I need advice raising my toads

[Curb71]

just an update, my 4 toads are doing great. all are very active and love to soak, borough a little, and eat a lot! I'm out of crickets and have been working so many hours the pet store is closed by the time I get off work. I've been spending about $15/week on crickets for these pigs!! I have a 16 year old leopard gecko and she eats crickets and was wondering if I can let the toads eat them up too since I buy them in bulk cause they last forever in the fridge?? maybe dust the worms and chop them in half if they are too big? also wanting some advise on cheaper crickets. when I caught these tadpoles months ago I thought they will be the cheapest pet ever, free! so much for that idea about $200 later, lol!

[Curb71]

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[Curb71]

Its been months since I've been here. My toads have been doing great!
Here's a couple shots of Tad from yesterday.

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I Moved them into a 40 gallon terrarium and all four of them eating like pigs and digging in the coco fiber bark and bathing in the water dish. Tad is still noticeably larger than the others (between golf ball and tennis ball size) while one is kinda smaller than the other two. Anyways I throw in some crickets and notice the smaller toad rush in and dive on Tads back! turns out Tad...is a she! this went on for about 2 minutes until they finally broke up. Even got some video of it at the end. I hope Tad didn't suffer any bruised ribs!

Bufo Boreas toads mating - YouTube

Anyways, my concern. What if Tad lays eggs?! Is there a way to collect them or what should I expect? I know they lay thousands of eggs so it seems like this could be a terrible thing since the water dish is only about the size of a shoe or smaller.

Here's

[kueluck]

Those are some nice lookin' toads! I don't think you have to worry about her laying eggs yet. I haven't gone through this since this is my first year with toads & frogs, but I've read that they don't breed the first year, & that they need to go through a hibernation period to kick in the breeding season. I'm curious to see what an experienced toad breeder has to say though.

[Pandora3d]

oh how fun to watch these little guys! thanks for sharing i am interested in what ppl have to say about the crickets....i too thought my toads would be a cheap fun pet ~ shows what we know eh?! and really, crickets last longer in the fridge?! its so annoying having to stop at petco for 15/sm crickets every other day, and damn it adds up fast $$!! i have 3 toads (1 hasn't been eating much lately though).....anywho - good luck with your survivors, they are awesome!!! and good musical taste btw

[Wormwood]

Toads sometimes will latch onto each other like that if they are scared or over stimulated. Male toads will often do it to your hand if they are being handled. Unless both of them are sitting in a large enough water source I don't think you have to worry about them laying eggs. The pool you have now is much to small to even stimulate them to mate.

[Curb71]

Toads sometimes will latch onto each other like that if they are scared or over stimulated. Male toads will often do it to your hand if they are being handled. Unless both of them are sitting in a large enough water source I don't think you have to worry about them laying eggs. The pool you have now is much to small to even stimulate them to mate.

very interesting that they wouldnt mate in captivity. I guess it was just some jabs to the ribs then. probably cause tad gets most of the crickets.
thanks wormwood.

[kueluck]

I've started to feed Turkish roaches to the Grey tree frogs and toads. I got 2,000 shipped to NC w/heat pack for $33.00 w/no DOA. I don't think I'll ever go back to crickets for their staple food, just toss them in occasionally to add variety to the diet.

oh how fun to watch these little guys! thanks for sharing i am interested in what ppl have to say about the crickets....i too thought my toads would be a cheap fun pet ~ shows what we know eh?! and really, crickets last longer in the fridge?! its so annoying having to stop at petco for 15/sm crickets every other day, and damn it adds up fast $$!! i have 3 toads (1 hasn't been eating much lately though).....anywho - good luck with your survivors, they are awesome!!! and good musical taste btw

[Poly]

I've started to feed Turkish roaches to the Grey tree frogs and toads. I got 2,000 shipped to NC w/heat pack for $33.00 w/no DOA. I don't think I'll ever go back to crickets for their staple food, just toss them in occasionally to add variety to the diet.

If only roaches were legal in Canada....

[kueluck]

Royce, I know, you're kinda stuck on what you can get, but I was more or less directing this to Pandora3d in CO.

[Pandora3d]

Royce, I know, you're kinda stuck on what you can get, but I was more or less directing this to Pandora3d in CO.

hmm...do you have the info to where i could get those? geez, 2000, where do you keep them until feeding time? gross little buggers! i dunno if my guys are big enough to eat roaches, they still seem to struggle with the large crickets...but if means less trips to the store i'm all for trying it!

[Pandora3d]

ack, nasty! - i'm not sure i could do the roaches, just the pictures are creeping me out......lol. at least if a cricket manages to escape i wouldn't be as freaked out...bleh.