Native Aquatic Species Restoration Facility Boreal Toad Husbandry Manual by Kirsta L. Scherff-Norris, Lauren J. Livo, Allan Pessier, Craig Fetkavich, Mark Jones, Mark Kombert, Anna Goebel, and Brint Spencer Kirsta L. Scherff-Norris, Editor Colorado Division of Wildlife December 2002 . Table of Contents Chapter 1 Introduction............................................................................................................................................... 1-1 Chapter 2 Bringing toads into captivity..................................................................................................................... 2-1 Considerations used to identify donor populations................................................................................................ 2-1 Collection and transfer protocol ............................................................................................................................ 2-2 Chapter 3 Ensuring genetic tracking.......................................................................................................................... 3-1 Boreal toad genetics............................................................................................................................................... 3-1 Naming conventions for individuals/cohorts......................................................................................................... 3-2 Studbook................................................................................................................................................................ 3-2 Chapter 4 Housing..................................................................................................................................................... 4-1 Egg, tadpole, and metamorph housing................................................................................................................... 4-2 Toadlet and toad housing....................................................................................................................................... 4-4 Chapter 5 Prevention of disease transmission ........................................................................................................... 5-1 Chapter 6 Feeding...................................................................................................................................................... 6-1 Tadpole feeding ..................................................................................................................................................... 6-1 Toadlet feeding...................................................................................................................................................... 6-1 Toad feeding.......................................................................................................................................................... 6-2 Culturing toad food items ...................................................................................................................................... 6-2 Chapter 7 Hibernation protocol ................................................................................................................................. 7-1 Determining which toads should be hibernated..................................................................................................... 7-1 Environmental chamber......................................................................................................................................... 7-1 Individual hibernaculum........................................................................................................................................ 7-2 Putting toads into hibernation................................................................................................................................ 7-3 Maintaining toads in hibernation ........................................................................................................................... 7-4 Removing toads from hibernation ......................................................................................................................... 7-4 Chapter 8 Breeding protocol...................................................................................................................................... 8-1 Feeding following hibernation............................................................................................................................... 8-1 Breeding environment ........................................................................................................................................... 8-1 Breeding attempt.................................................................................................................................................... 8-1 Amplexus............................................................................................................................................................... 8-2 Egg laying.............................................................................................................................................................. 8-2 Chapter 9 Toad health................................................................................................................................................ 9-1 Routine health checks............................................................................................................................................ 9-1 Manual restraint..................................................................................................................................................... 9-1 Chemical restraint.................................................................................................................................................. 9-2 Euthanasia.............................................................................................................................................................. 9-2 Mortalities.............................................................................................................................................................. 9-2 Illness and treatments ............................................................................................................................................ 9-2 Nutritional deficiencies...................................................................................................................................... 9-3 Bacterial infections............................................................................................................................................ 9-4 Fungal infections ............................................................................................................................................... 9-5 Parasitic infections............................................................................................................................................. 9-6 Miscellaneous conditions................................................................................................................................... 9-6 Chapter 10 Preservation protocols........................................................................................................................... 10-1 Sample labels and datasheets............................................................................................................................... 10-1 Handling specimens............................................................................................................................................. 10-2 Ethanol................................................................................................................................................................. 10-2 Neutral buffered formalin.................................................................................................................................... 10-2 Freezing ............................................................................................................................................................... 10-3 Boreal toad necropsy protocol............................................................................................................................. 10-4 Chapter 11 Marking methods .................................................................................................................................. 11-1 PIT tagging .......................................................................................................................................................... 11-1 Visible implant fluorescent elastomer ................................................................................................................. 11-2 Toe clipping......................................................................................................................................................... 11-4 Chapter 12 Facilities rearing boreal toads ............................................................................................................... 12-1 Facilities currently rearing boreal toads............................................................................................................... 12-1 Potential facilities to rear boreal toads................................................................................................................. 12-3 Guidelines for inter-facility transfer of boreal toads...........................................................................................