Hello, hello!

[monokrome]

Hi! I saw this site while looking around on Google trying to identify some new frogs that I've got... I went to the local pet store to get another tarantula, and I decided these guys were too cute to not take home!

So, hello to everyone

I never figured out what my frogs are, so if someone knows - please help me! Thank you

Here are some pics of them:

[Tom Highum]

A rana and a bufo. Please separate them you don't want a fat toad and no frog. It would be helpful if you said what state you lived in because i think they might have been wild caught. I have no clue what the frog is other that its a rana. The toad is probably an american toad. Bufo Americanus. It also kind of resembles a Fowler's toad, Bufo fowleri. John i know you will know. I think it would be helpful too if on the toad caresheet you had something similar to but with more species on it like Woodhouse's I have seen one with more but i can't find it now.

I would recommend reading this article for care info on the toad. http://www.frogforum.net/toads/441-t...pelobates.html

[Tom Highum]

Also what are you keeping the frog in? Like how big is the tank and whats in it and what are you feeding them? From what i see in the tank i see that you are using aquarium gravel as substrate that size could accidentally be eaten by your little guys and it could cause impaction that could kill them.

I like them both though. They are very cool. How big are they?

[into]

The toad is probably an american toad. Bufo Americanus. It also kind of resembles a Fowler's toad, Bufo fowleri.

I'm not sure american toads have that stripe down their backs. My guess would be fowler's.

[Tom Highum]

Sorry it was just an educated guess but the cranial crests don't look like fowler's really. also i have not a clue as to your frog.

[monokrome]

Well, I am from Salt Lake City, Utah - and I hope they aren't wild caught. I've never even seen a frog in the wild here, but I wouldn't really know where to look.

I will separate them. I have them in a 20 gallon tank right now, and I think that there is plenty of room.

The guy at the pet store had this big toad in the same tank with 5 small frogs, but I have noticed that the little one isn't eating - so I am going to get a 10 gallon for the little guy. I don't think he'll get as big as the toad, which is about 4 inches right now.

I have a ton of eco-earth Coconut fibre substrate that I keep on supply for my spiders. I will trade out the current substrate for this, since it seems that the rocks could present the risk of impaction? I only have the rocks because this is what the pet store recommended.

Also, I don't think that the toad is Bufo fowleri because it doesn't have a single spot on it's belly. Bufo fowleri have a single dark spot, right?

I know that pet stores have a very bad habit of giving inaccurate information, and that's why I came here. These were being sold together as "Green Tree Frogs", for instance.

I read somewhere (if I recall) that the bufo genus is very poisonous... Is this true?

I have been feeding large crickets to the toad, after spraying a calcium spray onto them and waiting a few minutes. I am not sure if the calcium spray is helpful. Is it?

Sorry for all of the questions. I am just trying to make sure they are going to be okay! If I get a 20 gallon tank for the little guy and do a half-water tank, will he swim? I have noticed him pushing off when the water bowl is filled, so I think that he is a swimmer. Would it hurt to give him a fairly-water filled habitat? If not, this would be fun

Thank you all for your help. My frog/toad will appreciate it

Also, after looking at the toad - based on Tom's diagram - the toad looks like Bufo fowleri.

[Tom Highum]

Yeah pet stores are not very trust able. Your toad will probably love the Eco-earth and will be found buried in it. Do you treat your water for chlorine and chloramines (probably misspelled) if you don't you probably should. Yes he is considered venomous. Its not his bite though its the bulges on each side of his neck behind his eyes, called parotid glands. They are filled with toxins that vary with species but most are not considered life threatening. They are triggered when someone squeezes them like if an animal tried to eat them. The venom can be avoided by washing you hands thoroughly after handling them and avoiding touching your eyes, mouth, nose or getting it in cuts. I am not trying to freak you out you are not in danger from the toad just giving the facts. The frog will probably enjoy the 10 if it has a large source of clean water.
Do you gut load your crickets?

[monokrome]

Gut loaded crickets are a necessary thing, as I have some very large tarantulas - and I figure the toad needs more food than they do!

I don't treat my water for that stuff. I usually buy distilled water from the store in 3 gallon cartons. I don't know how to treat normal tap water, but I would like to know!

Will the rana frog swim if I were to provide it a 20 gallon tank half full of water, or will it stick to the dry area?

Thanks again

[Kurt]

I'm not sure american toads have that stripe down their backs. My guess would be fowler's.

Anaxyrus americanus does have a stripe down the middle of the back. Without hitting the books for a possitive ID, I would say its an americanus.

[Tom Highum]

Yea it would enjoy a half and half tank i would think. There are water treatments to remove that stuff, you can buy them at pet stores. also don't use distilled water for amphibians because it doesn't contain the necessary minerals the exception in misting systems.

[John]

American Toad or Woodhouse's Toad, not sure which. I'm not sure on the frog. Don't keep them together and don't keep them like that. We have a Toad care sheet linked on the left of every site page. As for the frog, we really need to figure out what it is first.

[monokrome]

How can we figure out what kind of frog it is? And what kind of water should I use?

[Kurt]

How can we figure out what kind of frog it is? And what kind of water should I use?

Let me hit the books and see what I can find. Spring water or dechlorinated tap water.

[Tom Highum]

More pictures of both would be helpful.

[Kurt]

I found our little mystery frog to have a familiar look to it. I am pretty sure I have nailed it down to genus and that genus is Ptychadena. Looking at a field guide for East Africa, one canidate is Ptychadena mascareniensis (Duméril & Bibron, 1841), Mascarene ridge frog. The photo in the book did closely match yours. Most of the pics I came across on-line for this species showed a stripe down the middle of the dorsum. Yours lacks this feature. However, I did find a picture of one without a stripe. http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/im...0000+0907+0885
If its not mascareniensis, thats ok. I am 99.9% sure its of the genus Ptychadena, family Ranidae.

[Tom Highum]

Hmm what would you say for care about him and how big will he get?

[Kurt]

Damn, you're going to make me open the book again? In Ptychadena mascareniensis males reach a length 53 mm and females 65 mm. It is found in similar habitat to that of the American bullfrog, Lithobates catesbeianus or green frog, L. clamitans melanota.

[Tom Highum]

So 2.5 inches and it will enjoy a 10 gallon with a half water and half land tank. Hope they all are happy.

[Kurt]

I am thinking it being a Ranid, a larger tank would be better.

[monokrome]

Jeeeez. You work fast. I think my original idea of a 20gallon that is half water and half land would be good? This guy sure can hop, so the 20 gallon is probably a must. lol

Thank you all for the help. I will post pictures of the new tanks after I get them set up... So that I can see what else I did wrong lol