The effects of the supplement of black soldier fly mix feeding on the growth rate, survival rate, and feeding behavior of frogs (Hoplobatrachus rugulosus) in captivity

The objective of this research was to study the effects of processed food and a mixture of black soldier fly larvae on the growth rate, survival rate, and feeding behavior of frogs in captive conditions, as well as to examine the water quality in the tanks where the frogs were fed with processed food and a mixture of worms and fruit flies. A comparison was made between feeding the frogs with 400 individuals of processed food, and 400 individuals of a mixture of worms and fruit flies over a period of 12 weeks. The results from the experiment showed that the average weight gain in frogs fed with processed food in stages 1, 2, and 3 was 67.10 ± 1.75 grams per day, 46.75 ± 9.69 grams per day, and 77.30 ± 0.11 grams per day, respectively. The specific growth rate was recorded as 5.51 ± 0.71 percent per day, 1.06 ± 0.21 percent per day, and 1.05 ± 0.04 percent per day, respectively. The average survival rate was 94.61 ± 1.58 percent, 97.38 ± 0.27 percent, and 82.69 ± 7.06 percent, respectively. On the other hand, frogs fed with a mixture of worms and fruit flies showed an average weight gain of 55.98 ± 1.04 grams per day, 37.88 ± 8.05 grams per day, and 80.55 ± 3.08 grams per day in stages 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The specific growth rate was 5.17 ± 0.69 percent per day, 1.02 ± 0.23 percent per day, and 1.22 ± 0.04 percent per day, respectively. The average survival rate was 93.10 ± 4.87 percent, 97.50 ± 1.28 percent, and 81.85 ± 02.89 percent, respectively. Statistical analysis showed significant differences (p<0.05) in the growth rate between frogs fed with processed food and those fed with a mixture of worms and fruit flies. Regarding the water quality, frogs fed with processed food had temperatures ranging from 24.50 to 32.90 degrees Celsius, pH values between 6.89 and 8.90, dissolved solids ranging from 0.10 to 1.00 milligrams per liter, electrical conductivity between 0.10 and 1.40 micro siemens per centimeter, dissolved oxygen levels between 4.83 and 6.30 milligrams per liter, and total ammonia levels ranging from 0.00 to 1.34 milligrams per liter. For frogs fed with a mixture of worms and fruit flies, the water temperatures ranged from 24.10 to 32.60 degrees Celsius, pH values between 6.48 and 8.92, dissolved solids ranging from 0.10 to 1.00 milligrams per liter, electrical conductivity between 0.10 and 1.20 micro siemens per centimeter, dissolved oxygen levels between 4.33 and 6.44 milligrams per liter, and total ammonia levels ranging from 0.00 to 0.96 milligrams per liter. The water quality parameters did not show statistically significant differences (p>0.05) between the group fed with processed food and the group fed with a mixture of worms and fruit flies.