Looking for Help with my Toads

[Chelsi]

Sorry for all the questions... I looked up how to hibernate toads online, because their lifespan will be shortened if they don't hibernate, but there isn't really a clear cut way of doing it and I don't want to refrigerate my toads if it isn't necessary! What do you think?

[Greg M]

Although putting toads through dormancy is used to induce mating, I think it is unnecessary if you are just looking to keep them as pets. IMO, good husbandry (hygiene, supplementation, etc.) is probably much more important for the average pet toad than hibernation in determining lifespan.

Amphibian guru Frank Individglio says "American toads hibernate throughout much of their range, but in captivity this is only necessary if you’d like to breed them…even then only a short cooling off period is required. Please be in touch if you would like information as to how to go about this. Otherwise, normal room temperatures are fine…the usual seasonal fluctuations in room temperature and day length will be good for the toads. If you use a terrarium light, you might want to shorten their light cycle to be in tune with the seasons." I believe that many very long-lived toads have kept without hibernation (I think Frank said that too, but I can't find the quote). I find Frank's blogs (i.e. How a Herpetologist Keeps American Toads, Bufo (Anaxyrus) americanus and Related Species, Part I | That Reptile Blog) to be very useful...