Amphibians Guidelines for the Breeding, Care and Management of Laboratory Animals (1974) / Chapter Skim
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VI Amphibian Management and Laboratory Care
VI Amphibian Management and Laboratory Care
Pages 75-94
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From page 75... ...
In their premetamorphic or larval stages, they live entirely in an aquatic environment; upon metamorphosis they become partially or wholly terrestrial, with the exception of the newt which undergoes a second change and returns to water. Thus, any institution developing or maintaining laboratory colonies of amphibians must design housing facilities to provide for this dual requirement of aquatic and terrestrial environments.
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From page 76... ...
Even though many problems in amphibian culture still exist, sufficient progress has been made to warrant description of culture techniques for several species (see also Boterenbrood, 1966; Frazer, 1966~. Procedures for R
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From page 77... ...
, food must not be of such fine grain as to settle in the dividing screen or be lost as a result of the contin" ual water flow. The food must not be allowed to disintegrate and decay in the medium-a problem that is particularly applicable to static water enclosures.
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From page 78... ...
Tadpoles will also eat pulverized rabbit chow, "dry" dogfood, or a variety of other commercially available animal feeds. They will also survive on a variety of other diets, including powdered or hard-boiled egg yolk, raw liver, or liverwurst.
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From page 79... ...
pipiens require both aquatic and terrestrial environments as implied by the description of enclosures (see Chapter V, Sections C.4 and 6~. All animals should initially be treated as described in Chapter IV, Section C.2, pertinent information should be recorded (Chapter VIII)
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From page 80... ...
, plastic vegetable crispers may be used. For these it is diff~cult to arrange flowing water and, if static water is used, caution is required because of the toxicity of some commonly used materials [see Chapter V, Section B.2.a.~10~]
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From page 81... ...
This is also true of wild-caught gravid females if not returned to hibernation immediately. Pigment from such resorbed eggs is stored in the liver, which becomes intensely black as a result.
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From page 82... ...
At the University of Michigan Amphibian Facility, bone malformations that resulted from dietary insufficiencies have been observed. These have been alleviated, at least partially, by dusting the arthropod dietary items with commercial vitamin and protein supplements.
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From page 83... ...
(f) Hibernation Hibernation is essential for holding Northern gravid females in the gravid state and is helpful in the winter months for low-cost holding of northern adults to be used for other purposes.
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From page 84... ...
As more is learned about tadpole nutrition, undoubtedly new foods will become available. The rabbit chow-gelatin mixture serves as an adequate food for several species of amphibian larvae.
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From page 85... ...
pipiens may be used as food for bullfrogs; however, these tadpoles must be of a size that the frog can swallow, a factor of particular concern when feeding juvenile bullfrogs. Though wild-caught tadpoles may be used, they may affect the classification category of the frog (see Chapter III, Section Bob.
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From page 86... ...
Although inadequate when used alone, worms and crickets have been successfully used to supplement the nutritionally adequate shiners and results in some cost reduction. Where shiners have not been available, excess live juvenile and adult mice and hatchling chicks and quail from the animal facility have proved to be an adequate substitute.
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From page 87... ...
The wood excelsior develops heavy fungal growth and the peat moss packs too tightly. - The animals should be removed slowly from storage at low temperatures by placing the container at room temperature for approximately 24 h.
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From page 88... ...
A fresh food slurry should be made each day; since growth is facilitated by a second daily feeding, the same slurry can be utilized a second time on the same day. The larvae may be transferred from the amplexus chamber (see Chapter VII, Section A.10)
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From page 89... ...
Though a liver diet has proved satisfactory for maintaining Xenopus, experience indicates that pieces of beef heart cut to resemble earthworms of a size appropriate to the size of the animals being fed is a superior diet. Chunked or diced meat is unsatisfactory because the poor surface-volume relationship does not allow adequate digestion.
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From page 90... ...
The floor of the pan should be lined with neoprene matting on which shards of unglazed flower pots are placed. The water need only cover the matting but should be flowing or be changed every second or third day to prevent the accumulation of toxins secreted by the animals.
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From page 91... ...
Mosquito larvae are also excellent. Experience at The University of Michigan Amphibian Facility demonstrates that mosquito larvae are readily produced, and because they may be harvested at any of their developmental stages, they are available in all sizes suitable for use as food throughout the lifetime of the axolotl larvae.
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From page 92... ...
(1) Enclosures Axolotls do not require running water or special provision for the aeration of water, provided the enclosures are of suitable size and are kept clean.
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From page 93... ...
Generally, they should be maintained in well-oxygen" ated, clean, chlorine~free water. Most are carnivorous and will eat live food such as mosquito larvae, Encytrea worms, brine shrimp, and other small crustaceans and annelids.
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From page 94... ...
The adult newt stage can also be maintained in aquaria or similar tanks, but a semiterrestrial terrarium is recommended.
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