The Effect of Water Temperature on the Growth of Captive Chinese Giant Salamanders (Andrias davidianus) Reared for Reintroduction: A Comparison With Wild Salamander Body Condition

Abstract

Abstract: Chinese Giant Salamanders (Andrias davidianus) have experienced an 80% population decline since the 1950s. Captive salamander farms in China might provide a source population for reintroduction projects involving this species. To provide recommendations on rearing individuals for reintroduction, we studied the effect of water temperature on the growth of captive-reared juvenile (2–6 yr) A. davidianus and compared their body condition with wild specimens. We reared 240 salamanders in two groups, exposed them to different water temperatures for 7 mo, and monitored their growth over the next 3 yr. Subjects that were exposed to lower water temperatures (0.8–19.4°C) were lighter and shorter than those maintained at higher temperatures (7.8–19.1°C). Furthermore, subjects maintained at lower temperatures had a lower growth rate than those maintained at higher temperatures, except for the interval between the last two measurements. Captive-reared salamanders had lower body-condition indices than wild a...