Toad inflated

[Moonspyder]

Can anone shed light on why my toad spends so much time
inflated? I have read it is a posturing thing but they are not stressed or startled. I can see how being all puffed up while soaking in their water container might help them float.

[Kurt]

Its a defensive posture. They blow themselves up to make themselves appear larger to a potential threat. It also makes them hard to swallow when they are blown up.

[John]

Are you sure it's puffed up with air? If you try picking it up it will usually hiss and deflate. If it doesn't do this then there could be something wrong with it - it may have osmoregulatory problems (fluid build-up) or perhaps it's just very well fed?

[Moonspyder]

The toad in question is deflated now. I was wondering if there were
other observations as to why they might inflate besides feeling threatened like a puffer fish. Would they blow themselves up to keep from feeling cold? I noticed both toads blown up in the early morning before the day warmed up.

[Kurt]

Are they inflated all the time or just from time to time?

[SludgeMunkey]

My Bufo woodhousii inflate up when the temperature is too cool in their enclosure.

[Moonspyder]

One of my 2 toads just spends more time inflated compared to the other in the same enclosure. He is not inflated all the time but often. Right now he is sitting in the water bowl blown up. I think he might be the more nervous one, since he is also the one that seems to pace the length of the tank back and forth on ocassion too. I suppose they all have their own personalities, as much personality as toads have any way.