New frog mom! Hi!

[MollyJean]

Hello, my names Molly, and I just got a frog from a friend and, like all my pets, I like learning as much about them as I can. He's about a year old, a Fowler's Toad. My friend got him and a few others out of a pond near her house as tadpoles. Her and her son caught a bunch and watched them grown. They kept them in her garden for a long time, but kept this one in the house. He's missing a leg, and my friend was worried he might not make it in the wild. They've moved recently and needed to find him a new home. I had to have him, I have several broken pets and love taking care of them, I knew he would fit right in.

Right now he's not in the best home. I'm looking for a BIG tank on Craigslist, but he'll get a 10 gallon this weekend when I get paid. He's in a 5 gallon paint bucket (don't worry, there was never any paint in it). He's got a layer of dirt on the bottom and peat moss on top, which he's currently nesting in, and a shallow bowl of rain water.

Last night about sundown he ate 6 crickets. I didn't know how many to feed him, but he seemed to be ravenous. My friend said she only fed him worms and he wouldn't eat crickets, but I gave him both, he ignored the worms and ate the crickets. *shrugs* We let him play in the front yard for about an hour when the sun went down and realized he doesn't move very well, and tends to hop in a circle. Makes him easy to catch, though. He chirped a little while he was out there and seemed happy enough, and he doesn't mind being held or picked up at all, probably because my friend's son picked all the frogs and toads up a lot while he had them. He's about an inch wide and postures and blows himself up when he sees the cats, which, to me, are signs that he's healthy. As I said, he ate 6 crickets and I'm sure he would have eaten more, but I didn't have any more. I'm not sure how much or how often he should eat, really. Lucky, I work at a bait shop, so getting crickets, wax worms, meal worms, whatever he might eat, is really easy. I expect him to be fat and happy.

As I said, he's missing a leg. We call him Gimpy for now (my husband's idea). I'm not sure if he needs any special care because of this, or if it will shorten his life span, but any input would be great.

As for me, I also have 3 cats, 2 of them are special needs kittys, and had a betta with a congenital fen defect. His back fen was small and pointed; Sadly, we lost him in a fire a few months ago. I have a daughter, Gwen, who's 8 years old and loves animals as much as I do, and is enjoying having a frog, she's always wanted one.

I know I shouldn't have a wild frog, and I expect some people to tell me to let him go, but after seeing him in action in the yard, I have a feeling he would be at a serious disadvantage. As I said, he's in a 5 gallon paint bucket.. I leave the lid off, he can't jump out. I have no plans of letting him go, and will try to take care of him the best I can.

Hoping to learn a lot here and meet some nice people. Please be kind, I'm a total noob with frogs, but I'm willing to learn!

[Jace]

Welcome to the Forum, Molly.

Sounds like Gimpy is going to be spoiled living with you-what a lucky guy. I also have a soft spot for animals that need that little extra help and I am really impressed by your commitment to special need animals.

The fact that Gimpy was raised from a tadpole and only has three legs, I think keeping him was his best chance at surviving-no-one is going to fault either your friend or you for that judgement call. I do not know much about Fowler's toads, but it sounds like you have the right idea once you get the proper size tank to set him up in. Check out the Basic Toad care sheet on the Forum and I am sure it will get you going in the right direction.

Finally, I would love to see some pics of Gimpy. Most of us on the Forum are picture-holics, so the more the merrier!! Again, welcome!

[Paul Rust]

Welcome aboard Molly.

[MollyJean]

Thanks for the kind welcome! I really want to take some pictures of him, I love photographing my animals, but I haven't a camera at the moment. When I have one, I'll sure load some pictures up.

And yeah, he'll be as spoiled as a toad can be. I've ordered magnolia leafs and coconut fibers for nesting materials, they should be here in a few days, and am hoping to find a 25-30 gallon tank. I know he's a wild animal, even if he was just a tadpole when he was caught, so want him to have his space. He's also got a LOT of room in the front yard to play in, and if I know my daughter, she'll have him out there a few times a week to roam around. She takes a lot of interest in her pets. She helps medicate our two special needs kittys, and took care of our betta fish all on her own. She's also excited about bringing Gimpy to school (we HAVE to come up with a new name before then, lol) so she can show her friends.

I read the care sheet, and it looks like I got most everything I need. Been reading what I can online, but editorials and blog postings only go so far, ya know? Nice to have a hands on place to learn. And I'm a jabber mouth! lol

Does anyone else have experience with 3 legged frogs or toads? I really don't know if I need to do anything special, but like I said, never had a frog before, so I would love some insight. He has his thigh down to his knee, then there's just a stub and no leg or foot. He keeps it pulled up against him, even when he hops around, so I don't even know if the thigh part works, but it's not atrophied or anything, and he is about a year old, so no infection so far. I'm going to get a closer look in a few days, don't want to get him too upset so soon after the move to a new home.

Oh, one last thing.. I can't tell if he's a he or a she! I know everything says males are darker then females, but I have no other toads to compare him with. Is there any other way to tell?

[Ebony]

Hi Molly, Welcome to the forum. I look forward to the photo's.

[Jace]

I'm not sure how to sex toads...once you are able to post a picture or two, one of the more experienced toad owners on here might be able to help. I've had experience wtih three legged frogs, but they were aquatic dwarf frogs and so their disability did not affect them that much swimming around. I am sure your toad will be just fine. As long as he is able to hunt down his food (this is where a smaller feeding bin might come in handy) and he has all his requirements met (including lovin' from your daughter and her friends) I think he is going to be a plump, happy, well-loved toad. Who could ask for more???

[froggiez]

Welcome Molly ! Sounds like he is in froggy heaven with you and your daughter. I too would love to see some pics!

[John]

Welcome to the forum Molly!

[SethD]

Oh, one last thing.. I can't tell if he's a he or a she! I know everything says males are darker then females, but I have no other toads to compare him with. Is there any other way to tell?

Most healthy adult males of north american toad species will "chuckle" and/or vibrate if you pick them up behind the front legs. Males also tend to be smaller. Juveniles are not really sexable, but at one year of age the toad should be mature assuming he/she has been well fed.

Does anyone else have experience with 3 legged frogs or toads? I really don't know if I need to do anything special, but like I said, never had a frog before, so I would love some insight. He has his thigh down to his knee, then there's just a stub and no leg or foot. He keeps it pulled up against him, even when he hops around, so I don't even know if the thigh part works, but it's not atrophied or anything, and he is about a year old, so no infection so far. I'm going to get a closer look in a few days, don't want to get him too upset so soon after the move to a new home.

Missing the leg where you describe should not cause a serious issue. There are plenty of wild toads that have lost an eye or a leg and yet are doing fine. Generally speaking it doesn't handicap them very much, particularly if it is a hind leg. If it is a front leg they can't usually get away with missing much more than the foot because with less than that they don't balance very well. If your toad had much of a problem it is doubtful that he would have lived to nearly a year old already.

[1beataway]

Hi Molly! I think the toad is lucky you're going to take care of it.

[MollyJean]

Thanks for all the info, Seth. I guess that makes him a her. She's only squeaked a couple of times and only when my daughter held her too tight. Other then that, no noise at all. I'll just assume she's a girl til we know otherwise. We're naming her Toadalina, but I still expect the hubby and my brother to call her Gimpy.

She eats fine, but won't chase her food. I don't know if this is normal. She just sits and watches the crickets til one comes close enough. She's either spoiled or knows she can't move fast enough. She's not hopping very high, either. She can't hit a foot high, which made finding her a home much easier.

We've put her in an old desk drawer. It's about 16 inches deep, 24 inches wide and 36 inches long. Lots of horizontal space for her to roam around and hide in. I put top soil in the bottom, about 2 inches deep, covered it with leaves and grass clippings for now, and I'll add the moss and magnolia leaves when I get them. I put a shallow Tupperware bowl in the dirt and a few rocks along one side (so the crickets can get out, mostly) and covered the drawer with a sheet of plywood on the back side, and a grate I'll never use that came out of a grill fastened on with C clams, so it opens very easily. No froggys getting out, no cats getting in, and she seems really happy with all the room, much better then a 5 gallon bucket! I doubt I'll keep her in that forever, but it's a great temp home and didn't cost hardly anything. Just have to find somewhere better to put it, the cats want to sit on the box and watch her and I don't want to stress her out.

Not too sure what to do about lighting. I know she's nocturnal, so I think she doesn't need anything special, but not really sure, and none of the fact sheets said anything

[Kurt]

Welcome aboard. I would rename the toad Tripod.