Efeitos do substrato e da dieta em filhotes de Trachemys dorbigni (Testudines – Emydidae) nos primeiros 6 meses de vida

Abstract

This work aimed to measure the weight variation and survival rate of Trachemys dorbigni hatchlings (Dumeril & Bibron, 1835) kept in captivity, during their first 180 days of life. A total of 120 hatchlings were distributed (mean weight 10.07 g; SD = 0.92; Min.= 7.67; Max.=12.25) in 12 aquaria with 2x2 factorial delineation. The treatments (three replicates) evaluated the substrate (grass and water) and a diet (turtle stick food and ground-cattle meat). The variables weight and survival were analyzed. It was verified an increase in weight in the first 15 days of experiment ( x = 4.8%), probably due to the presence of remainder yolk in the hatchlings. There was a negative and significant variation between initial and final weight of the hatchlings (P = 0.002) but not in the final weight of the different treatments. Hatchlings fed with ground-cattle meat (both substrates) had lower weight variation than those fed with turtle stick food. The treatment with water and turtle stick food was the only that presented mortality (40%). Results indicate that the best combination of substrate and diet for T. dorbigni hatchlings in the initial growing phase is grass and ground cattle meat.