Marine toad not adjusting to captivity

[jasonm96]

Hi all

I have a Marine toad that isn't adjusting to captivity; all it does is hide, barely eats in front of me and every time I go near the cage gets frightened. I've never had this problem before as usually my frogs do well and so I'm not sure on how to address it. I'm not really wanting to put it down, as I do not believe it should be my choice to end it's life but it's hardly living and I don't know what to do?

[MichielB]

Is it possible for the toad to eat out of sight?

[jasonm96]

Yes but not a lot, he'll only pick at his food

[MichielB]

What's its feeding condition at this point? Do you know if it fed at the store?

What's the temperature in the terrarium?

[jasonm96]

I don't know if he fed at the store but lets say I'll put around 6 crickets in his cage, they'll be two left over if he actually eats. He's not skinny though but could be if he doesn't start eating more. I would force feed but since the animal is so powerful and jumpy it's quite a hard task, not to mention quite dangerous if he gets p*ssed off and starts letting his poisons out lol. The temperatures anywhere between 23-27oc (74-80of) which is about ideal and is provided by an infrared heat lamp

[Cliygh and Mia 2]

Try this trick, it works well for skittish animals, namely Five-lined skinks. Put its enclosure in a hall-way or living room where it sees you, and you don't hurt or harm it. Eventually graduate to dropping food then ignoring it, dropping food and watching it, and hand/tong feeding. It worked extremely well for my five-lined skinks and green anoles when I owned them

[jasonm96]

That sounds like a good idea however I have no where to put its 3ft tank :/ I've pretty much got all my frogs in a spare room. I thought it would have maybe realised by now that I'm not wanting to eat it! Because they're communal maybe another toad would help but then there's the risk of that not settling in either but I can't seem to find any more canes for sale and there's not been since I purchased my own. It kinda seems depressed and scared most of the time

[Cliygh and Mia 2]

Well then take a news paper or towels and wrap it around his tank, then try using the steps I suggested

[Cliygh and Mia 2]

Also, if you said it does have a fat reserve, you can move it to a temporary tank whilst getting it accustomed to you

[jasonm96]

I was thinking of just putting the toad in a plastic rub but then I'd never really see it and because it's not really interactive. I could cover the sides. What I've never experienced before is an amphibian refusing food but it's weird because it actually puts its head down and let's off a little puff.

[Cliygh and Mia 2]

Whereas most of my pets were WC (Hyla cinerea, Hyla chrysoscelis, Anaxyrus fowleri, Anaxyrus americanus and other species) or were just rescues (Pogona vitticeps, Notophalmus viridecens, and Taricha granulosa) so I have lots of experience with this. Look for a smaller enclosure or tub, and wrap towels around three sides so it can see you/you can feed it, and do the steps I previously listed. Trust me, unless you automate feeding (Which is another possibility) that's pretty much the only way the little guy/gal will eat in front of you. Could also be because its winter, how deep are you in winter, it may be sensing the seasons change

[jasonm96]

The temps are slightly cooler than summer but not by much. It's been a grump and hard to feed since I've had it, really hoped it would have got out of its puff by now. I would put it in a room where I'm at but I really just haven't got the space for it but I think I'll put it in a rub just now as I have one spare. I think it's about 20 gal size or slightly larger. Could put a heat mat underneath, think it'll be fine without it haven't a raised bottom or should I buy wood to raise the tank slightly?

[Cliygh and Mia 2]

I'd buy the thing to stack it up, and the room I suggest you put it in, is where you sleep. He'll be most active at night, and when he sees you sleeping the entire night, he'll be accustomed to you being there with him

[Cliygh and Mia 2]

The temps are slightly cooler than summer but not by much.

That's not what I mean, I mean do you think he senses the change of seasons? He may know that it's winter, and even though he may not want to, his urges are telling him to brumate because its his nature

[jasonm96]

I've not got room in my bedroom, as I have my bearded dragon and American greens there and it's a pretty small bedroom. I'd move to beardie but he likes being around us. Ah yeah I get what you mean, I'm not sure but as he's been the same since when I got him in not sure

[MichielB]

That's not what I mean, I mean do you think he senses the change of seasons? He may know that it's winter, and even though he may not want to, his urges are telling him to brumate because its his nature

Does the tank have lights?

[jasonm96]

Yeah, I provide all my amphibians with lights. I used a 5% UVB on for a month but toad did not use it, so changed it to a 2%, which basically just provides light and no UVB when above mesh. I keep lights on for 12 hours per day