Little Brown Toads

[Cynere]

Another question, the small insects that I have brought as offerings seem to want to drown themselves. I haven't seen much interest from the toads. Should I separate the tailed from the tailless to facilitate bug capturing?

[Charlotte Benedict]

I prefer feeding my frogs by tongs, but if the fruit flies are too small then either separate the tails from the tailess or just put them all in a different container for feeding time. Im glad I could help!

[Charlotte Benedict]

Also, be careful with catching outside critters. I understand you need to now since you don't have your fruit fly culture, but sometimes, rarely, they can have pesticides and other germs that will hurt your frogs. Once you get sanitary insects, don't give them any more outsides!

[Cynere]

I might separate them. The land-going ones are very skittish. Hm, any good place to get a fruit fly culture? It'd be nice to buy one locally but if not that's okay. I have a pet supermarket nearby but they don't offer them. Petco's site shows them as an online exclusive? Any good local or online sources?

[Cynere]

This morning my cardboard slope collapsed but all frogs and one tadpole were found sitting happily on top of it. I got a fantastic feeding response within seconds this morning after offering aphids. Luckily, we have a few grape vines that have heavy populations on them in some spots. We let the ladybugs control the aphids (they multiply rapidly when needed) and never spray them. I picked a tendril of grape vine covered in ants and aphids; most of the frogs went to town within seconds and the rest of them are watching their bold siblings with a learning eye. Finally, a food that is small and inviting enough.

[Charlotte Benedict]

Thats great about the aphids! Fruit flies are about that size, so you should have a good response from them too. I like Josh's Frogs, I order most of my supplies from there. Fruit Flies and Culturing Supplies - Feeder Insects & Supplies | Josh's Frogs It is natural that the land-going ones are more skittish, since the water was their protection for so long.

[Cynere]

Thanks for the suggestion. Make sense, outside many things would like to eat them. My family thinks I am crazy and that frogs/toads should eat whatever I throw in there. It's difficult explaining to them that they have instincts to eat hoppy/crawly things and will starve if there is no food item available that fits this criterion. I am very excited that they are eating the aphids. It looks like Josh's is out of the melanogaster cultures for now though. Those seem most appropriate as they toadlets are so tiny and don't climb well at all. How far do flightless flies glide? Do you think these toads can catch them?

As a separate question, what kind of humidity levels should I be keeping them in. They seemed lethargic a couple days ago so I covered the tank in plastic, that perked them back up but it got foggy in there. Now I have the plastic on the tank but with a vented section, this seems to be working well enough for now. I can't find a screen or lid that allows for ventilation but won't let food items through.



There were a lot more aphids on this branch. Of course all of the froglets have taken up residence together as far away from my face as possible. They seem to enjoy each others company or they are trying to make sure that their sibling possible gets eaten before them, I don't know.