Skip to main content
Log in

Effects of available cover and feeding schedule on the behavior and growth of the juvenile African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis)

  • Research Note
  • Published:
Lab Animal

Abstract

Though the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) is the most commonly used amphibian in biological research, there are no standard protocols for the husbandry of this species. With the goal of developing optimal conditions for raising these frogs, the authors assessed the effects of available cover and feeding schedule on post-metamorphic growth and behavior of juvenile X. laevis. Frogs, which were housed four per tank, had access to varying numbers of shelters (zero, two or four) and were fed either daily or episodically (three times per week) over a period of 6 months. Though X. laevis growth was not influenced by the availability of cover, frogs that were fed daily grew larger than frogs that were fed episodically. Additionally, frogs that were fed daily and had no access to cover were most likely to exhibit foraging behavior when disturbed. These results suggest that feeding frogs daily will promote growth and fecundity. Furthermore, although labs often provide frogs with hiding places, such cover does not enhance X. laevis growth.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Figure 1: A male Xenopus laevis on the grid used to measure the size of the frogs during the experiment.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Dawid, I.B. & Sargent, T.D. Xenopus laevis in developmental and molecular biology. Science 240, 1443–1448 (1988).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Major, N. & Wassersug, R.J. Survey of current techniques in the care and maintenance of the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis). Contemp. Top. Lab. Anim. Sci. 37, 57–60 (1998).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Trueb, L. in Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia Vol. 6 2nd edn. (eds. Hutchins, M., Duellman, W.E. & Schlager, N.) 99–102 (Gale Group, Farmington Hills, MI, 2003).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Tinsley, R.C., Loumont, C. & Kobel, H.R. in The Biology of Xenopus (eds. Tinsley, R.C. & Kobel, H.R.) 35–59 (Oxford University Press, Inc., New York, 1996).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Savage, R.M. The natural stimulus for spawning in Xenopus laevis (Amphibia). J. Zool. (Lond.) 165, 245–260 (1971).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Kaplan, M.L. An enriched environment for the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis). Lab Anim. (NY) 22, 25–29 (1993).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Hilken, G., Dimigen, J. & Igluaer, F. Growth of Xenopus laevis under different laboratory rearing conditions. Lab. Anim. 29, 152–162 (1995).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Brown, M.J. & Nixon, R.M. Enrichment for a captive environment – The Xenopus laevis. Anim. Tech. Wel. 3, 87–95 (2004).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Reed, B.T. Guidance for the housing and care of the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis. RSPCA || Xenopus [online] http://www.rspca.org.uk/xenopus/ (2005).

  10. Wassersug, R. in The Biology of Xenopus (eds. Tinsley, R.C. & Kobel, H.R.) 195–211 (Oxford University Press, Inc., New York, 1996).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Canadian Council on Animal Care. Guide to the Care and Use of Experimental Animals Vol. 2 (Canadian Council on Animal Care, Ottawa, ON, Canada, 1984).

  12. Gray, L.A., O'Reilly, J.C. & Nishikawa, K.C. Evolution of forelimb movement patterns for prey manipulation in anurans. J. Exp. Zool. 277, 417–424 (1997).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Emerson, S. & De Jongh, H.J. Muscle activity at the ilio-sacral articulation of frogs. J. Morphol. 166, 129–144 (1980).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Secor, S.M. Physiological responses to feeding, fasting and estivation for anurans. J. Exp. Biol. 208, 2595–2608 (2005).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Secor, S.M. Evolutionary and cellular mechanisms regulating intestinal performance of amphibians and reptiles. Integr. Comp. Biol. 45, 282–294 (2005).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Elepfandt, A. in The Biology of Xenopus (eds. Tinsley, R.C. & Kobel, H.R.) 97–120 (Oxford University Press, Inc., New York, 1996).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Canadian Council on Animal Care. Guide to the Care and Use of Experimental Animals Vol. 1 2nd edn. (Canadian Council on Animal Care, Ottawa, ON, Canada, 1993).

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank K. Sullivan for his assistance with animal care, and G. Handrigan, J. Phillips, R. Tinsley and S. Adamo for critical feedback on draft manuscripts. Greg Handrigan also provided insight into methods for raising and breeding Xenopus. This research was supported by a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Canada operating grant to R.J.W.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Richard J. Wassersug.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gouchie, G., Roberts, L. & Wassersug, R. Effects of available cover and feeding schedule on the behavior and growth of the juvenile African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis). Lab Anim 37, 165–169 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/laban0408-165

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/laban0408-165

  • Springer Nature America, Inc.

This article is cited by

Navigation