New to the area ~

[Leo731]

Hello!

Obviously new to the forum, and unsure if you have to post into the intro like other forums, so I will anyways.

I've been keeping lizards, and snakes as pets my entire life, as well as other exotics such as turtles.

I recently acquired an American Toad from a friend going off to college who can not bring his reptiles with him. (and also another leopard gecko, but that's for another forum on another site).

I'm honestly quite new to the area of keeping amphibians but he's eating off my cricket and meal worm colony quite happily! And seems to be doing well. However I'd like to see some American Toad set ups to get an idea what I could safely give this little feller. Though he is healthy he was kept on the bare minimal. Just some moss and soil, and a turned over flower pot as a hide.




Also, after my toad is settled - I did plan to get a pac man frog.

thanks ya'll.
Hopefully someday I will be as knowledgeable about toads and frogs as I am other animals.

[LilyPad]

Welcome to the forum!

You can definitely dress up your toad's enclosure, but there isn't a lot they *need* other the bare minimum. My toads had a tendency to kick up anything I tried to plant in their enclosure.

ETA : Does he have a water dish that he can soak in should he choose?

[Leo731]

He does have a water dish, everything is chlorine free, misted etc.
I know plants are a no since they tend to kick them up and up root them anyways. But I wanted it to look nicer and more natural for him then dirt and a flower pot, and a glass jar to soak in.

[Shell]

Welcome I'm new too & loving it! Love geckos & reptiles too. I currently have an African tiger snake.. Sooo cute. I hope u love this site & feel right at home.

[Mentat]

Hello and welcome to FF Leo! This article should get you all care basics covered: Frog Forum - Toad Basics - Keeping ground-dwelling Toads. A care sheet for Bufo, Anaxyrus, Spea, Scaphiopus, Ollotis, Alytes, Pelobates.

The Vivarium section has many build threads; but most are about dart and mantella vivariums. Other than placing live plants in ground area or sharp objects in it's enclosure; you can pretty much do any decor you like. If desired you could actually build a three dimensional background with embedded planting holes and get some semi arid plants going in them. Or you could just use silk plants and hand them trailing in back and sides.

If interested in a Pacman, might as well start reading about it too: .Frog Forum - Pacman and Horned Frogs - Ceratophrys - Care and Breeding. Good luck !

[Heatheranne]

Carlos has got you covered so far. Toads are awesome pets.

Like reptiles, frogs and toads need calcium with vitamin D3 supplement in a light food dusting every other day. They also need a weekly multivitamin such as Repashy.

Toads are pretty simple. A clean substrate such as coconut fiber (not husk), a water bowl with clean new dechlorinated water each day, something to hide in and food every other day or so. Only use the mealworms as an occasional treat. They don't process the chitin in the segments well. It's a bit like eating too much popcorn for us. It can lead to constipation or impaction. Crickets and earthworm pieces work great. They can also eat freshly molted Dubia roaches.

Congrats on your new adoptee. Welcome to the forum .

[Leo731]

Thank you

[Leo731]

I figured as much (and from what I read).
He has the super basics right now, I'll worry about aesthetics in a little while. I never realised how much toads will eat. He's smaller than my geckos but 3x the eater. But everything has been dusted so far as I had serious doubts about the care for him before... Crickets and earth worms are staple, but I do throw in mealies. Dubia are something I'm not allowed to have in the house as my house mates are super concerned about them infesting even though I've told them they can not - so are phoenix worms okay?

[LilyPad]

Occasional mealies are okay, like a treat. I let me frogs have a couple of mealies twice a month. Usually when I'm running a day behind picking up crickets and do not want them to miss their routine feeding. Crickets and earthworms will be just fine though. My toads devoured earthworms, they'd get so excited seeing them! That was one thing I loved about them, they were almost like puppies, such enthusiasm.

[Mentat]

IRT feeding, get not dyed night crawlers at Walmart or a local bait shop. It's the most nutritious food you can offer to toads !