New Approach to Stone Frog Farming: Zhejiang Ocean University Students Compose a "Black Gold" Wealth-Building Song Through Entrepreneurship

An ordinary aquaculture experiment class, a small stonefrogdissection experiment, and a joking remark that “stonefrogsare very expensive” opened up a college student's path to entrepreneurial wealth.

In the aquaculture safety laboratory of the Haike Building at Zhejiang Ocean University, gray-black stone frogs with rough skin leap about lively in water tanks. “Although it looks a bit ugly, don't judge a frog by its appearance - it's actually very valuable.” Liu Zheyu, a sophomore from the School of Fisheries at Zhejiang Ocean University, shyly showed reporters the various forms of stone frogs from eggs to adults.

With his youthful face, Liu Zheyu is already the head of Zhoushan Yuanmao Aquaculture Technology Service Co., Ltd.

Bonded with Stone Frogs Under the Dissecting Knife

The stone frog, scientifically known as Quasipaa spinosa (spiny-breasted frog), grows in the hilly regions of southern China. Its meat is delicious and expensive, with extremely high medicinal and culinary value. It is a rare delicacy among the people and is therefore known as the “King of a Hundred Frogs.”

At equal weight, the protein content of stone frogs is the same as lean beef, while its fat content is only 4% of lean beef. The market price of bullfrogs is around 16 yuan per jin, while stone frogs can sell for 200 yuan per jin.

“In an aquaculture experiment class, we were learning to dissect stone frogs. During the dissection, the teacher humorously said: 'Be careful - what's under your knife is worth 100 yuan.'” Liu Zheyu recalled. At the time, looking at the unremarkable stone frog before him, he was astonished by its high price and immediately went online after class to gather a lot of information.

He discovered that the reason stone frogs are so expensive is that their farming cycle lasts as long as three years, while wild stone frogs are difficult to catch, and artificial farming of stone frogs is small-scale with a low survival rate. Most farms can only be built on mountains. “The farmers have it too hard - bad weather can wipe them out completely. If only stone frogs could be farmed on flat land!” This idea took root in Liu Zheyu's mind.

He repeatedly discussed with his professional teachers the possibility of farming stone frogs on flat land. With his teachers' help, Liu Zheyu began research on flatland stone frog farming. During this process, he met many like-minded people. After the flatland farming technology gradually matured, Liu Zheyu led his team to invest capital and establish Zhoushan Yuanmao Aquaculture Technology Service Co., Ltd., dedicated to promoting flatland farming technology.

Patent Support for Blue Ocean Development

The activity level of stone frogs is closely related to external environmental conditions, with changes in water temperature and water flow having a particularly noticeable impact. The suitable water temperature is 15-25°C, at which they are normally active; if the water temperature is too low, they are less active, growth stagnates, and they enter hibernation; if the water temperature is too high, abnormalities occur, and even death.

Liu Zheyu and his team members focused their research on this problem and have now shortened the stone frog farming cycle by 1-2 years, achieving a survival rate of over 95% for tadpoles during metamorphosis. This can help farmers greatly expand their farming scale and improve economic returns.

In addition, Liu Zheyu's company holds the rights to use two patents, including core advantageous technologies such as disease prevention and control, rapid bait growth, and feed lineage. They are also in the process of applying for other advanced technology patents. With extremely strong technological research and development capabilities, this provides solid technical support for the company's development and further market expansion.

Having broken through technical difficulties, Liu Zheyu's team stalled on market promotion - no one trusted a few college students who had not yet even graduated.

“The hardest part isn't the technology, but how to make farmers trust our technology.” Recalling the early days of his entrepreneurship, Liu Zheyu said: “At first, we visited many farms. The owners took one look at us as college students who hadn't graduated yet and felt we had no real skills. Later, we gained their trust by learning about the difficulties they were facing recently and providing feasible solutions.”

Through constant setbacks and exploration, Liu Zheyu's company finally signed a cooperation agreement with the Longkeng Farm in Yuyao, Zhejiang Province. This was undoubtedly an encouragement, spurring his team to promote their technology to more farms, with footprints across Ningbo, Jinhua, and Hangzhou in Zhejiang, and Lianyungang in Jiangsu.

Through unremitting efforts, more and more farmers came to know this group of “stone frog students.” Liu Zheyu excitedly told reporters: “We now have 8 farms that have reached cooperation intentions with us.”

Full of Confidence, Focusing on Expansion

Despite lacking funds, lacking experience, and facing difficulties in technology research and development... Liu Zheyu, like a newborn calf that fears no tiger, is full of confidence in his team's technology. “We will definitely be able to promote it across the flatland regions of the entire country.” Liu Zheyu vowed.

Now, Liu Zheyu's company is planning to offer stone frog farming technology training courses and is preparing to establish a “seedling donation trial farming demonstration household” program, so that more farmers can benefit from it.

It is reported that through signing technical service contracts with farms and selling feed and frog seedlings, Liu Zheyu's company has already generated revenue of 188,000 yuan. It is estimated that about 1,000 jin of frog seedlings can be sold this year, with economic returns exceeding 400,000 yuan.

“We are creating a stone frog growth cycle simulation system for promoting technology to farmers; preparing a professional laboratory to more intuitively research and improve stone frog farming technology; continuing to promote base seedlings and technology to surrounding provinces and cities in Zhejiang and even across the country; and focusing on expanding into overseas markets such as South Korea and Japan, letting stone frogs leap beyond the border.” Speaking of the future, Liu Zheyu is full of confidence.

“Since wild stone frogs are now very few, based on wildlife protection and natural ecological balance, our team plans to release 1,000 young frogs back into nature this year.” Liu Zheyu told reporters that this was also one of the reasons he chose to research stone frogs at the time - hoping to improve the genes of wild stone frogs, so that this precious “King of a Hundred Frogs” can better survive in harsh environments.