Bufo, my little toad. A few questions

[BufoTheMiniToad]

Hello! I'm brand new here alothough I've kept frogs for a few years. I currently have a American Toad the size of a quater. It is getting chilly here in Massachusetts and I want to know when to bring him from his cozy 10 gallon outdoor enclosure to his nice big 20 gallon with heating pads. The temperature at its lowest gets to be about 50. He is a new england toad so he's real hardy. Also, toads don't need a huge are to swim right? I have a large and medium Flucker's Groozy Jaccuzzi so that could work if he doesn't need a whole lot of swimming room. Please respond!

BufoTheMiniToad

[John]

I don't know what the Jaccuzzi product is, so I can't comment on that. He should be fine inside for the winter. However when he reaches adulthood he should receive a winter cycling every couple of years. Toads virtually never enter the water unless it's to breed, and since he's a youngster he won't spend much time in the water at all, if the terrarium is properly furnished.

[Wormwood]

There is no need to even use a heating pad. As long as he's inside house temps should do just fine, even if it's a basement. You'll notice him getting a little sluggish and he won't eat as much but that's normal with the shift in tempatures.

[BufoTheMiniToad]

Should I feed him in a feeder cage or in his main tank? I don't want to stress him out. :c

[Poly]

Hi "BufoTheMiniToad"! And welcome to the Forum!

Believe it or not, my toad is also named Bufo!

These toads are extremly hardy, but with 50F temps, I'd bring him inside, just to play it safe! The lowest my tank goes down to is 70F, and at the highest, 87F, and I do not use a heating pad, as "Wormwood" stated, there is no need for a heating pad.

As for swimming room, they require a small dish, about 3 toads long, 4 toads wide, and 1&1/2 toads deep, also, make sure to put some large smooth flat peebles in the water bowl, so it can sit in the water and soak, they do not like to swim, and are not very good swimmers. Also, mist the tank daily, and keep the humidity around 75 to 80%.

I take my toad out of his main tank(10 gallon), and feed him in a 2.5 gallon kritter keeper tank, I only handle him twice daily, to take him out of his main tank, and to put him back into it, he dosen't mind, they get used to it. Also, if you have trouble feeding him, the best way to get them to eat is; put thm straight on the floor, where it's wide open and they arn't thing as much about escaping, and get whatever food item you are using, to walk in front of the toad, this will readily catch it's attention, and it will nab it, if it does not, just try again, until the insect catches it's attention.

Hope all goes smooth with your new little buddy!

If you have anyother questions, feel free to pm me, I haven't been at this that long (around 4 months) but toad care is relatively easy!
P.S. Here is my toad when I first got him:
And now:
Here's my tank:

[Poly]

Also, for leaf litter, dried corn husks work well.