Reptile & Amphibian Forums

One of my bufo toads has gotten a lot skinnier and I never see it eat. I don't want to let it starve to death and I heard that people do forcefeed toads untill they eat on their own.

So how is it done? Is it done with canned catfood and a plastic syringe thing? How do you get the little toad to open it's mouth without hurting it?

I have gotten several animals through the rescue that are just down right emaciated (sp*). I have a few techniques for getting these guys to eat. I have a blender thats just for reptiles. I've had to blend up crickets, pinks, and even mice. (shudder). I have a tub of that calcium powder that you normally sprinkle on crickets and I also put a tad of baby rice. (its over by the baby food at the store, the cheap stuff is in a green box i believe, for like 2 bucks) thats the only thing i've found that will act as a slight 'filler' and its got some nutrition. they also have some kinds with apple and banana chunks in it. (i use those kinds for iguanas). after i've blened up a nice mixture, i spoon it into a syrenge and i just try to get the corner of thier mouth open and squirt a little in the side of their mouth. It doesn't sound like your little guy is in as bad of shape as i'm used to. you might try changing it up a bit. does he like fish? if you usually give him minnoes, try a rosey red, or the other way around. try a worm. I've found that when i try to give em something they dont get very often, thier appetite come roaring back, and usually includes my fingers. If he is pretty far gone (not moving around his cage, or 'talking') i'd do the blender thing. I got my blender from the trift store for 3 bucks. i also found a food processer for 8. i use both on a regular basis. If you dont use the calcium powder, id get some of that from you pet store, even the 'everything' stores carry it so its not hard to find. I dont ever follow the directions on the tub b/c its for 'healthy' animals. I put as much as i feel is needed. I have an iguana that i got at 3 ft with MBD, now she's still a little messed up. she cant use her back right leg or her front left leg. needless to say, she's up to 5 1/2 ft. in a cage with tons of floor space. I dont' think she'll last long, but thats what i was saying 6 months ago. I syrenge fed her for 5 months (blended carrots, potatoes, cabbage, and calcium powder, oh and baby rice with fruit). her first food was banana. anyway: as far as not wanting to hurt the froggie, i highly doubt you will. syrenges come in every size imaginable. depending on how big he is, if youre worried about hurting him, get a syrenge thats one size down from 'appropriate' for him. it'll take you longer to feed him but you shouldnt have to worry about hurting him. if you want to email me some pics of him, i can suggest a syrenge or maybe a different technique. (i have a zillion of them for every animal imaginable, including a 6 ft american alligator that weighted 45 lbs.) Its taken me 5 years to come up with all my little tricks but theres somethings that i dont think books can tell you.
Beth
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The rescue site: www.freewebs.com/okreptilerescue

Easy to force feed with a syringe, like the previous poster said. It is also possible to open the mouth with a coffee stirrer--I like the ones from McDonalds; they have a flat end that works just great to pry open the toad's mouth, and then you just stuff the cricket or pinkie or whatever in there. Close the mouth and press down on the eyes. This generates the swallowing reflex in the toad. Most of them will take the food at this point, but if they spit it out, just try again. Eventually they will stop fighting and take the food.
Just make sure you open the mouth gently, you don't want to use force or you can break the animal's jaw. Sometimes it helps to hold the toad, and sometimes it is better to let the toad stand on a surface while you stuff the food in--it will just depend on what this particular frog prefers.