How to farm wild stone frogs? These farming techniques must be mastered

The stone frog is one of the largest edible frogs in China, with the scientific name Quasipaa spinosa (spiny-breasted frog), also known as stone chicken, stone clam, flying fish, etc. Its nutritional value is comparable to that of wild soft-shelled turtles, but as wild stone frogs become increasingly difficult to catch in remote mountains and old forests, it has gradually developed into a farming project with promising market prospects. Let's take a look at wild stone frog farming techniques together below!

Growth habits

Stone frogs prefer to live in burrows under mountain rock walls that are damp and quiet, with little light, close to water sources, and cool and shady. They have the habits of living in groups and foraging at night. Nighttime is the peak period of activity; normally their activity is relatively weak and steady. During the peak breeding period, they are frequently active, with behaviors such as croaking and amplexus. They like to eat live bait such as earthworms, maggots, grasshoppers, ants, loaches, river crabs, and mole crickets. They are cold-blooded poikilothermic animals. When the water temperature drops to 10°C, they enter hibernation. The hibernation period is about 4 months. After hibernation, their body weight will decrease moderately.

Frog pond construction

Stone frogs are burrowing animals that prefer shade, and they require clean, pollution-free water sources. The construction of artificial ponds must be close to mountain streams and springs, in shady and flat areas. Frog ponds are generally built with brick and stone structures, with an area of 8-10 sq m. The pond height is 1.2 m. The walls and pond bottom are smoothed with concrete to retain water and prevent escape. According to the different water depth requirements of adult frogs, young frogs, and tadpoles at different growth stages, 4 drainage holes are set at 4, 6, 12 cm, and at the pond bottom respectively. In the center of the pond, bricks and stones are placed vertically and horizontally with 4 cm intervals, and multiple cement boards are placed on top to cover and form caves, with feeding platforms made on top. Some aquatic plants are planted around the feeding platforms. The area of the feeding platform must not exceed 1/3 of the entire pond, and the height of the caves must be 1-3 cm higher than the highest water level.

Source of breeding frogs

The source of stone frog breeding frogs is wild stone frogs. According to the nighttime predation characteristics of stone frogs, it is generally most suitable to catch them on clear nights in March and September. Stone frogs like to eat fireflies and are sensitive to flickering light. When catching them, use cigarettes, incense, etc. and swing them at mountain ponds and ditches where stone frogs gather. When the sound of stone frogs coming ashore is heard, immediately shine a flashlight on them and they can be caught.

Rearing of parent frogs

Select females over 100 g with large abdomens, round legs, strong jumping ability, and undamaged skin as parent frogs. Select males over 150 g with obvious chest spines, strong amplexus ability, and intact and undamaged bodies as parent frogs. The male-to-female ratio is 1:1, and the density is 5-10 pairs/sq m. The bait for parent frogs is mainly fresh and live insects and small animals, fed at 8-10 pm, with a feeding amount of 2-5% of the group weight. Feed more on sunny days and less on rainy, cloudy, and low-temperature days. Pay attention to changing the water frequently, keeping the water quality clean and the feed diverse.

Egg laying and hatching

In spring of the second year, when the water temperature rises to 15°C, the stone frogs end hibernation and begin to prey. At this time, the food intake of the parent frogs must be ensured. When the water temperature rises to 18°C, male and female frogs undergo amplexus and lay eggs, with external fertilization, and the fertilized eggs absorb water, swell, and stick to the cave walls. The fertilized eggs can be taken out and placed in a hatching pond, or the male and female frogs can be moved away after spawning and the water depth increased for floating incubation. During the hatching period, slight flowing water should be used, and the top of the pond should be covered with a mosquito-proof net to prevent snake mosquito larvae from harming the frog eggs. When the water temperature is 18-25°C, tadpoles can emerge from the membrane in about 6-7 days.