toadily crazy out there tonight!

[Psychotic]

I always have toads around the house. I generally don't start seeing tons of them though until September. I guess that's when they all decide to find places to burrow for the winter. But during that time I go out every evening and visit the toads. They really like my back porch because there are always tons of earwigs and wood lice hanging around.

I wouldn't worry about the male. If he looks healthy he is probably doing just fine. It always surprises me to see some of the injuries that frogs and toads get and yet still manage to thrive in the wild.

[yoshimi]

We had some heavy rain which seems to bring them out. The garage light attracts them, I guess, and that night I sat right down in the driveway to hang out with them.

Then last night I found an even tinier toad. So small I couldn't get him to stay in one place for a pic.

As for waxworms, I've been considering them. My gals deserve treats. Do you guys know of a reliable seller? And where do you store them, what works best? Also, I need suggestions on other feeders that aren't roaches or beetles. Nothing that can skitter away from me. House rules and I know it's limiting, but I am clumsy so I understand.

And as for the boy toad, I couldn't tell if it was an injury or just a genetic deformity. I didn't even notice til I was holding him. I'd never met a boy toad so that was pretty cool and his chirp was adorable, even tho he was telling me to let go. And what's neat is that I'll recognize him if he shows up again. I step so carefully now when getting out of the car.

* I can get 50 waxworms for $8, free shipping. Seems like a good price.

[kueluck]

I get waxworms from Petco and butterworms from Feedersource.com. My gang loves these. It's a shame you can't have roaches since my knot LOVES, and I mean LOVES to hunt these things down. And it's the turkish roaches only,they don't fly and can't climb a smooth surface. Plus you can always pick up crickets here and there.

[yoshimi]

i noticed petco sells them, but online it's a very large number that i don't need. my 50 should be here thurs. can't do crickets, as he hates these the most. there isn't any explaining to him that the baby ones don't make noise. he would say, "if you dropped one, it would grow up and chirp all night", and with crickets, i always lose a few. crickets and i don't mix.
might be able to do dubia in fall/winter, but i'm not sure yet. i've got the experience with dealing with them, they're easy to catch when dropped and generally, i don't drop any. already know they both love em, so that will be a selling point.
my waxworm/roach supplier was out of butterworms, and feedersource's shipping is too high to just buy 25 butterworms. i'd have to really stock up to make it worthwhile. granted, i could hide a small bin of roaches, but i would feel like too much of a d-bag doing so. gonna have to get the ok 1st.

[kueluck]

Wait a minute.........you have CATS. I know mine take care of any thing that crawlers, hops or flies around loose in the house. That should be your selling point to the BF.

[yoshimi]

it's true, there are 3 now, but only one of them hoovers up bugs. she's great at it but she's been spending most of her time on the top floor, and bugs would be in basement. casey just ignores them and mouse either plays with them or sits there and mews. there was an ant in my old kitchen and she sat there looking at me going "mew! mew! mew!" like, "ant! ant! ANT!" such a girl.

[kueluck]

I got it!! When you have feeder bugs, just feed your cats less so they stay on the hungry side. This way if you drop one they will snatch it up for a snack.

And as for feeding the toads, mine also LOVE moths, but you have to cut the wings off of 'em so they have a chance at catching them. Or you can just leave the wings on and watch the toads stare at it while it flutters about in the viv.