How to Raise Black-Spotted Frogs? Detailed Explanation of Key Farming Techniques

The black-spotted frog is not only a “guardian of farmland”, an expert at preying on many rice pests such as rice stem borers, rice skipper butterflies, locusts, mole crickets, leafhoppers and crickets, but also a medicinal animal that combines food, health product and medicine in one, becoming an emerging species in the farming market in recent years. Below is a detailed explanation of the key points of black-spotted frog farming techniques, hoping to give everyone a reference.

I. Site Selection for Black-Spotted Frog Farming

1. Water Quality Requirements

When selecting a site, note that you must choose a place with relatively abundant water sources and good water quality. It is best to test the water quality. Black-spotted frogs are suited to living in weakly alkaline water (pH 7-8).

2. Electricity Requirements

There must be a reliable power supply to meet the daily management needs of black-spotted frogs.

3. Water Conservancy Requirements

Drainage and irrigation must be well handled. Water intake must be convenient and drainage must be smooth, so as to resist drought and drain waterlogging.

4. Geographical Location Requirements

Stay away from industrial and domestic pollution sources, and do not choose areas where natural disasters occur frequently. If land needs to be leased, be careful to ensure the legality of the land to avoid land disputes.

II. Establishing Black-Spotted Frog Farming Ponds

1. Pond Construction

Using mu as the unit, dig trenches and build ponds according to a specification of 20 m long and 4.5 m wide (the size can be determined according to the terrain). The inner pond is 20 m long, 1.5 m wide and 0.4 m deep, and the pond bottom is laid with black anti-seepage plastic film. Use soil to compact both edges and the bottom. Leave a land area 1.5 m wide on each side of the inner pond for black-spotted frogs to inhabit and move about.

In addition, install an overhead net 2 m above the ground above all ponds (allowing people to pass through freely) to prevent invasions by natural enemies such as egrets, ospreys and sparrows. Water inlet and drainage pipes must be designed at the front and back of the ponds to ensure smooth and convenient water intake and drainage during the farming period.

2. Creating a Natural Environment

In order for black-spotted frogs to grow better, a relatively enclosed simulated natural ecological environment needs to be created. Some energy-saving lamps can be hung on both sides of the pond, and some soybeans can be planted. After black-spotted frogs change from tadpoles into young frogs, a few crucian carp fry can be raised in the pond.

III. Daily Feeding of Black-Spotted Frogs

1. Bait

Because the eyes of black-spotted frogs are highly myopic and can only see living things right in front of them, the bait fed to them must be live bait. Examples include yellow mealworms, earthworms, fly maggots (the larvae of flies), etc. Considering farming costs, fly maggots are the best bait choice. Their bodies are rich in protein and amino acids, their nutrition is comprehensive, the maggots are more active, their palatability is better, and they are more easily discovered and eaten by black-spotted frogs. Fly maggot farming is easy to manage, has a short cycle, low cost and high output.

2. Preventing Escape

The outer enclosure net of the intensive farming pond is mainly to prevent black-spotted frogs from escaping. Because they are wild and hard to tame and good at jumping, you must often check whether the enclosure net has holes or small openings, and sew and block them in time.

3. Disease Prevention

Black-spotted frogs are wild animals with relatively strong vitality. Under normal circumstances, no major infectious diseases occur. However, it should be noted that when the water source is unclean or wild black-spotted frogs (not disinfected) are mixed in, rotten skin disease can appear. If there is local infection, the diseased frogs must be promptly removed and isolated, and penicillin sodium solution should be injected into the white skin area of the thigh.