I found this toad (Bufo bufo) with some extrange skin disease, please help identify

[Papah]

Hello and thanks for collaborating.

Here the direct contact with a vet expecialist in exotic animals is not a possibility, but I got the data about this case sent to an asociation specialized in Spanish anfibians diseases (www.sosanfibios.org), and I'll wait their sentence on it. Until then, my bro Rojillo will stay in quarentine well fed and treated, separated from any other toads that live in my garden.

The info I have is that there is a fly (Lucilia bufonivora) that deposits its eggs on some European toads' skin (Bufo bufo and Bufo calamita). The egg period is usually very sort for flyes, so this maybe lasts around 1 or 2 weeks from laid to hatch. When the eggs hatch the worm-like larvae are 1,5mm to 2mm long, and they search for the host toad's nostrils to get into it's body. Once inside they begin to eat the toad alive, afecting critical areas around the poor animal's nose, until they finally kill it.

I hope this experience can help anybody who come across something similar, and if the person is interested, maybe can save an anfibian live.

[JimO]

Good job! He looks much better. Frankly, I was really grossed out by the fly eggs. I just can't stand parasitic flies.

[Jace]

What a cutie! He certainly looks healthy enough. I hope he gets a clean bill of health and lives a long happy life. Great job!

[Papah]

I was surprised when I saw this toad over the green grass, in the arcillous ground and fallen eucalyptus leaves it's mimetism is the one from a chamaleon. I think that's why I had never seen a juvenile 4cm like this one, when having seen 1cm babytoads and adults 5-7cm. Babytoads are dark brownish and adults combine diferent dark and clear olive tones like the best militar camouflage pattern would

[John]

Toadfly is a lot more common than most people think. I've had animals die from this - in a heavy infestation, mature fly larvae can emerge from the still living amphibian. It's really unpleasant. It can also effect salamanders - I've seen it and it's not a nice experience for the keeper, let alone the animal.

[Deku]

Toadfly is a lot more common than most people think. I've had animals die from this - in a heavy infestation, mature fly larvae can emerge from the still living amphibian. It's really unpleasant. It can also effect salamanders - I've seen it and it's not a nice experience for the keeper, let alone the animal.

Yeowch.... Id hate for my baby toads to get that. Id freak out. But in any case wouldnt a med for parasites work? I mean if its inside the toads body... it should? Shouldnt it? Now Iam curious. How do they end up getting it and how is it possible to prevent them?

[Papah]

I want to know more too. This is a terrible death for the animals as John can surely tell, that should be stopped. I'll share the info I get, please do so.