I've read on one of the "expert" sites that toads do not necessarily need to burrow, but if you supply hides that's fine also. I've been using hides & 5 inch of eco earth since I've started keeping toads 3 years ago and was wondering if maybe, just maybe I don't need that much substrate so they wouldn't go into hibernation and stay active like the WTFs & AGTF do. So I was looking to see if maybe other toad keepers used this method of housing. It's very sad to look at an "empty" tank. I know in a few weeks they will be active again, it's just the long wait that sucks.