Impact of live food on the reproductive performance of the Batur toad, Bufotes baturae (Stöck, Schmid, Steinlein et Grosse, 1999) in captivity

Abstract

The work is devoted to the study of the reproductive performance of a narrow areal triploid toads (Batur toad, Bufotes baturae) reared on different live food (Turkestan and marble cockroaches). Material for the work was obtained over three breeding seasons. In the first breeding season, the number of pairs reared on the Turkestan cockroach (Shelfordella lateralis) was 7 (64%) and on the marbled cockroach (Nauphoeta cinerea) – 2 (18%). In the second and third seasons, the numbers were 8 (89%) and 11 (100%) respectively. The average fecundity of females fed on the Turkestan cockroach ranged from 3149 to 3300 eggs over three seasons, while that of females fed on the marbled cockroach ranged from 2472 to 2630 eggs. However, the juveniles from the group reared on marbled cockroach were superior in length to the prelarvae, as well as in length and weight to the post-metamorphic juveniles. Thus, there was no clear advantage in reproductive performance in animals consuming different diets. Both insect species were highly effective when fed to Baturian toads under laboratory conditions.