How Long Does It Take for Black-Spotted Frogs to Be Ready for Market? A Detailed Explanation of the Farming Cycle

Abstract Farmed black-spotted frogs can generally be marketed in about 6 months. After spawning, black-spotted frogs hatch into tadpoles, and the tadpoles generally complete metamorphosis in about 60 days. At this point, careful rearing is carried out, and appropriately feeding animal-based feed during the farming period can make the black-spotted frogs plumper, so after 6 months they can be marketed and sold.

I. How Long Does It Take for Farmed Black-Spotted Frogs to Be Ready for Market

Black-spotted frogs like to live in the grass around ponds, lakes, riversides, rice fields, and ditches and other waters. They generally begin hibernation in November, emerge from dormancy in March of the second year and enter the breeding period, and the tadpoles complete metamorphosis in about 60 days. Under careful rearing and management, they are usually farmed for about 6 months before they can be marketed and sold.

II. Farming Methods for Black-Spotted Frogs

1. Building Frog Ponds

Farming ponds are mainly divided into spawning ponds, tadpole ponds, and adult frog ponds. They can be built in moist, warm, shaded places, preferably as earthen ponds or rectangular cement ponds. Shade boards need to be set up over the pond surface, and a small amount of floating aquatic plants can be placed in the pond water.

2. Selecting Breeding Frogs

Choose breeding frogs that have spawned twice, as this gives a relatively high fertilization rate. Although female frogs farmed for 3-4 years lay a large number of eggs, the fertilization rate is relatively low, so the egg-laying rate of frogs in the first year is also relatively low.

3. Spawning Time

When farmed in southern regions, they spawn every year from March to July. In northern regions, the spawning period is delayed, and April is usually the peak spawning period. The breeding frogs' amplexus, mating, and spawning are affected by local temperature, pond depth, and other factors.

4. Collecting Egg Masses

After the fertilized eggs of black-spotted frogs are collected, they can be placed in the disinfected ring ditch of the farming pond for incubation. The darker part of the egg mass is the animal pole and needs to be placed facing up, while the whiter part is the vegetal pole and needs to be placed facing down.

5. Incubation Management

When black-spotted frogs enter the incubation period, the water temperature should be kept between 20-25°C. If the water temperature suddenly rises by more than 5°C, or if there is strong vibration, it will cause the black-spotted frogs to die. After 2 days of incubation, the frog eggs begin to shake slightly, and after 3-4 days they become tadpoles. In about 5 days, small tadpoles can be hatched.

6. Tadpole Rearing

After black-spotted frog tadpoles hatch, they can be raised in net cages or in the original incubation pond. Each square meter of water surface can hold 600-800 tadpoles. After stocking, there is no need to feed them for 4-5 days; during this period, their own yolk sacs can provide nutrition. After the yolk sacs disappear on the 4th day, feed can be given.

7. Young Frog Rearing

Young frogs are kept at 100-150 per square meter. A feed platform can be built on the water surface so that the young frogs can come onto the platform to feed and rest. First, live bait feed can be used for about 2 days, and later the feeding amount is gradually increased, then they transition to artificial feed.

8. Adult Frog Rearing

After young frogs are placed in the adult frog pond, their food intake increases, so their growth rate also becomes faster. Animal-based feed can be appropriately increased. After about 30 days of rearing, when the weight reaches 100 grams, 30 can be kept per square meter. After about 60 days of rearing, 10-15 can be kept per square meter, and after a short period of further rearing, they can be marketed.