Colorado River Toad (Bufo Alvarius) Story

[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!

[Negative]

Thank you Lindsay! That helps me feel a bit better.

[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.

[Negative]

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.

Thanks for replying! It's good to know that his current behavior is normal. I just got a heat lamp for him so hopefully that will help him become a little more active.

[Negative]

Wow! I didn't realize that it's been almost 3 years since I rescued Sprocket. I debated starting a new thread for my issue, but thought it would be handy to have the back story available.

Anyway, I came home today and Sprocket is sitting in his burrow with his mouth hanging open, and he seems kind of mucousy. His skin looks wet, but I don't believe he's been in his water bowel in the last few hours, and he usually drys out pretty quickly. Overall, he seems kind of sick. I've seen him like this in the past, but I don't remember it being this bad. Is he shedding, or is this something else?

Other info: He recently came out of his semi-hibernation he does each winter. He has eaten and spent a lot of time in his water bowl over the last few days.

[Cliygh and Mia 2]

Have you been supplying either UVB or dusting his prey items? Sounds like a calcium deficiency to me. Is his tongue hanging out? That'd be a definite sign, as would twitching, and spazzing

[Negative]

Have you been supplying either UVB or dusting his prey items? Sounds like a calcium deficiency to me. Is his tongue hanging out? That'd be a definite sign, as would twitching, and spazzing

He has a UVB lamp, and gets dusted crickets. He has only recently started eating regularly again, so he has only have one round of dusted crickets (~15), but he was getting plenty of dusted crickets before he settled in for the winter.

As of right now he looks fine, and is in his water dish. Every other time he has done this he's been in that condition for a part of the day, and then he goes back to normal. It seems to happen a few times a year (that I notice).

[Negative]

Hello everyone! I've decided to just continue with this old thread to ask my question. That way you'll have all of the back story.

Well, I've now had Sprocket for over 5 years, and he seemed to be doing well until about 3-4 months ago. Usually he's hibernating during this time of year, but this year he doesn't seem interested, and I noticed that he spends a lot of time just sitting around with his mouth hanging open - not wide open, but just slightly open. He has never really done this before, so I'm staring to get concerned. He seems to have low energy, and while he will sometimes eat a cricket if it comes right up to him, he doesn't seem interested in hunting for them. I've found him half asleep with his mouth hanging open a few times now, and I'll think he's dead until I get close or open his cage, and he wakes up. Does anyone have any idea what's wrong with him, or if I need to worry? I realize he's getting pretty old, but I'd like to know if there is something I can do for him. Thanks in advance.