Amphibian Husbandry and Nutrition

Ami Krasner

NCSU-CVM

Class of 2010

Goals for today

• Amphibian Basics

• Handling

• Housing

• Environmental Control

• Nutrition

Amphibian Basics

• Ectothermic vertebrates

• 3 Chambered heart

• Glandular Skin

• Cryptic

• Scaleless

Metamorphosis

• Aquatic to land• TH dependent• Primary Changes: -Legs -Lungs -Eyes -IT -Tail (anurans) -Skin

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/art/tadpole-to-frog.gif

Metamorphosis Exceptions

• Environmental stress induction

• Terrestrial egg metamorphosis

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,356774,00.html

Timeline for Metamorphosis

• Weeks to years

• Species and environment dependent

Taxonomy-Three Orders

• Caudata

• Anura

• Gymnophiona

Caudata• 10 families,

>500 species• N./S. America, Europe, Asia• Common Pets:

-Ambystoma

tigrinum (Tiger

Salmander)

-Ambystoma

maculatum

(Spotted Salamander)

-Cynops pyrrhogaster

(Fire Bellied Newt)

http://michaelcravens.com

Salamander vs. Newt

firstfriday.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/http://www.washingtonnh.org/

http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/NIM/AF397~Drop-of-Water-Posters.jpg

Salamander vs. Lizard

• Water requirements

• Skin

• Eggs & young

AMPHIBIAN VS. REPTILE

Anura• 33 families,

>5000 species• Worldwide*• Common Pets/Research:

-Xenopus spp. (African clawed frog)

-Rana spp. (Leopard frog)

-Dendrobates spp. (Poison arrow

frog)

-Hylidae family. (Tree frogs)

http://www.johnelkington.com/weblog/african_clawed_frog_500w.jpg

Frog vs. Toad

-Water

-Skin

-Leg length and power

-Predators

http://64.226.23.133/woodycarr/images/toad.jpghttp://www.isd12.org/bhe/

Gymnophiona

• 6 families,

172 species

• Pantropic

• Not kept

as pets

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/149/415329423_cd21aeb1cb_o.jpg

Order Differences• Limbs

• Tails

• Vision

• Fertilization

Owning an amphibian

• Research and Plan!!!!!

LIBRARY!!!

• KNOW Natural History

Owning an amphibian

• Life Span: up to 55 years!

• Aggressive vs. Friendly

http://www.maroochy.qld.gov.au

Size-Largest

-Chinese Giant Salamander-up to 180 cm

-Goliath Frog-up to 32 cm

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/gallery/2008

www.sandiegozoo.org

Size-Smallest

Smallest-

Thorius sp. - 15 mm.

Eleutherodactylus sp.- 10 mm

http://www.science.psu.edu/alert/FROG.htmhttp://www.state.tn.us/twra/tamp/salamanders.htm

Pet Trade Restrictions

• Within the U.S.:

ex. African Clawed Frog

• CITES listings -Appendix I= 16 spp.

~Giant

Salamanders

-Appendix II- 98 spp.

~Dendrobates

www.cites.org

Handling Concerns-Amphibian Skin

• Permeable

-gloves

-nicotine

-cleaning supplies

• Delicate

• Secretion

Nicotine Toxicity

• Tadpole and hypercapnic challenge

-Brain stem: ventilation

-Surfacing frequency

• Systemic vasodilation

• Melanocyte Activation

http://www.puregreen.com.au

Handling-Restraint

• Caudata Goals:

-Support and comfort

-Netting

-MS-222

-Avoid tail and gills

http://aqualandpetsplus.com/Amphibian,%20Salamander.htm

Handling-Restraint

• Anura Goals:

-Support and comfort

-Netting

-MS-222

-Avoid kicking out

www.uwm.edu/Dept/EHSRM/ACP/MANUAL/Frog2.jpg

Handler Concerns

• Scratches and bites

• Infectious disease

• Toxic secretions:

-Irritant

-Hallucinogens

-Consultants

-Vasoconstrictors

-Neurotoxin

Toxin Uses• For people: -Weapon (poison dart frogs) -Pharmacology (pain killers, psychoactive)

• For the animal: -Defense (unpalatable, paralysis)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anura#Poison

Toxins• Aposematism and mimicry• Curious Dogs -Symptoms: foaming mouths, shaking,

vomiting, diarrhea• Derived from: -Diet -Alkaloid manufacture

http://www.gilroydispatch.com

Gender Determination• Most not sexually dimorphic

-Size

-Color

• Observe courtship

• Candling abdomen for eggs

http://www.xlaevis.com/sexing.html

Gender Determination

Females

• More rotund body shape

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/

Gender Determination Males • Caudata Crests, bright colors, tail swellings in

some during breeding season

• Anura Vocal sacs, nuptial pads during breeding season

http://www.xlaevis.com/sexing.html

Accommodations

Housing

• Vivarium basics• Enclosure Design • Substrate• Ground cover• Plants• Retreats• Water• Location

http://www.darkroastedblend.com

Materials for Housing

• Glues and Sealants approved for aquaria, Avoid others including:

-Coal-tar based sealants: PAH and amphibian larvae

-Dental Sealants: Bisphenyl A• Plastic or Glass Material, Avoid Metals

-Hg, Cu, Al, Zn, Fe

www.everythingforpets.com/

Housing Considerations

• Hinged lid

• Small holes

• Striking behavior

Enclosure Design Options

• Aquatic Pond

• Aquatic Stream

• Stream-Side

• Terrestrial

• Terrestrial Fossorial

• Arboreal

http://www.blackjungle.com/terrarium2.jpg http://www.amphibiancare.com

http://www.brianstropicals.com/building.html http://www.amphibiainfo.com

Substrate Options

• Medium-grade gravel -Size and texture

• Soil and Sand -Parasites -Fertilizers

• Moist paper

Substrate-Functions

• Camouflage

• Bio filter

http://www.uvm.edu

Ground Cover Options

• Moss or leaf litter

• Sphagnum vs.

Sheet Moss

• Rocks

Ground Cover-Functions

• Enrichment

• Security

• Breakdown Waste Products

www.driedflowersrus.com

Plants-Benefits

• Cover/Rest spots• Elevated perches• Sites for oviposition• Filter overhead light• Purify air• Oxygenate water• Utilize organic wastes• Increase humidity • Green algae and larval diet

Plant Considerations

• Low light levels

• Pots vs. buried in substrate

• Rinse, repot plants

• No sharp tips

http://www.dkimages.com

Retreats

• Secretive, time spent hiding

• Dark, low sealing, deep

• Cork bark or

darkly colored

plastic containers

Water

• Fresh or Brackish

• Same as for fish

Location

• Minimal surrounding activity

• Vibration

• Controlled environment

• Avoid Direct Sunlight

• Escapes

Environmental Control

• Temperature

• Humidity

• Lighting

Temperature• Achieved by: -Lighting: air -Heater: water

• Thermal gradient -Max-min thermometer -Basking Spot

• Common Ranges: -Green tree frog: 75°F-88°F (24-31°C) day, 68°F (20°C) at

night-Tiger salamander: 55°F- 78°F (13-26°C)

Humidity• >70% Relative humidity• Gradient with retreats • Skin problems• Gauge

Methods:• Reduced ventilation • Water (spraying, moving, contained)• Live plants• Humidifier

Lighting

*Spectrum, Intensity, Duration*

• Full-spectrum lights

• Intensity: <46 cm from cage floor

• Duration Photoperiod: equatorial (12:12) vs. temperate (16:8)

Lighting Considerations

• Source of heat• Subdued lighting & gradual changes• Plants

Nutrition

• Accurate Records!!!

• Dead vs. live feeding

• Considerations:

-Swallow prey whole

-Cannibalistic species

-Dermatophagy

-Prey comes predator

Nutrition

• Pre- vs Post-metamorphosis • Variety -Schedule ~small, active foragers vs. ambush

predators ~larvae vs. adults ~time of day -Content

Larval Amphibian Diet

Larval salamanders and neonatal caecilians vs.

anurans

Larval Amphibian Diet-Herbivorous Anurans

• Fish flakes, live aquatic vegetation and algae, heat treated greens*

Larval Amphibian Diet-Omnivorous Anurans

• Fish Flakes/pellets, live aquatic vegetation and green algae

Larval Amphibian Diet-Carnivores

• Zooplankton cultured protozoa small crustaceans small earthworms/chopped adults mosquito larvae small live fresh water fish/chopped larger fish fish pellets/flakes

www.wildlifetrust.org.uk http://www.glaucus.org.uk/

Adult Aquatic Amphibian Diet

• Whole or Chopped Invertebrates:

• Water fleas, fly larvae, feeder fish (guppy), smaller fresh water fish (whole smelt), fish pellet feeds, and…

http://www.geocities.jphttp://dcsbible.files.wordpress.com http://www.guppy-fish.com/

Terrestrial Amphibian Diets

• Invertebrates

Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation

• Ca -Absorb with H20 -Misting: no distilled water -“Gut-loading” - Dusting - Ca:P• Frozen fish + thiamine• Rodents + Vit D3

http://www.repcal.com

Nutritional Disorders

• Tadpoles: spinach

• Iodine deficiency

• Metabolic bone disease in frogs

http://www.ultimatecoupons.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/popeye.jpg

Breeding

• DIFFICULT!

• Manipulate environment:

-Hibernation: gradual temperature changes

stop feed 1 week prior

-Precipitation

http://www.i-esfera.com/fotos/rain.jpg

Diseases to Look Out For

• Red leg- often stress/IC; control with proper sanitation and environmental quality

http://www.xenopus.com/disease.htm

Key Points

• Pre-purchase research

• Life history considerations!!!

• Appropriate handling

• Appropriate environment with options

• Balanced diet with accurate records

Now for some fun….

Our New and Fabulous Frog Vivarium!!!

• Species:

4 Poison Dart Frogs,

Dendrobates azureus

• Purchased: Breeder

in Dunn

• Sex: Juveniles,

Undetermined

• Handling: N/A

The House

• Enclosure Design: Stream-side• Substrate: Coconut husk Dried moss Live moss• Retreats: logs• Plants: Rooted in substrate, glued• Water-DI

Environment

• Temperature: 72-75° F (22-24° C)

• Humidity: 90% (hygrometer)

-fans

-misters (every 6 hrs/30 s

-spray pre-eating)

• Lighting: UV fluorescent bulbs

-10 hrs daylight currently

Diet

• Cultured fruit flies -15/day -A.M. -Territories • Supplements: rotating EOD -Ca (dusting) -General supplement• Springtails (for mold)

dendroworld.co.uk

Special thank you to Kristine Alpi, Dr. Suzanne Kennedy-Stoskopf , and Jenessa

Gjeltema for their help and input

ReferencesBank, M.S., J. Crocker, B. Connery, and A. Amirbahman. (2007). Mercury bioaccumulation in green frog (Rana

clamitans) and bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) tadpoles from Acadia National Park, Maine, USA. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 26:117-125.

Brown, D.D. and L. Caia. (2007). Amphibian Metamorphosis: A Review. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna. Geneva, Switzerland. 29/7/08.

<www.cites.org> Flank, L (1998) Herp Help. New York: Howell Book House. HEDIN, C.A. and A. LARSSON. (1986). In vitro activation of amphibian dermal melanocytes by nicotine. European

Journal of Oral Sciences. 94.1: 57-65.Horne, M. T. and W. A. Dunson. (1995). Effects of low pH, metals, and water hardness on larval amphibians. Archives

of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. 29:500-505.Kupfer, A., Kramer, A. and W. Himstedt (2004).  “Sex-related growth patterns in a caecilian amphibian (genus

Ichthyophis): evidence from laboratory data” Journal of Zoology. 262.2: 173. Linzey, D., Burroughs, J., Hudson, L.; Marini, M;  Robertson, J.;  Bacon, J.;  Nagarkatti, M.; and P. Nagarkatti.

(2003). “Role of environmental pollutants on immune functions, parasitic infections and limb malformations in marine toads and whistling frogs from Bermuda” International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 13.2: 125-148.

Marquis, O.; Millery, A.; Guittonneau, S.; and C Miaud (2006) “Toxicity of PAHs and jelly protection of eggs in the Common Frog, Rana temporaria” Amphibia-Reptilia. 27: 472-5

Mattison C (1992). Care of Reptiles and Amphibians in Captivity. Revised Third Ed. New York, NY: Sterling Publishing.

Stoskopf, M.K. (2008) “Amphibian Medicine” in Introduction to Physical Examination Skills Part B: Lab Animal and Zoological Species.

Taylor, B.E., Croll, A.E., Drucker, M.L. and A.L. Wilson. (2008). Developmental exposure to ethanol or nicotine inhibits the hypercapnic ventilatory response in tadpoles. Respiratory Physiology and Neurobiology. 160.1: 83-90.

Wright, K.M, and B.R. Whitaker (2001). Amphibian Medicine and Husbandry. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company.

Other Photo Websites

• www.zoosamara.ru• www.crazy-frog.us• http://artfiles.art.com/

• www.wikipedia.org