American toad housing compatability

[delightfulpetrichor]

Hello everyone!
We currently have a small female eastern American toad (my daughter named her Mia). Can they be housed with grass frogs of about the same size? I know they have different needs, since one is a toad and one is a frog, but they live in the same area near my home. Any info would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[limnologist]

they should be perfectly compatible

[LilyPad]

I wouldn't say that they're "perfectly compatible." As far as I know, "grass frogs" in the US can be applied to multiple species of frogs. Knowing exactly what species would help make a better determination here. I personally would not recommend housing them together. They may be found in the same areas outside your house, but I highly doubt they're found inches from each other for long periods of time. You will be stressing them, which will cause them to release conflicting toxins that can make the other one ill if the stress alone doesn't do it. Not to mention, American toads can grow pretty quickly, and depending what species of frog you have, could end up outgrowing them and eating them. If you're talking about Pseudacris ocularis, (sometimes called little grass frog) that will surely happen. Tank size and exactly how it's set up can make a difference too. If you're set on keeping the found toad, I would get it a ten gallon tank and house it on its own.

In my yard, I can find grey tree frogs, american/fowler toads, leopard frogs, and green frogs (R. Clamitans,) spring peepers, and bullfrogs feeding/breeding/soaking in the same areas, but that doesn't mean they can be housed together safely.

[limnologist]

I wouldn't say that they're "perfectly compatible." As far as I know, "grass frogs" in the US can be applied to multiple species of frogs. Knowing exactly what species would help make a better determination here. I personally would not recommend housing them together. They may be found in the same areas outside your house, but I highly doubt they're found inches from each other for long periods of time. You will be stressing them, which will cause them to release conflicting toxins that can make the other one ill if the stress alone doesn't do it. Not to mention, American toads can grow pretty quickly, and depending what species of frog you have, could end up outgrowing them and eating them. If you're talking about Pseudacris ocularis, (sometimes called little grass frog) that will surely happen. Tank size and exactly how it's set up can make a difference too. If you're set on keeping the found toad, I would get it a ten gallon tank and house it on its own.

In my yard, I can find grey tree frogs, american/fowler toads, leopard frogs, and green frogs (R. Clamitans,) spring peepers, and bullfrogs feeding/breeding/soaking in the same areas, but that doesn't mean they can be housed together safely.

I may have made an over statement. What I should say is that as long as the toad and the frog are the same size and you're sure you can take care of both their needs it shouldnt be impossible.

[delightfulpetrichor]

Okay, sorry for two reasons. One, I said grass frog when I meant green frog. I had been reading about grass frogs and apparently had that stuck in my head. And two, I should have been more specific about species. The green frogs found in my area are Lithobates clamitans melanota, I believe the common name is just northern green frog. From everything that I've read on them they top out in growth about 10 cm, with our eastern american toads reaching around the same size. Our toad is around 5 cm tip of nose to end, and most of the green frogs I've seen around our property (the adults) are about the same size, maybe a cm or so larger.

Anywho, I totally get that even though they're found in the same area they're not necessarily always side by side. However, there's such a small permanent source of water on our property they really are side by side. I've come across many toads and frogs sitting in the same 3 foot area at night.

I really appreciate your all's input! I'm probably going to leave our toad by herself for a while. If I'm able to get one of the green frogs I may see how they do together and make an assessment from there. Thanks again!

[LilyPad]

They have different needs...green frogs need a larger water area while toads need very little. The brief time I had green frogs, I made sure there was a big enough area for them to swim in. The toad could drown in that. The toads will only go to the pond during breeding season, so they are not together long term. You will pretty much always find the green frogs in the body of water, unless they make a move to a different body of water, you will not always find them in the same area. That's why I specified "long periods of time" not just overnights during breeding season.

If you have a massively huge tank, where you can create a decent sized water area for the green frogs and have a completely different habitat on the other end for the toad, and plenty of branches in the water area for them to easily get out, it's *possible* but still not recommended. A temporary "trial" type assessment isn't going to help much either, it could be a year before the effects of stress and toxins are noticed.

[Frogman1031]

Agreed. The only thing you should be adding to your toad's tank is another American toad that has been quarantined first


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