Colorado River Toad (Bufo Alvarius) Story

[COOCOpUcHoo]

So how is the toad currently doing?

[Mentat]

Hello and welcome to FF ! Looking forward to pics of your toad!

[Negative]

So how is the toad currently doing?

He's still doing well. Seems pretty happy AND HUNGRY! This guy eats like nothing else. I'm already able to hand feed him, which is pretty cool.

I'll try to get some pictures up soon. I just haven't had much free time lately.

I have a couple questions:

1. He's living in a room that tends to have a high of 80 F during the day and a low of 70 F at night. The average temp is probably around 76-77. Does he need any supplemental heating? I've read that Bufo Alvarius prefer temps higher than 80.

2. He eats really fast. I know the rule of thumb is however many crickets they'll eat in 15 minutes but this guy eats really fast. I once put in 12 large crickets and he ate all of them in around 10 minutes. Does he really need that many crickets a day? I was thinking about just giving him 5 a day for now. He's about 5" long (nose to vent) right now.

Thanks in advance for any replies!

[tgampper]

He's still doing well. Seems pretty happy AND HUNGRY! This guy eats like nothing else. I'm already able to hand feed him, which is pretty cool.

I have a couple questions:

1. He's living in a room that tends to have a high of 80 F during the day and a low of 70 F at night. The average temp is probably around 76-77. Does he need any supplemental heating? I've read that Bufo Alvarius prefer temps higher than 80.

It is best to keep your toad between 75(F) and 80(F). Excessive temperatures can harm the toad. Nighttime temperatures can be a bit lower. Don't feed your toad at night since the cooler temperatures will cause the toad to regurgitate (very messy and smelly situation). A small basking area with low-wattage heat lamp will be welcomed.

2. He eats really fast. I know the rule of thumb is however many crickets they'll eat in 15 minutes but this guy eats really fast. I once put in 12 large crickets and he ate all of them in around 10 minutes. Does he really need that many crickets a day? I was thinking about just giving him 5 a day for now. He's about 5" long (nose to vent) right now.

These toads are known to eat anything that will fit into their mouth. A variety of food is necessary to keep the toad healthy. An occasional pinky mouse is a good supplement to the crickets.

[Negative]

Here is a picture of Sprocket hanging out in his home.

[maxQ]

Wow, Sprocket is one handsome guy.

[Negative]

So, Sprocket has been behaving a little differently the last week or so. For about a week he had taken to staying in his burrow all the time and he occasionally seals off the entrance (usually it's just for the night and then he opens it up during the day). I thought he might be hibernating but he seemed to be awake and alert most of the time. Also, he wouldn't come out to hunt for food but if any crickets happened to stray into his burrow he'd eat them.

Anyway, as of a couple days ago he came out of his burrow and has stayed out. He has been digging up the substrate like crazy and making a mess of things. His current behavior is quite different from his behavior before his burrow vacation. Before he seemed pretty content and had a good appetite. Now he's quite active, but doesn't seem content since it seems like he's searching for something, and he still doesn't seem to have much of an appetite. He will eat if a cricket stands right in front of him but he doesn't chase or hunt anymore.

Does anyone know what's going on with him? Is he okay?

[lindsayshocking]

I have a bufo I got about two years ago, and when I first got him he hid all the time. He eventually warmed up and felt more comfortable coming out and being seen. Even to this day, he will move his hut around and burrow all over the place. I think it's just how they act. He probably just hid because he was acclimating to his new home. Toads can be active with these things...but also, when they're comfortable, they can go into "Pac-Man Frog" mode where they just wait for food to come to them. I wouldn't worry too much--he sounds like he is doing very well!

[cranwelllover]

So, Sprocket has been behaving a little differently the last week or so. For about a week he had taken to staying in his burrow all the time and he occasionally seals off the entrance (usually it's just for the night and then he opens it up during the day). I thought he might be hibernating but he seemed to be awake and alert most of the time. Also, he wouldn't come out to hunt for food but if any crickets happened to stray into his burrow he'd eat them.

Anyway, as of a couple days ago he came out of his burrow and has stayed out. He has been digging up the substrate like crazy and making a mess of things. His current behavior is quite different from his behavior before his burrow vacation. Before he seemed pretty content and had a good appetite. Now he's quite active, but doesn't seem content since it seems like he's searching for something, and he still doesn't seem to have much of an appetite. He will eat if a cricket stands right in front of him but he doesn't chase or hunt anymore.

Does anyone know what's going on with him? Is he okay?

He should be fine ! When I first got my Toad he ate like crazy! I guess after he realized food was in abundance, he slowed down eating. I bought my toad at a reptile show so I'm just guessing the vendor fed him; just not nearly as much as I do. However, you received your toad from the cold wild. Its kinda like when I was a kid and caught a tree frog. At first the tree frog ate like a starved child, but after a few weeks he realized food was in abundance and slowed down.
He doesn't eat nearly as much, but hasn't lost much weight. His favorite thing to do is bask under his lamp in his water dish.