Help! My male toad is showing signs that he's dying

[HL4EHalfLife]

Charlie passed away the night of my last post (3 weeks ago), Charlie never had an interest in eating night crawlers just ants, spiders, and the odd inch-worm.

Rain water is acceptable to use yes?

[Lady]

I am sorry your toad died.

For future reference, do not catch you toads from the wild, they may have illnesses that can spread to other animals in your collection. There is a nasty fungus called Chytrid that is ravaging wild amphibian populations around the world. It is safer to culture your own insects or buy them online or from a pet store, because of chemicals and pathogens. Chytrid can be transmitted form feeder insects to to a frog or toad that is otherwise healthy. Rain water can contain chemicals and parasites or the opposite contain no minerals and cause a very painful bloat death. The most recommended water source is from a Revers Osmosis filtering device. I personally use Gerber bottled water, which has been purified and has minerals added back in. It costs about a dollar a gallon from most grocery stores. Frogs and toads are more of a look at me pet than a touch me pet, handling some with your bare hands can make them sick because of the soaps and hand creams and sanitizers we use as well as the salts of our skin. Finally Toads do not live in castles. A more naturalistic Vivarium would mean a less stressed animal and a healthier pet.

I say this in hopes that you next pets will live a happier, healthier, long life.

[Lady]

Chytrid Fungus-Plague casuing global amphibian mass extinction

This article may give you some answers.

[Mentat]

Very sorry your toad died . Please read this article that will help you understand toads needs in captivity: Frog Forum - Toad Basics - Keeping ground-dwelling Toads. A care sheet for Bufo, Anaxyrus, Spea, Scaphiopus, Ollotis, Alytes, Pelobates. Water should be treated tap, usually recommend Seachem Prime or ExoTerra Aquatize. Bottled water can be anything since they are made to meet city/state codes, even so called "Spring Water" is treated: http://www.frogforum.net/vivarium-te...hing-else.html. You should clean (rinse in hot water) and refill it's water dish daily, even if it looks clear.

Frogs and toads in captivity need food supplements, more info on that in here: http://www.frogforum.net/food-feeder...schedules.html. A diet based on Canadian night crawlers (not dyed from local bait shop) is OK. Can cut the worms from pointy end for smaller toads. Feeder crickets should be sized same or smaller than distance between toads eyes and gut loaded 24-48 hours with lettuce, carrots and cherios cereal before feeding toad.

Wild caught animals usually cary a load of parasites and other pathogens that need to be checked for and if found, treated. That can be very costly and one of the reasons we recommend a captive bred animal, specially for beginners. Hope this helps you care for any future toad pets, good luck !