How do you all tame your toads?

[Charc15]

I know that toads are "Wild" Animals, But I have heard of some that are extremely tame. Do any of you guys have ideas/ hints as to how to do that? Thanks in advance!

[Lija]

You do not tame frogs or toads! They are look but not touch animals.

[Cliygh and Mia 2]

There is ONE way, but as Lija has already stated, these are look and don't touch pets, and you shouldn't handle them as it causes stress to them. What you need to do is move their tank into somewhere where people frequent, but don't actually do anything. Like a hallway or living room or something. Eventually they should be used to people being a major portion of their lives. Next step is to try feeding them irresistible foods, such as Wax-worms and Canadian night-crawlers. (Night-crawlers should be part of the staple diet as well) Once you feed that, leave and do something, and come back after a while to see if they've eaten. If they have, continue doing this treatment over the next month (Like a wax-worm twice a week) along with their normal feeding. After about a month has passed, try feeding them while you're in the room. If they continue eating, keep doing this until about another month has passed. The final step is to either start hand-feeding or tong feeding them. Once they start doing that, they should be "tame" and put up with humans, and possibly be out in the day or at least active when you walk past their tank. (they'll beg for food if they aren't already, it's adorable) Again, these are look and don't touch pets, some that you should very rarely handle, unless you're moving them to a temporary tank or cleaning it, ect. I hope this helped out a bunch of people, as I know I don't want my animals stressing themselves out for me!

[jasonm96]

The tamest a toad will be is to take food from forceps or head towards the tank when you appear, probably they associate you with food. As said, frogs and toads for the most part are for display and not to be petted but whites tree frogs are relitively tame because you feed them. I've watched many videos where a whites tree frog will climb onto someone's hand but this has never happened with a toad I've kept.

[Charc15]

Thanks all! Yes, I know you aren't supposed to handle them often, I'm just especially hoping to get them more used to me, (Used to me, < Better words than tame!) I feel bad when I clean the tank and such, and my toads freak out. Don't worry about the handling! I've heard that they can "Soak" up chemicals, (One of the reasons why we aren't supposed to use soap when cleaning, (Or so I've heard...) ) and I'm always nervous that somehow they will get something from me! Lol.

The toads I've heard of being "Tame", would actually lay on your chest and be very calm, much like a bearded dragon. But that type of "Toad Relationship" Is probably quite rare, and I'm more looking for them to not freak out when cleaning the tank, (I mean, sure, that would be fun, but I enjoy watching them a lot and am fine with that!) If I put my hand any where near them, they usually get stressed out, and I really don't want that.

Thanks! I will try your ideas!

[Toadpher]

My toad likes to just chill on my chest when I watch tv, lol. I don't do it often, but when I do take her out she is always very cooperative, never any fear pee. She lives in my indoor herb garden though, which I am constantly trimming, watering, planting, etc. So she is used to giant hands constantly invading her space. That and I like to give her a little rub on the side of her belly every now and then, in which she protests by puffing up.

[KMAC]

Are we creating conditional stimuli here with frogs n toads?

Thats interesting the psychology of frogs

[victorsgrace]

I just think you can learn the animal that you meen food and do not pose a threat.

[KMAC]

You should read some of Pavlov's work on animal conditioning, I think you will find it interesting.

[victorsgrace]

I am familiar with some of his work and I generally don't support that method of interacting with animals. Regardless of what some experts and hobbyists say - in any field with any kind of animal - if you've worked with animals for a long period of time, you can observed them as being alive and being aware of being alive.

And where anything is alive, there is grounds for some form of communication You do not have to coerce or "condition" any animal, if you're patient, observant and calm. In the same way, interaction with animals can be more than just conditioning.

I feel the best thing for any owner or caregiver is always to observe your animal and keep in mind that it's some form of living being, an not an object to be owned. Pay attention to it's way of communicating and try, as best, to interact with it where some kind of communication can take place.

[KMAC]

Yeah I dont think Pavlov's work was really to determine animals natural behaviour or animal care as he was creating certain conditions in unatural enviroments but the guy that made the post seems interested in conditional stimuli and as you know in most proffesions that study conditional or unconditional stimuli will at some point refer to his work.

[latrodectussin]

what do you mean by tame? like come to you by name? :B

as stated, amphibians have sensitive skin! I do, however, love toads for what they are
and have in the past gotten good toad-friendly gloves, sweatpants, long shirt and just sit while they hop/explore around me. sometimes give em treats. let them sit on my clothed leg
but I think
petting them or anything like that makes them stressed! I mean, they typically puff up or may start trying to make threats/toad-swear at you. They're anxious lil fellows as
being so cute and small
they're definitely easy dinner in the wild

[victorsgrace]

Yeah I understand I guess some one will always refer to Pavlov.

Toads are for sure not "petting" pets. They are not like mammals and do not like to be squeesed, stroked or petted. But there are many ways where you can win over their trust and confidence, and have a pet toad that's relaxed around you, actively interacts with you and that you can share alot of cool and really great moments with.

My tamest toad here at home is my 3,5 year old Bufo bufo, Bandit. I've had her since she was a baby (rescue case) and she's so hand weened that she'll often go crazy after my hands and initially totally ignore the feeding bowl or the feeds, until I draw her attention to them, haha! x.D And this was not done by repetitive condition, as with drills or the likes: I just slowly got her used to being picked up and moved to a feeding container and hand fed her every day when she was teeny tiny, all in her temper.

As toads are amphibians hands should of course be toxin-free, without oily/perfumey creams or anything like that and they shouldn't be held or handled for extended periods of time. Normally I'd just move mine out and then interact with them, on their own will (i.e. having them come to my hand for food, instead of picking them up and holding them for company or whatever). Many times after feeding Bandit would just sit and hang out on my leg, until her nightcrawlers settled. Whenever she made indications to want to leave or want to go away, I'd just carefully set her back in her tank and let her walk off my hand on her own will.