Growth performance of bullfrog tadpoles (Aquarana catesbeiana) subjected to different diets and feeding management practices

ABSTRACT This study aimed to assess the growth performance of bullfrog (Aquarana catesbeiana) tadpoles subjected to different management practices and diets. Two distinct feeding management strategies were evaluated: broadcast feeding and the use of a trough. Regarding the diet, two formulations were tested: the first involved feed with 28% crude protein (CP) for the initial 30 days, followed by feed with 36% CP for the subsequent 30 days; the second treatment consisted of a commercial feed designed for tropical carnivorous fish, containing 40% CP, administered throughout the experimental period (60 days). The experiment was conducted in sixteen 30-L containers, each undergoing a daily water renewal of 200% of its volume, and tadpoles were stocked at a density of one tadpole/L (0.081±0.075 g initial weight). Growth performance was evaluated. The experimental design was factorial (2 × 2) with four replicates. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance and Tukey’s test (α = 0.05). Tadpoles fed the commercial feed outperformed (final weight of 3.329 g (FW), feed conversion (FC) of 1.423 g/g, and protein efficiency rate (PER) of 1.578 g/g) those fed the experimental diets in all growth performance parameters except for PER, whose best results were achieved with the experimental diets (FW of 2.708 g; FC of 1.579 g/g, and PER of 1.880 g/g). Regarding management practices, the use of a trough yielded (FC of 1.409 g/g) superior outcomes compared with the traditional method (FC of 1.579 g/g); therefore, the combination of a trough and the commercial feed regimen demonstrated the best results.