Emotional Toad????

[kueluck]

RED FLAG.....sand & pea gravel should be removed, even the top soil would concern me because of the contents of it. If either the frog or toad ingests this matter you may be asking for either a vet bill or death of an friend. If you're layering your substrate the safest thing on top should be coco fiber since amphibians can pass this through their systems if they ingest it. The Coco fiber, goes by Eco Earth from ZooMed. I'm curious as to how many different species you have in the viv and how big it is. So far you've mentioned Copes & Crickets frogs and a toad. I'm just trying to help you, not tear into you, hope you understand.

[Silkmoth]

I have some ghost mantids and a Whites tree frog (Freddy) in my 18/18/24 exoterra. The ghosts like the screen top and fine twigs to live on and Freddy climbs down to eat on the floor of the exoterra. I dont think he can reach the ghosts. They are small, 1 1/2 inches in length and light weight. Freddy's too big to get at them. They dont carry disease as far as I know and they will not try to attack him.

[petepann]

Well darn. The only reason I used this type of substrate was due to reading ( cant remember exactly where) that this was good to use. I remember reading that a small bit of gravel or sand helped with their digestion. This particular info sticks out in my mind because I have heard somewhere that birds do the same thing. I tell ya, if these guys are that sensitive to their surroundings, it is amazing that they survive at all in the wild. But it is time to clean the bottom so I will replace substrate with the coco fiber. I want happy healthyfrogs and toads.

[Mentat]

The wild is the wild and an enclosure is that; a place that even if safer, they can't get out of . In an enclosure frogs have limited diets, possibly have their natural ranging movements constricted, can't get away from other inhabitants, and have to deal with humans . Unless your enclosure is huge; can't see how you maintain different air humidity levels required for tree frogs and toads.

[kueluck]

Also in the wild their mortality rate is high. Less than 20% make it to adulthood, that's why I get upset when people take adults from the wild. Removing healthy breeding stock is just WRONG. Ok, I"m done with my rant......................for now.

[flybyferns]

Also in the wild their mortality rate is high. Less than 20% make it to adulthood, that's why I get upset when people take adults from the wild. Removing healthy breeding stock is just WRONG. Ok, I"m done with my rant......................for now.

Not a rant at all, Gail..........(come back soon )
We are glad to have you here , for these toad posts...... and at 'their backs'

Lynn