https://www.frogforum.net/blog.php/6954-lindsayshocking Frog Forum - Your Pet Frog Community. Authoritative discussion forum for pet frogs and toads, including dart frogs, tree frogs, bullfrogs, toads, etc en Wed, 03 Jun 2026 15:57:28 GMT vBulletin 30 https://www.frogforum.net/images/misc/rss.jpg https://www.frogforum.net/blog.php/6954-lindsayshocking https://www.frogforum.net/entry.php/852-Gorbachev Thu, 30 Oct 2014 03:40:58 GMT When I placed my order for The Impostor's ladies, I also requested a couple male spadefoots as well. I thought it would be important for his colony to have a good male-female ratio. I ordered both Plains Spadefoots and New Mexico Spadefoots. When my shipment arrived, it was like Christmas morning. I am sure all of you can relate to that feeling, when the FedEx box shows up filled with amphibians. It just might have been the happiest day of the year for me! As I opened the box, I made sure to examine every single spadefoot. I've always had good experiences with this pet dealer, but it's always good to check everyone out. That's when I first saw Gorbachev, one of my male Plains Spadefoots.



Gorbachev scared me, honestly. The first thought I had when I saw this spadefoot was "OMG what an ugly bump he has on his head! How could I ever love a toad like that!" I felt instantly shamed; it's wrong to be so judgmental of such a little creature but it's honestly what happened and I shouldn't lie. The next thought I had was "oh no...could he be sick?"

I instantly quarantined Gorbachev from the other spadefoots. Even though they had traveled with him, I needed to separate him until I found out what his bump was. Eventually, after discussing it both with the dealer and my local pet store owner, I learned it was just a weird scar. All his stool samples were normal, and he acted just fine. No red belly, no open sores, nothing. Just a weird scar on the top of his head.

I didn't move Gorbachev back with his travel mates, and I honestly didn't think about it. I kept him in a keeper on the frog rack and tended to him. He was such an active spadefoot. He would hop around all day, and constantly get all of his substrate wet. It was frustrating because I had to change it like once a week. None of my other spadefoots acted like that. Then, one day, I witnessed him banging the little door on the top of the keeper with his head. Next thing I knew, the door popped open. I have kept spadefoots for many years and I have NEVER seen a spadefoot do that! I instantly moved him into a different cage with doors on the front that had a lock. Hopefully that would keep him from breaking out. The idea of losing Gorbachev to something like that was unbearable.

Well, Gorbachev didn't stop there. I came into the frog room about two weeks later and noticed one of the doors ajar. Somehow, Gorbachev managed to bash against the door so hard he broke it and escaped. Panicked, I dropped everything I was doing to find him. I was so angry at myself for being so careless. What if I found him dead and dried up somewhere?

Thankfully, I found him under a bag of substrate by the frog room door. I put him in a soak bath to help him re-hydrate. When I put him back, I took packing tape and closed the door that way, but this was only a temporary solution. What could I do for Gorbachev?

I went to my local pet store the next day. They're always so knowledgeable and kind. They've even boarded my frogs when I've been out of town, and it's always a great experience. I told them what was going on with Gorbachev to see what advice they could give me.

"You keep the spadefoot colonies in your living room, right?" the owner offered, remembering what I had previously told him about our set ups.

"Yes, I do."

He shook his head, and then laughed. "He can smell the female toads in the living room. He knows they're there, and he's trying to get to him. I bet if you just put him with them, he'd calm down instantly."

I hadn't even thought of putting him with a colony. It sounds so stupid, but I forgot about it. When I got home, I put him with Colony 1 because it contains both Kaeru and Hat, who are both large female Plains Spadefoots. And I couldn't believe it, I saw a huge change the second he joined in.



Gorbachev went right over to Kaeru, and sat with her. He formed an instant bond. Not only was he not desperate to escape his cage anymore, it seemed he made a friend. He liked Kaeru.



I mean, he *really* liked Kaeru. And still does, actually. He's been in there for a good couple weeks now, and he's a completely different toad. He's even sitting on my shoulder as I write this. It seems like he's finally where he needs to be. ]]> lindsayshocking https://www.frogforum.net/entry.php/852-Gorbachev https://www.frogforum.net/entry.php/810-Different-personalities Sun, 24 Aug 2014 03:39:20 GMT I've come to realize that spadefoots all have very distinct personalities. I was reminded of this when dealing with the new colony. One of the female Plains spadefoots had not been acclimating well. She wouldn't eat, and was always burrowed. I know that moving to a new home can be a very difficult thing, so I try to leave them alone as much as possible when I get new toads. However, one day when checking on them I found her semi-burrowed next to the water dish, and she looked like a dead dried frog husk. I thought I had lost her, and I immediately reached for her. When I grabbed her, she lethargically moved one leg. There was still an ounce of life in her, so I set her up in a bath with a pedialyte mix. I wasn't optimistic, but over the course of the night life came back to her. I carefully set her up in a separate home, and she began to act normal. Moreover, she'd act healthier. I saw her being more active, and she even started eating within 24 hours of being in her new home. She's inquisitive and watches me. I named her Imogene. Nothing seems wrong with her at all, and all I can come up with is that she just didn't like living with the other spadefoots. She is anti-social, but she seems so happy being alone. I feel like she was trying to hurt herself so she wouldn't have to be around those other spadefoots.

This is in contrast with The Impostor. He's been overcome with loneliness since Obdulia died and Kaeru and Hat went to live with The Colony. He croaks on a regular basis, waiting for the ladies who never come. He needs the companionship, which is why I even ordered the new spadefoots. He's very social and thrives when there are roommates. They're on complete opposite sides of the spectrum, those two.

Why spadefoots act the way they do is hard to explain. Aspartame is snarky, but she loves me. She spends hours with me being snuggly...but she hates my fiancee. Once, he was poking at Hat and Aspartame hopped from the other side of the cage to bite him. She just hates him and there's nothing he can do to change her mind. But most of them aren't as warm towards me as she is. Kaeru really hates being handled by everyone (she puts the "plains" in "complains").

That's why I'm always worried when people say they want to get pet spadefoots. I admittedly talk a lot about Aspartame being cuddly and sweet. I have a ton of pictures of Mr. Doctor Wiggles posing with Lego hats and accessories, because he's photogenic. A lot of people think that these toads will be like those two, but what if they got a Kaeru? Sure, she's cute...but she doesn't want to hang out. She hates being photographed. She's whiny. The problem is that you have no idea what you'll get when you adopt a spadefoot. The key is to keep that in mind.

In short--spadefoots are weird. ]]> lindsayshocking https://www.frogforum.net/entry.php/810-Different-personalities https://www.frogforum.net/entry.php/608-Spadefootaholic Wed, 09 Oct 2013 04:09:35 GMT Hi, my name is Lindsay, and I am a spadefootaholic.

I am sure you've probably figured that much out about me if you've ever as much as looked at my profile picture or looking at anything I ever posted. In the real world, I happily discuss them all the time. I am working on getting into grad school so I can work with spadefoots, and of COURSE my thesis project will be on spadefoots. My undergrad thesis was on spadefoots. It's one of the first things I ever mention, and I even have gone so far as to tattoo a spade on my foot to become a spadefoot myself.

I think you get the gist.

So, in order to make sure my spadefoots remain healthy and happy, I frequent the local pet store frequently. We get to talking, so they know that I keep a lot of frogs, mostly spadefoots. I went to the pet store today to get my food, and the co-owner told me he had something for me.

My interest was piqued. What could he have? I assumed some tree frogs, or possibly a pacman. Frogs that are more common in the pet trade. As the keeper cup emerges, he sifts through the moss and eventually removes it to show me what is inside.

Two Eastern Spadefoots. Spadefoots. SPADEFOOTS! I may or may not have squealed out loud. Spadefoots! He had ordered me spadefoots, knowing how much I loved them. My heart skipped a beat, and he was even willing to cut me a good deal, so I paid for my spadefoots and supplies and left.

As soon as I got their home set up, they burrowed within seconds and have yet to surface. I am not going to stress them out tonight, but as soon as I can, I will share pictures of them with you guys.

But everyone--EVERYONE--knows me for my spadefoots, and I am okay with that. ]]> lindsayshocking https://www.frogforum.net/entry.php/608-Spadefootaholic https://www.frogforum.net/entry.php/591-Tales-From-the-Water-Bowl Thu, 12 Sep 2013 01:10:42 GMT

I'm sorry about the quality of this photo. Getting a picture of Snodgrass and Aspartame together was quite a feat. Although, as you read on, you might understand why this was so difficult.

In obtaining The Colony, I didn't know anything about the spadefoots I was getting. I didn't know much about their personality. Spadefoots are full of personality, which can be generalized somewhat by the species. Couch's Spadefoots are big large lazy toads. I've found they don't mind humans much, but they're also not overly concerned with knowing their owners. Plains Spadefoots are little brats. They hate people; and overall don't seem to want to trust us. Take Kaeru--I've had her for close to a year and a half and I am still Satan Incarnate in her eyes. New Mexico Spadefoots are unambiguously my favorite--every spadefoot that I've ever seriously bonded with (Melix--RIP baby, Obdulia, Precious) has been a New Mexico Spadefoot. After they realize we aren't here to hurt them (unless you're that monster who catches them to feed them to snakes!), they tend to warm up. But again, these are generalizations. Hat the Plains Spadefoot is relatively chill with me. And furthermore, there's more to their personality than just how they interact with me--it's how they react to one another.

I guess it's stupid to think that all my spadefoots would get along, especially when seven of them occupy the same tank. I've noticed that Snodgrass has been having some trouble acclimating to his cagemates. As discussed last entry, he takes the bad position in the amplexus chain. He isn't brave enough to take a female of his own, and he typically burrows on his own. 5 of the spadefoots seem to ignore him (unless they walk over him, which is also sad). But then, there's Aspartame.

Aspartame is a dominant spadefoot. I compare her to Kaeru in that she will not stop eating when presented with crickets. Unlike Kaeru, she doesn't mind being held. For the most part, she's indifferent. I named her after the artificial sweetener. Many people think it's harmful, despite scientific research. I wanted to give it a positive connotation, and my unnamed spadefoot seemed to be a good choice. Besides, isn't that part of why we have pets, to give them fun and silly names?

Well, Aspartame does not like Snodgrass. I have counted three different times where she has tried to eat him. Despite being such a large spadefoot, she is incapable of fitting Snodgrass in her mouth, so it usually results in grabbing his arm until he can shake her off, or a lick on the side of his belly. It comes across as weird to me, because Aspartame does not do this to any other spadefoot. Bernardo will hop by. No reaction. Lumpkin moves in front of her. Nothing. Snodgrass hops towards a cricket in the background? She chases him down. It's very odd to watch. Again, I haven't seen her do any real damage to him...but it makes me wonder if perhaps Snodgrass would be happier living away from them. He eats just fine, burrows normally...but I feel like on top of not forming relationships with the other toads, he has this big meanie chasing him around. Suddenly Aspartame's namesake feels more fitting--she appears like this cannibalistic horror to the outside eye, but she really can't do any real damage.

What can I say? Life with spadefoots is never dull. ]]> lindsayshocking https://www.frogforum.net/entry.php/591-Tales-From-the-Water-Bowl https://www.frogforum.net/entry.php/588-*Facepalm* Sun, 08 Sep 2013 22:54:53 GMT As I was getting ready to give The Colony new water and food, I saw this in the water dish and had to take a picture: Attachment 59891... As I was getting ready to give The Colony new water and food, I saw this in the water dish and had to take a picture:



There is so much wrong with this picture, that I don't even know where to start.

As far as the "chain" goes, this isn't the first time this has happened. My toads seem to enjoy amplexus in threes. Worse yet, the middle toad is Precious, who is female (she is full of eggs) and the one in front is Snodgrass, who, along with his nuptial pads, has a big extended throat. So they're just all kinds of messed up there.

As far as the other two? Bernardo only engages in amplexus with one leg of a mate. Yes, just one leg. Again, not the first time this has happened with him. I've looked in the water and seen him happily gripped onto his cagemate's leg. He can't seal the deal, and it doesn't seem like he has any interest in doing so. And it's always Bernardo who does this.

And as for the scared one in the corner underwater? My last hope of normalcy with these guys. ]]> lindsayshocking https://www.frogforum.net/entry.php/588-*Facepalm* https://www.frogforum.net/entry.php/576-quot-In-The-Mood-quot-Music Sat, 24 Aug 2013 05:58:41 GMT The best way to spend a Friday night is to blast your favorite music loudly and to sing along. My boyfriend has a strong disdain for every type of... The best way to spend a Friday night is to blast your favorite music loudly and to sing along. My boyfriend has a strong disdain for every type of music I like, so my time alone I genuinely treasure.

As I am singing along to All Time Low, I noticed that my New Mexico Spadefoot colony (the new ones. Only two of the seven have names...Doctor Wiggles and Lumpkin, should anyone care) started croaking along. I went to peer in their cage, and noticed that a couple of the males had their throats fully distended, awaiting a lucky lady so they could have a magical night.

I went back to my computer, just to hear them croaking again!

Tonight will be a loud, loud night. o.O But I can't complain, because nothing on earth makes me happier than spadefoots (not even pop punk!)

This wasn't the first time this has occurred. A few months ago before I moved, I was listening to Ellie Goulding and I noticed that The Impostor quite liked her songs and he croaked along to her songs. Different toads, different tastes!

Anybody else have stories of their frogs croaking along to their music? ]]> lindsayshocking https://www.frogforum.net/entry.php/576-quot-In-The-Mood-quot-Music https://www.frogforum.net/entry.php/555-Obdulia Thu, 08 Aug 2013 07:02:12 GMT I feel like Obdulia has been mocking me as of late.

Melix's death was especially hard on the both of us. He was one of the most special spadefoots out there, and his relationship with Obdulia really made me question how frogs choose their mates or furthermore, if it was possible for them to even recognize one another. They'd always burrow together, swim together, eat together and...yeah, that too. Hell, I think Obdulia and Melix had a more functional relationship than I've had with any human...but I digress.

Obdulia went through a mourning phase after his death where I had to force feed her in order to get her to consume any food. She wasn't sick--she just didn't want to eat. It took months to get her to eat on her own, and after I placed her with what I lovingly called my "mixed" spadefoots, she seemed to bounce back a bit.

Recently, I decided to try and get her a new mate. Although she does alright with the mixed spadefoots, I don't know that it's the right environment for her. First, Kaeru and Hat (the Plains) are much bigger than her. Nothing has come of it yet, but occasionally when feeding Kaeru will miss a cricket and get Obdulia's arm and that panics me. Second, she's taken on...male characteristics. Although I am 100% convinced she's a female, she will grip Kaeru in the water dish and that's not okay. So I wanted to find her a nice male spadefoot and keep them alone, like she was with Melix.

Every time I try and introduce her to one, she gets angry. She will kick them in the face, or release water on them. Sometimes she even emits her peanut butter smell. After a couple minutes I end up separating them, because its not going well and I'm clearly stressing her out.

Maybe it's best to leave her alone. I now have a cage full of male New Mexico spadefoots that will never have a female mate. I probably didn't think my cunning plan out too well. I just wanted her to be happy again. ]]> lindsayshocking https://www.frogforum.net/entry.php/555-Obdulia https://www.frogforum.net/entry.php/258-The-best-substrate-for-spadefoots Wed, 27 Jun 2012 00:09:16 GMT Attachment 33802 (https://www.frogforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=33802) I have been keeping spadefoots for about 6 years now. My collection...

I have been keeping spadefoots for about 6 years now. My collection currently consists of New Mexico Spadefoots (spea multiplicata), Plains Spadefoots (spea bombifrons), Couch's Spadefoots (scaphiopus couchii) and Eastern Spadefoots (scaphiopus holbrookii). Unfortunately, I have learned that spadefoots are not common in the pet trade. Because of this, I've encountered a lot of trial and error when it came to housing spadefoots. They're burrowing toads, so I automatically knew I would need something that would be easy for them to burrow in--and a lot of it. In the wild, spadefoots will burrow several feet underground.

At first I tried regular coconut loose bedding. It's worked out well for my Pac Man Frog and my Pixie. The problem I ran into when it came to spadefoots is that it seems to sometimes mold. This can be inconvenient when the spadefoots are deep in burrow. As you see, that can create problems. One day, I stumbled across Carefresh Pet Bedding in Petco. This substrate is most commonly used for small animals like hamsters and rats. But when you look at the non-colored substrate, it looked like it would be a nice fit. So I tried it out.

And I've never looked back.

As you can see in my picture, my spadefoots love it. It's very lightweight, which means they can burrow very far down and be okay. New Mexico spadefoots like Obdulia and Melix blend in very well. It is also super easy to clean, which is a huge plus. Most of the time, my spadefoots are very good about using their water dishes...but sometimes they're lazy and just go in their burrows. When you have this nice colored substrate it's easy to spot to ensure that they're cage remains clean. Also, they really dislike the taste of Carefresh Pet Bedding, so if they accidentally get some when they're going for their food, they reject it. You don't want your frog eating their substrate!

I also use lightweight plastic dishes. Just so you know...heavy weight water dishes are BAD BAD BAD! These little guys will burrow under the water dishes, and you don't want them to get crushed!

And no, I do not work for Carefresh...but I just wanted to let you all know what to use if you want happy spadefoots! ]]> lindsayshocking https://www.frogforum.net/entry.php/258-The-best-substrate-for-spadefoots https://www.frogforum.net/entry.php/241-Summer-goal Wed, 06 Jun 2012 05:30:08 GMT I need a vacation. I think most people feel that way, but if you personally know me, you know how true this actually is. When I think of a magical... I need a vacation. I think most people feel that way, but if you personally know me, you know how true this actually is. When I think of a magical escape to a place that will calm me and make everything better, only one place comes to mind.

Tucson, Arizona.

Most people laugh at me when I say that. They look at me like I'm a jester of some sort when in all reality, Tucson is my safe haven.

I'm hoping y'all will understand this sentiment, especially considering my profile picture.

During monsoon season in Tucson, the Sonoran Desert comes alive with herps. My main interest leans with the amphibians which I can find. Western Green Toads, Colorado River Toads, Canyon Tree Frogs, even some Leopard Frogs...

And of course, the spadefoots: Couch's, New Mexicos, and maybe even some Plains.

:D

I've been to Tucson during monsoon season before. Back in 2007 I went with my parents. My mother being her typical self locked herself in the room at night. My dad and I, however, ventured out around the resort to find dozens--literally--of Couch's Spadefoots. Just hopping about, common like a Pacific Chorus Frog in California (can we call THEM junk tree frogs?!). We even found a tarantula wandering around.

If I could have my way, I'd go to grad school at the University of Arizona and I'd be in the Sonoran Desert all the freaking time. But that can't happen. Back in 2004 I thought the Sacramento region was my safe haven where everything would magically improve... but what did I know at 19? I know enough now to realize Tucson will never fix all my problems, but if I could go there, and catch frogs in the rain maybe I could smile just for a minute. I'd hear the croaking that mimics heaven. I'd catch spadefoots that are so common that the locals call them junk toads. I don't have any money right now, but I have $200 in gift cards. It's a start. Plus the monsoons won't start for another 6-8 weeks. I have time to make this happen.

Spadefoots lead the best lives--10 months a year sleeping peacefully in burrow, and then two months spent swimming, eating, and procreating. Sounds fantabulous, doesn't it? ]]> lindsayshocking https://www.frogforum.net/entry.php/241-Summer-goal