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ABSTRACT This study aimed to assess the growth performance of bullfrog (Aquarana catesbeiana) tadpoles subjected to different management practices and diets. Two distinct feeding management strategies were evaluated: broadcast feeding and the use of a trough. Regarding the diet, two formulations were tested: the first involved feed with 28% crude protein (CP) for the initial 30 days, followed by feed with 36% CP for the subsequent 30 days; the second treatment consisted of a commercial feed designed for tropical carnivorous fish, containing 40% CP, administered throughout the experimental period (60 days). The experiment was conducted in sixteen 30-L containers, each undergoing a daily water renewal of 200% of its volume, and tadpoles were stocked at a density of one tadpole/L (0.081±0.075 g initial weight). Growth performance was evaluated. The experimental design was factorial (2 × 2) with four replicates. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance and Tukey’s test (α = 0.05). Tadpoles fed the commercial feed outperformed (final weight of 3.329 g (FW), feed conversion (FC) of 1.423 g/g, and protein efficiency rate (PER) of 1.578 g/g) those fed the experimental diets in all growth performance parameters except for PER, whose best results were achieved with the experimental diets (FW of 2.708 g; FC of 1.579 g/g, and PER of 1.880 g/g). Regarding management practices, the use of a trough yielded (FC of 1.409 g/g) superior outcomes compared with the traditional method (FC of 1.579 g/g); therefore, the combination of a trough and the commercial feed regimen demonstrated the best results. |
