I think I'm losing one - Update - Toad Died :(

[LilyPad]

I showed you guys the pictures of the toads, 2 were quite large and the other 2 were lagging behind. Well one of the small ones hit a pretty big and sudden growth spurt and is catching up fast. That leaves one left that is still very small. It doesn't appear to have grown much at all since we brought it in, and it's VERY skinny. I moved it to a critter keeper with some eco earth in it, a dish of water, and some leaves to hide in this morning. I moved it because even though it had been eating fine up until now, this morning it didnt go after any of the fruit flies. I thought maybe the big ones were just too intimidating. But it didn't eat any fruit flies in the critter keeper either.

I just don't know what else to do at this point

[nicodimus22]

Awwww...I'm sorry to hear that, gal. That's how the one I lost acted the last couple of days before it passed. I tried feeding it separately too, but to no avail. It just stopped eating, and when they are so small, it doesn't take long for them to wither away when that happens.

Keep trying to help it, of course, but if it passes, know that it's not your fault. The other toads are doing great in the same conditions, so obviously your care is good.

[LilyPad]

Thanks Pete. I was so sad when you lost one and so thankful mine were so healthy. They are so young though, it's so hard to tell what is going on. I will keep trying with the little one and hopefully she'll pull through, right now it isnt looking good though

[nicodimus22]

I'm trying to think of anything that would make it easier for it to eat. Have you already tried feeding it in a container with no substrate? Just so that it can see the flies 100% and get them easily, without coco fiber getting in the way? And possibly leaving it alone with them for a while, in case you watching is making it nervous? If you have tried that, and they're still just crawling in front of its face, there's not much you can do. I don't think force-feeding is an option. I'm hoping that this one is just going through a momentary lapse of hunger and will turn around for you.

[DonLisk]

Well we'll hope she surprises you and makes it, but just in case, you definitely gave her a good place to live and be cared for.

[LilyPad]

At first when she didn't eat in the tank with the others, I put her on a damp paper towel in the critter keeper with 14 fruit flies (I counted so I would know if she at or not!) I left her in a quiet darker room for about 2 hours. I came back and they were all still there. Then I put some substrate in there and the water dish etc and kept her in the quiet room so I could leave her there longer without worrying about her.

Don, I hope she surprises me too. We will see.

[Lacibeth]

At first when she didn't eat in the tank with the others, I put her on a damp paper towel in the critter keeper with 14 fruit flies (I counted so I would know if she at or not!) I left her in a quiet darker room for about 2 hours. I came back and they were all still there. Then I put some substrate in there and the water dish etc and kept her in the quiet room so I could leave her there longer without worrying about her.

Don, I hope she surprises me too. We will see.

Have you tried worms?

Other than that, they are an r-selected species.

[LilyPad]

I have been cutting up small red wigglers for them in addition to the fruit flies, they all chowed them down except her, she's only eaten fruit flies up to this point, and now nothing.

r-selected species?

[nicodimus22]

r-selected species?

Species in which the parents produce a large number of offspring, of which only a few survive to adulthood. In other words, toads lay hundreds of eggs and most of them don't make it, so don't feel too bad.

[Lacibeth]

Species in which the parents produce a large number of offspring, of which only a few survive to adulthood. In other words, toads lay hundreds of eggs and most of them don't make it, so don't feel too bad.

Thank you. I meant to expand on that and then got totally distracted.

[LilyPad]

I googled it It makes sense, you just hope to overcome that by putting them in a controlled environment.

[LilyPad]

She's still with me today. I actually got her to eat a leaf hopper last night, I have no idea if that is safe or not, but she hasnt touched the fruit flies and my daughter was out catching leaf hoppers, so I tried it.

[nicodimus22]

Glad to hear that. Is it still soaking? Mine stopped going in the water near the end.

[LilyPad]

I have never seen her soak at all, I do a lot of misting because of it though, so I was hoping that was helping.

[Pete]

Glad to hear it's eating. Maybe it just doesn't like fruitflies. Maybe you found one of the only food snob toads.

[nicodimus22]

On the subject of snob toads, I've read that American toads will gobble up worms, but Fowler's toads shy away from them. Strange, eh? They're practically the same species, they even cross-breed.

[LilyPad]

That is funny Pete, I would have never guessed that. The 2 bigger toads snap up worm pieces like they are candy!

[LilyPad]

Last night she ate at least 5 fruitflies. Granted the other toads eat like 20, but it's better than nothing. She is still defecating too, which is a good sign. You cant tell in a tank with 4 toads if someone isnt going potty, so it helped to move her out to keep a closer eye on her. We will see if she continues to improve or go back downhill. She is still incredibly skinny compared to my other toads, they are all getting nice and fat.

[bshmerlie]

Giver her time....

[Poly]

Have you tried ants, I know I'm new to all this, but ants seem to catch a toads attention well, there small, easy to catch, and plentiful!