Toad Basics - Keeping ground-dwelling Toads. A care sheet for Bufo, Anaxyrus, Spea, Scaphiopus, Ollotis, Alytes, Pelobates

[kellie]

hi there! this is my first post. i have 2 american toadlets that have just morphed their front legs .. one of them is a day further along than the other and has started venturing out of the water. but! he seems to like to climb the sides of the tank. i have a lid on it, but i'm afraid that, being so tiny, he'll get squished between the lid and tank or because he's not totally landbound yet, dry out or something awful. can anyone recommend anything to keep him from getting too high up the wall? thanks in advance!

[Kurt]

Show him a picture of a treefrog, then show him a mirror. Let him know he's a toad and not a treefrog.

Seriuosly, a place to hide within the enclosure, will make him feel safer and less likely to scale the walls.

[kellie]

Show him a picture of a treefrog, then show him a mirror. Let him know he's a toad and not a treefrog.

Seriuosly, a place to hide within the enclosure, will make him feel safer and less likely to scale the walls.

i'll try both suggestions and let you know which i have more success with.

[soapiedish]

Hello and thank you for the article, "Toad Basics." I have three toadlets, about the size of nickel. I believe they're California Toads. My daughter and I had about 150 tadpoles this year and successfully raised them to toadlets. We kept the last six of them to see if we could raise them to adulthood. We lost three out of the six and are trying very hard to provide a good quality habitat for them. We have ten acres and have seen numerous adult toads and have identified them as California Toads. Although we did end up with 9 tree frogs and successfully released 7 of them we did not see anyother species within our tadpoles. Anyway, just thought I'd say hi, and let you know our story...I'll provide some photos soon. See ya!

[John]

Soapie, please start your own thread if you post photos.

[Jace]

In this care article, it states that toads usually have a hard time eating earthworms, but on another site for Western toads, it says earthworms are a staple for this species. Does it depend on the species, then? Would red wrigglers be better? I want to provide a varied diet for my Western toad. Thanks.

[John]

It depends on the kind of toad. Those from more temperate climates are more likely to "know" how to eat an earthworm. Others have to learn to do it.

[margrick]

Thank you for this basic intro to toad care. While out for a walk this morning I found an injured toad (Western) and wasn't sure where to start as far as appropriate container, substrate, etc. As you can see from the photo it has a small defect in the left mandible.