Journal article
The relationship between spindly leg syndrome incidence and water composition, overfeeding, and diet in newly metamorphosed harlequin frogs (Atelopus spp.)
PloS one, Vol.13(10), pp.e0204314-e0204314
10/01/2018
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/115021
PMCID: PMC6191089
PMID: 30325919
Abstract
Spindly Leg Syndrome (SLS) is a persistent animal welfare issue associated with the rearing of amphibians in captivity. We conducted two experiments to investigate the effects of diet, water composition and overfeeding on prevalence of SLS in newly metamorphosed harlequin frogs (
Atelopus
spp.). In our first experiment, we offered 400 full-sibling tadpoles of
Atelopus certus
isocaloric diets in treatments of 31%, 37%, 42% and 48% crude protein respectively. Tadpoles fed higher protein diets metamorphosed faster, but the incidence of SLS exceeded 80% in all treatments leading to the conclusion that variation in dietary protein was not responsible for causing SLS. We used 720 full-sibling
Atelopus glyphus
tadpoles in a second experiment to examine the effects of diet type, water composition and diet ration on SLS. We found that an overall incidence of 58% spindly leg in tadpoles reared in tap water, but reduced to about 10% in water treated by reverse osmosis and then reconstituted. It is possible that the reverse osmosis treatment removed some factor that caused the SLS, or that the reconstitution may have added a mineral lacking in the original tap water. Within tap water treatments, overfeeding tadpoles in tanks increased the incidence of SLS. We recommend further experimental research into this condition to identify the causative factors in the water. Additional research into the nutritional composition of food available to wild tadpoles would be useful in formulating captive diets, that have to date been solely based on surrogate species.
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Details
- Title
- The relationship between spindly leg syndrome incidence and water composition, overfeeding, and diet in newly metamorphosed harlequin frogs (Atelopus spp.)
- Creators
- Julio Federico Camperio CianiJorge GuerrelEric BaitchmanRigoberto DiazMatthew EvansRoberto IbáñezHeidi RossEric KlaphakeBradley NissenAllan P PessierMichael L PowerCaitlin ArlottaDonna SnellgroveBrad WilsonBrian Gratwicke
- Publication Details
- PloS one, Vol.13(10), pp.e0204314-e0204314
- Academic Unit
- Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Department of
- Publisher
- Public Library of Science; San Francisco, CA USA
- Grant note
- ; 1227005 / ;
- Identifiers
- 99900547452901842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article