org/10.1016/0144-8609(96)00262-2 Get rights and content

Abstract

Newly metamorphosed froglets of Rana catesbeiana were experimentally cultured in a three-dimensional (vertical) system at 50, 100 and 200 animals m⁻². The culture system consisted of nine sections (three per treatment) in a vertical array where frogs were provided with food and water in replaceable troughts. After 8 weeks, frogs stocked at 200 m⁻² developed a severe bacterial infection, leading to high mortality and the cancellation of this treatment. There were no significant differences (P > 0·05) among frogs stocked at 50 and 100 m⁻² after 175 days, reaching 118 g and 105 g mean final weight, respectively. Survival was inversely related to stocking density, amounting to 72% and 65% for 50 m⁻² and 100 m⁻², respectively. Yields were 4·33 kg m⁻² and 6·87 kg m⁻² for the former and the latter densities, respectively, thus demonstrating the high production potential of vertical frog rearing systems. These results indicate lower yields than reported in studies using two-dimensional systems, but per unit area, they gave higher yields.

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Resultados Preliminares del cultivo intensivo de rana toro Rana catesbeiana en el CINVESTAV, Mérida, México

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Another contended issue is stocking density and communal housing. For commercially farmed species (crocodiles, alligators, soft-shelled turtles, bullfrogs) ideal stocking rates are known,41,120,121 but these can rarely be applied to similar animals (eg, snapping turtles are more aggressive than soft-shelled turtles, increased territoriality of dendrobatids compared with bullfrogs).5,122 Many species in the pet trade, zoos, and conservation programs have no published data on stocking density and may be subjected to unnecessary social stress in captivity.
A vibrating feeder tray improves bullfrog production
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Citation Excerpt :
Other production systems can be adopted on commercial frog farms depending on the financial conditions of each producer. These systems include the vertical system (Rodríguez-Serna et al., 1996) and flooded system (Oliveira et al., 2009), in which the water moves the feed stimulating the food consumption. The absence of housefly larvae minimizes the stigma and may contribute to increase the consumption of frog meat by consumers.
Studies have developed techniques for bullfrog feeding in which movement of the food stimulates food intake in the absence of housefly larvae. We analyze a completely randomized design with two treatments (vibrating tray and linear feeder) in triplicate. A total of 1800 bullfrog froglets (Lithobates catesbeianus) (7.60 ± 0.59 g) were divided in six pens of 12 m² and density 25/m². Three fattening pens contained linear cement feeders (3.0 × 0.50 m) with a V-shaped bottom that crossed the pen longitudinally at each side of the pool containing commercial diet (40% crude protein) with added 5% housefly larvae. In the other three pens, six vibrating feeders trays (80 × 34 cm) per pen were arranged linearly, three at each side of the pool with commercial ration without housefly larvae. The productive performance of frogs was assessed by weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion, specific growth rate and survival by 90 days. We observed that bullfrog froglets receiving food in a vibrating feeder tray present better productive performance (weight gain, feed conversion and specific growth rate) than animals fed ration and housefly larvae in a linear feeder. This response can be related to the greater visual stimulus of the food by frogs fed in vibrating feeder trays, in which food had greater movement.
Optimum protein level for growth in juvenile bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana Shaw, 1802)
2007, Aquaculture
An estimate was made of the optimum protein level in growth diets for bullfrog Rana catesbeiana. A nested design of six treatments with three replicates per treatment was used. Juvenile bullfrogs (8.84 ± 1.42 g average initial weight) were fed in lots at 6% body weight per day with six practical diets containing 20, 28, 34, 42 50 or 58% crude protein from fish meal. Each batch contained 12 frogs placed randomly in plastic cages with an automatic water sprinkler system to keep the animals wet and the cages clean. Cages were installed under a controlled environment: 28 °C temperature; 100% relative humidity; and 14L:10D photoperiod. The diets were assigned randomly to the cages. Results were evaluated in terms of survival, growth and feed efficiency. All the treatments showed 83% survival except the 28% protein diet, which had 60.44%. Productive performance tended to improve as protein level increased. The greatest growth was observed in the 58% protein diet, although this was not statistically different from the 42 and 50% protein diets. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) also improved as dietary protein level increased, with the best FCR in the 58% protein diet, although this was not significantly different from the 42 and 50% protein diets. Optimum protein level was estimated using a second-order quadratic regression using weight gain (%) and established as 39.21% crude protein at a protein:energy ratio of 81.34 mg P/kcal. Under the experimental conditions applied, a 40% crude protein level is recommended for growth in juvenile R. catesbeiana.
The effect of temperature on the growth and development of the endangered green and golden bell frog (Litoria aurea)
2003, Journal of Thermal Biology
- 1.
  The affects of temperatures of 15°C, 22°C and 28°C on the growth and development of juvenile green and golden bell frogs (Litoria aurea) were investigated over 42 days.
- 2.
  Snout-vent length increased only at 28°C.
- 3.
  Sexual maturation of males occurred only at 28°C.
- 4.
  Growth was not proportional to food intake.
- 5.
  Over the range of L. aurea ambient temperatures are seasonally lower than the optimum for growth and development.
- 6.
  Morning temperatures are 2°C colder, during the cooler months, in regions where L. aurea is extinct when compared with those still occupied.
The effects of different stocking densities and feed types on frogs' growth and survival rates (Rana tigerina Dubois, 1981) reared in composite tanks
2022, Israeli Journal of Aquaculture - Bamidgeh
Assessing the performance of Alphitobius piceus (Oliver, 1792) as novel feeder insect species for small sized postmetamorphic frogs
2021, Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai Biologia

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Aquacultural Engineering

Abstract

References (16)

O sistema vertical Ranabox-SVR

Criaçao da mosca doméstica para a suplementaçao alimentar de rãs

Imprenta Universitaria UFV Inf. Téc.

Common potential bacterial pathogens for crayfish, frogs and fish

Statistical Methods in Biology

Bullfrog culture

Multiple range and multiple F tests

Biometrics

An overview of frog farming in Mexico

Resultados Preliminares del cultivo intensivo de rana toro Rana catesbeiana en el CINVESTAV, Mérida, México

Cited by (18)

Managing the Health of Captive Groups of Reptiles and Amphibians

A vibrating feeder tray improves bullfrog production

Optimum protein level for growth in juvenile bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana Shaw, 1802)

The effect of temperature on the growth and development of the endangered green and golden bell frog (Litoria aurea)

The effects of different stocking densities and feed types on frogs' growth and survival rates (Rana tigerina Dubois, 1981) reared in composite tanks

Assessing the performance of Alphitobius piceus (Oliver, 1792) as novel feeder insect species for small sized postmetamorphic frogs