Husbandry Manual For
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Husbandry Manual For Green tree frog Litoria caerulea Amphibia: Hylidae Compiler: Brad Harper Date of Preparation: 13/8/07 Western Sydney Institute of TAFE, Richmond Course Name and Number: Cert 3 Captive animals 1068 Lecturer: Graeme Phipps 1 DISCLAIMER The information held with in this Husbandry Manual should only be used as a guide. Views and opinions expressed by the author may not necessarily be that of others working with such species. The information held within can only be used as a general guide in the husbandry and care of the species outline within this Husbandry Manual. The Author Brad Harper with 4 of his pet Litoria caerulea Amphibian Husbandry Manual- Litoria caerulea- Brad Harper 2008 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................... 5 2 TAXONOMY ...................................................................................................................................... 7 2.1 NOMENCLATURE .......................................................................................................................... 7 2.2 SUBSPECIES .................................................................................................................................. 7 2.3 RECENT SYNONYMS ..................................................................................................................... 7 2.4 OTHER COMMON NAMES ............................................................................................................. 7 3 NATURAL HISTORY ....................................................................................................................... 8 3.1 MORPHOMETRICS ......................................................................................................................... 8 3.1.1 Mass And Basic Body Measurements ..................................................................................... 8 3.1.2 Sexual Dimorphism ................................................................................................................. 8 3.1.3 Distinguishing Features .......................................................................................................... 8 3.2 DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT ....................................................................................................... 9 3.3 CONSERVATION STATUS .............................................................................................................. 9 3.4 LONGEVITY ................................................................................................................................ 10 3.4.1 In the Wild ............................................................................................................................ 10 3.4.2 In Captivity ........................................................................................................................... 10 3.4.3 Techniques Used to Determine Age in Adults ....................................................................... 10 4 HOUSING REQUIREMENTS ........................................................................................................ 11 4.1 EXHIBIT/ENCLOSURE DESIGN .................................................................................................... 11 4.2 HOLDING AREA DESIGN ............................................................................................................. 12 4.3 SPATIAL REQUIREMENTS ........................................................................................................... 12 4.4 POSITION OF ENCLOSURES ......................................................................................................... 13 4.5 WEATHER PROTECTION.............................................................................................................. 13 4.6 TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................................. 13 4.7 SUBSTRATE ................................................................................................................................ 13 4.8 NESTBOXES AND/OR BEDDING MATERIAL ................................................................................. 14 4.9 ENCLOSURE FURNISHINGS ......................................................................................................... 14 5 GENERAL HUSBANDRY ............................................................................................................... 16 5.1 HYGIENE AND CLEANING ........................................................................................................... 16 5.2 RECORD KEEPING ...................................................................................................................... 17 5.3 METHODS OF IDENTIFICATION ................................................................................................... 18 5.4 ROUTINE DATA COLLECTION ..................................................................................................... 18 6 FEEDING REQUIREMENTS ......................................................................................................... 19 6.1 DIET IN THE WILD ...................................................................................................................... 20 6.2 CAPTIVE DIET ............................................................................................................................ 20 6.3 SUPPLEMENTS ............................................................................................................................ 21 6.4 PRESENTATION OF FOOD ............................................................................................................ 21 7 HANDLING AND TRANSPORT ................................................................................................... 22 7.1 TIMING OF CAPTURE AND HANDLING ........................................................................................ 22 7.2 CATCHING BAGS ........................................................................................................................ 22 7.3 CAPTURE AND RESTRAINT TECHNIQUES .................................................................................... 22 7.4 WEIGHING AND EXAMINATION .................................................................................................. 23 7.5 RELEASE .................................................................................................................................... 23 7.6 TRANSPORT REQUIREMENTS ...................................................................................................... 24 7.6.1 Box Design ............................................................................................................................ 24 7.6.2 Furnishings ........................................................................................................................... 24 7.6.3 Water and Food .................................................................................................................... 25 7.6.4 Animals per Box .................................................................................................................... 25 7.6.5 Timing of Transportation ...................................................................................................... 25 7.6.6 Release from Box .................................................................................................................. 26 Amphibian Husbandry Manual- Litoria caerulea- Brad Harper 2008 3 8 HEALTH REQUIREMENTS .......................................................................................................... 27 8.1 DAILY HEALTH CHECKS ............................................................................................................ 27 8.2 DETAILED PHYSICAL EXAMINATION .......................................................................................... 29 8.2.1 Chemical Restraint ............................................................................................................... 29 8.2.2 Physical Examination ........................................................................................................... 32 8.3 ROUTINE TREATMENTS .............................................................................................................. 33 8.4 KNOWN HEALTH PROBLEMS ...................................................................................................... 34 8.5 QUARANTINE REQUIREMENTS .................................................................................................... 40 9 BEHAVIOUR .................................................................................................................................... 41 9.1 ACTIVITY ................................................................................................................................... 41 9.2 SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR ................................................................................................................... 41 9.3 REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOUR ...................................................................................................... 42 9.4 BATHING .................................................................................................................................... 43 9.5 BEHAVIOURAL PROBLEMS ........................................................................................................