title: Nutrition and health in amphibian husbandry.
abstract: Amphibian biology is intricate, and there are many inter-related factors that need to be understood before establishing successful Conservation Breeding Programs (CBPs). Nutritional needs of amphibians are highly integrated with disease and their husbandry needs, and the diversity of developmental stages, natural habitats, and feeding strategies result in many different recommendations for proper care and feeding. This review identifies several areas where there is substantial room for improvement in maintaining healthy ex situ amphibian populations specifically in the areas of obtaining and utilizing natural history data for both amphibians and their dietary items, achieving more appropriate environmental parameters, understanding stress and hormone production, and promoting better physical and population health. Using a scientific or research framework to answer questions about disease, nutrition, husbandry, genetics, and endocrinology of ex situ amphibians will improve specialists' understanding of the needs of these species. In general, there is a lack of baseline data and comparative information for most basic aspects of amphibian biology as well as standardized laboratory approaches. Instituting a formalized research approach in multiple scientific disciplines will be beneficial not only to the management of current ex situ populations, but also in moving forward with future conservation and reintroduction projects. This overview of gaps in knowledge concerning ex situ amphibian care should serve as a foundation for much needed future research in these areas.
authors.affiliation: Animals, Science and Environment, Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, FL; Department of Biology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL.
authors.forename: Gina M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Ferrie
authors.forename: Vance C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Alford
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Atkinson
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baitchman
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barber
authors.forename: William S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Blaner
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Crawshaw
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Daneault
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dierenfeld
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Finke
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gagliardo
authors.forename: Eric A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Karasov
authors.forename: Kirk
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Klasing
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koutsos
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lankton
authors.forename: Shana R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Lavin
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lentini
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Livingston
authors.forename: Brad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lock
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McComb
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Allan P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Pessier
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Olea-Popelka
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Probst
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Kristine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schad
authors.forename: Kent
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Semmen
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sincage
authors.forename: M Andrew
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Stamper
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Steinmetz
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Terrell
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wertan
authors.forename: Catharine J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Wheaton
authors.forename: Brad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Eduardo V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Valdes
mesh_terms: D000663:Amphibians / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary; D001947:Breeding / Q000379:methods; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods*; D008018:Life Cycle Stages / Q000502:physiology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary
keywords: aquarium; disease; ex situ; husbandry; life stage; nutrition; pathology; population; research; vitamin; water; zoo