A Detailed Guide to Efficient Frog Farming Techniques and Management Methods
Frogs are protected animals that the state prohibits hunting, also known as field chickens, toads, etc. Their meat is tender, low in fat, low in sugar, and high in protein. At the same time, they are known as "guardians of the farmland." Raising frogs can both satisfy people's consumer demand and promote the recovery of natural wild resources. Let us take a look below at the efficient frog farming techniques!
The Growth Process of Frogs
1. Frog eggs: The breeding time of frogs is roughly in mid-to-late April each year. During reproduction, the male and female frogs pair up in amplexus, the female frog releases eggs, and at the same time the male frog releases sperm. The sperm and eggs complete fertilization in the water, avoiding any time gap and greatly increasing the fertilization rate.
2. Tadpoles: Tadpoles are an early stage in the individual development of amphibians. Early small tadpoles have a round or oval body, resembling a fish in appearance, and rely on the remaining yolk in their bodies for nutrition. When tadpoles mature, they begin metamorphosis and gradually grow limbs.
3. Young frogs: After metamorphic development, tadpoles grow limbs, their tails are absorbed, and they come ashore to live. Because both physiology and environment change, their vitality is very weak and their ability to adapt to the environment is poor. For example, a dry environment, exposure to strong sunlight, or being beaten by heavy rain can all cause their death.
4. Adult frogs: Young frogs grow into adult frogs after a series of growth stages. Their skin is bare and cannot effectively prevent the evaporation of body moisture, so they cannot live without water or a moist environment throughout their lives. They fear drought and cold, so most live in rainy tropical and temperate regions.
Frog Farming Conditions
1. Temperature: The suitable growth temperature for frogs is 20-30°C. When the temperature drops below 10°C, feeding and activity gradually weaken. When it drops below 5°C, they begin hibernation. When the water temperature exceeds 32°C, their activity clearly weakens, and when the temperature exceeds 35°C, frogs will die one after another.
2. Humidity: Frog skin does not have a tissue structure that protects against the evaporation of body moisture. Relying only on mucus secreted by skin glands to maintain surface moisture is clearly not enough. Therefore, the habitat must have both ponds with water and an environment with dense weeds that is warm and moist.
3. Light: Frogs hide by day and come out at night, fear direct sunlight, but are attracted to weak light. Light promotes frog metabolism, growth, and reproduction. If they live in darkness for a long time, their gonads are difficult to develop to maturity, and they may even stop laying eggs and releasing sperm.
4. Water quality: Frog tadpoles require a relatively high dissolved oxygen content in the frog pond water, generally required to meet fishery water quality standards. Although adult frogs and young frogs breathe with lungs, high dissolved oxygen in the water still has a good effect on them. A pH of 7-8 is suitable, and generally the salinity should not be higher than 2.
Construction of Frog Farming Ponds
1. Breeding frog pond: The area of a breeding frog pond is generally suitably 4-10 sq m, with a pond height of 0.8 m, a water depth of 0.1-0.15 m, and a water-to-land area ratio of 3:1. It is also provided with stone caves for resting, the pond bottom is paved with relatively large cobblestones, and the humidity is maintained at 80%.
2. Hatching pond: The hatching pond has an area of 1 sq m, a pond height of 0.5 m, a water depth of 15-20 cm, fresh water quality, pH 6-8, and sufficient oxygen. A large oval basin can also be used instead.
3. Tadpole pond: The tadpole pond has an area of 3-8 sq m, a pond height of 0.8 m, a water depth of 3-10 cm, pH 6-7, and a water-to-land ratio of 2:1. It needs shade for rearing, and it is best to raise one group of tadpoles of the same size in each pond.
4. Young frog pond: The young frog pond has an area of 4-6 sq m, a pond height of 0.8 m, a water depth generally of 10-15 cm, and a water-to-land ratio of 2:1. Small stones of 3-5 cm are laid in the pond, stone caves are built, water quality is good, and the pH value is 6-7.5.
Frog Seedling Rearing Techniques
1. Selection of breeding frogs: Breeding frogs should be selected from those with strong bodies, no injuries or disabilities, and no diseases. Usually the female frog is somewhat larger in body shape than the male frog, and when the male frog croaks, the external vocal sacs on both sides of the neck swell up.
2. Stocking of breeding frogs: Breeding frogs are stocked in September-October at a density of 10-12 per sq m, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:1. After hibernating in the breeding frog pond, the breeding frogs begin amplexus and egg laying around Qingming Festival the following year.
3. Amplexus and egg laying: When the average temperature reaches 16-20°C, breeding frogs begin free amplexus. After 3-4 days of amplexus, they lay eggs. Egg laying generally occurs at 5-6 in the morning and from 11 to 1 at noon.
4. Collection of egg masses: After the fertilized frog eggs are collected, they are placed into the disinfected ring ditch of the farming pond for hatching. The darker side of the egg mass is the animal pole and must face upward, and the whiter side is the vegetal pole and must face downward.