A Detailed Guide to Giant Salamander Farming Conditions, Cycles and Methods
The giant salamander is a species of fish, and it is currently distributed in many parts of our country. The giant salamander has a rather distinctive appearance, with an elongated body and four feet. Nowadays many people have begun to raise giant salamanders, but before farming them, surely more people want to have a comprehensive understanding of its farming techniques!
Giant Salamander Farming Conditions and Cycle
1. Farming conditions. Outdoors, use specially built open-air farming ponds; indoors, use farming ponds converted from various idle facilities. The farming pond only needs to be safe, sturdy and leak-proof, and to maintain flowing water or be equipped with an aerator. The size of indoor farming ponds can range from 1 sq m to several dozen sq m. Before stocking, the farming pond needs to be soaked in water for 1 month so that the pH value is below 6.4; generally strong light should be avoided, and keeping it dim or without light is fine.
2. Farming cycle. The natural sex ratio of the giant salamander is about 1:1, and its reproductive mode is oviparous with external fertilization; August to September is the peak reproductive season, and the fertilized eggs hatch into larval salamanders after 30 to 40 days. Generally it takes 2 to 3 years to complete metamorphosis and 3 to 5 years to reach sexual maturity, but under artificial farming conditions its growth cycle can be greatly shortened.
Giant Salamander Farming Methods
1. Water quality regulation. When farming giant salamanders, the water in the pond should always be kept fresh and pollution-free, with high water transparency and high dissolved oxygen content, and a pH value between 6.8 and 7.8. In actual farming, residual bait and excrement should be removed promptly, quicklime should be used regularly to regulate water quality, and the pond water should be kept flowing for a long time.
2. Temperature and light. Giant salamanders have strict requirements for water temperature, and exceeding their tolerance will cause them to hibernate in winter or aestivate in summer. In the hot summer and cold winter, cooling or heating measures must be taken to ensure that giant salamanders have a suitable water temperature growth environment. In addition, giant salamanders are afraid of light, so farms should take measures to avoid strong direct sunlight, and when patrolling at night, strong lights must not be shone directly at them.
3. Stocking density. The stocking density of giant salamander farming ponds depends on factors such as the size of the giant salamanders being farmed and the farm's water source, water body and bait. In general, at the fry stage, considering that giant salamanders have a smaller range of activity and weaker feeding ability, the stocking density can be appropriately larger, which makes centralized management and feeding easier. At the adult salamander stage, considering that giant salamanders have a large range of activity, strong feeding ability and are aggressive toward each other, the stocking density should be smaller. Based on our many years of farming practice, the stocking density at the fry stage is 60 to 100 individuals/sq m, and at the adult salamander stage 5 to 20 individuals/sq m. When stocking, the sizes should be kept as uniform as possible, and the difference between individuals should not exceed 0.5 times.
4. Feeding techniques. For feeding, natural bait is best, mainly including plankton, insects, meat, fish, shellfish and so on. Feed once each morning and evening, preferably before 7:30 in the morning and before 10:30 at night. When feeding, the residual bait from the previous feeding should first be cleaned away. The feeding amount is 5-10% of body weight. When the water temperature is 16-23 degrees C, the feeding amount should be increased, while the frequency and timing can remain unchanged.
What Food Giant Salamanders Eat
Giant salamanders are naturally ferocious and carnivorous, feeding on aquatic insects, fish, crabs, shrimp, frogs, snakes, soft-shelled turtles, rats, birds and so on. Their hunting method is "waiting idly for prey to come to them", and their teeth cannot chew, so they simply open their mouths and swallow food whole, then slowly digest it in the stomach. For artificial feeding, natural bait is best, mainly including plankton, insects, meat, fish, shellfish and so on.
Prevention and Treatment Methods for Giant Salamander Rotting Skin Disease
For each cubic meter of water, use 100 grams of "Yu Wa Wa Hen Qing Song" or disinfect with chlorine dioxide, or use 0.3 grams of povidone-iodine for disinfection, change the water every day, and disinfect continuously for three days. For sick salamanders that can eat, according to each kilogram of giant salamander body weight, orally administer daily "Yu Wa Wa Hen Qing Song" 100 mg, multivitamins 200 mg, mineral supplement 200 mg, and EM bacteria 50 mg, orally for 5 consecutive days. For sick salamanders that are feeding and those that cannot feed, both can be soaked in 5 grams/liter "Yu Wa Wa Hen Qing Song", soaking 4 to 8 hours each day until the disease is cured. For large ulcer areas, apply the original powder of "Yu Wa Wa Hen Qing Song".
When farming giant salamanders, site selection must be done well, and then timely regulation of water quality is also very important. When stocking, the density must be controlled well, and when feeding, choose the food it likes to eat. Disease prevention and control also need to be strengthened. Only by doing these well can the growth of giant salamanders be ensured.