Amphibian — life stage (owner-practical care, Merck Veterinary Manual pet-owner)
Source: Merck Veterinary Manual (merckvetmanual.com), a copyrighted veterinary reference. Per COPYRIGHT_POLICY §3, the points below are paraphrased derived fact summaries: numerical values and proper nouns are preserved from the source, but sentences are rewritten and not quoted verbatim.
Claims
- *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Depending on the species, floor substrates can include gravel, soil, sphagnum moss, and mulch.
- *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Adult terrestrial and aquatic amphibians typically eat invertebrates — earthworms, bloodworms, black worms (mainly aquatic), white worms (aquatic/semiaquatic), tubifex worms, springtails, fruit flies, fly larvae, mealworms, and crickets.
- *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Most invertebrates lack the right calcium-to-phosphorus ratio (earthworms are an exception) and often miss key vitamins, so they do not by themselves support healthy bone growth.
- *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Adult amphibians breathe both through lungs and through their skin, which must remain moist for gas exchange.
- *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Spot-clean floor substrate daily to weekly, and replace it fully every few weeks to months depending on the material.
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License & attribution
Source: Merck Veterinary Manual (merckvetmanual.com) is a copyrighted veterinary reference and is not openly licensed. Per COPYRIGHT_POLICY §3, every claim above is a paraphrased derived fact summary (numbers and proper nouns preserved, sentences rewritten), not a verbatim quotation.
- https://www.merckvetmanual.com/all-other-pets