Indian Journal of Science and Technology
DOI: 10.17485/ijst/2018/v11i21/123193
Year: 2018, Volume: 11, Issue: 21, Pages: 1-6
Original Article
Jaime De La Ossa V1* , Alejandro De La Ossa-Lacayo2 and Donicer Montes Vergara1
1 Programa de Zootecnia, Universidad de Sucre, Sincelejo, Sucre, Colombia; [email protected], [email protected].
2 Selvagua S.A.S, Colombia; [email protected]
*Author for correspondence
Jaime De La Ossa V,
Programa de Zootecnia, Universidad de Sucre, Sincelejo, Sucre, Colombia; [email protected]
Objective: food preference in captivity was determined with a free choice of ants, fly larvae, and termites as a viable alternative for the suitable, easily-executed ex situ management of Dendrobates truncatus. Methods/Statistical Analysis: 6 dietary offerings were tested: larval fruit flies, 4 species of ants and 1 termite species, on a group of ten D. truncatus individuals held in captivity. The diet was calculated with an average animal weight of 1.75 g (1.3-2.0) and an offer of 12% body weight, which is equivalent to 2.1g/day in total. For the comparison between the diets, Friedman’s ANOVA was applied; to compare the body weights, a t-test was used; and for size, ANOVA and Tukey test were used. Findings: The diet with significant acceptance was termites, with greater preference than the fly larvae and ants. There was trophic plasticity and the concept of extreme specialization of diet in captivity was confirmed. Application: the results suggest that this species can be maintained ex situ with low cost and a wide availability of food resources, which is an important alternative for conservation programs especially since this species is endemic to Colombia.
Keywords: Dendrobates Truncatus, Feeding, Captivity, Management, Trophic Plasticity
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