Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i just recently found myself an american toad and brought it home to keep as a pet. i have had toads(and frogs) before, but i want to really set this one up right. do i need to buy a light for her? what should i use to line the bottom of her aquarium?right now i have some stones with sand over them and over the sand i have some fake moss stuff(she was found in a sandy area). how big of a water bowl should i have,and does the water need to be deep enough to cover her whole body? some people say mealworms are dangerous-any thoughts?

Here is a care sheet for ya. Should help a bit.
American toads are very easy to keep in an inexpensive setup.

http://www.acc50.attcanada.net/jinx/herps/bufoamericanuscare.htm

I have American Toads. Along with the article mentioned above, I've found that with trying different kinds of substrates...plain old topsoil works the best. While it might not look the most attractive it's a natural kind of thing that these toads like to burrow in.

Mealworms are not the most nutritious in the world, but they can be offered for variety. Give him as much variety as possible; this will help him get different vitamins and plus he won't get picky just wanting one thing. Gutload crickets also 24-48 hours before offering them to him. Crickets eat most anything and this is a good chance to give the toad good things in kind of a sneaky matter.

*rubs eyes* I really shouldn't reply to messages this late at night, I didn't realize the post just below listed the same link...
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Christina Miller
Herptiles.org

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1.0 Iguana iguana - Draco
1.0 Anolis carolinensis - Duke
0.1 Eublepharis macularis - Ocelot
1.0 Cosymbotus platyurus - Baron
1.0 Cynops orientalis - Hyper
1.0 Leiocephalus schreibersi - Turbo

This is a good care sheet but I would only chane one thing. For heating use light rather than the undertank heating pad. frogs and toads burrow in the soil to keep cool and the under tank hearter will make the substrate too warm for them. As it said, you can just use your basic old light bulb so you don't have to invest in anytihng fancy. I actually just have one of those "up lights" turned upside down on my Christmas toad tank and it works perfectly. Not to mention it was like $3 at Walmart LOL I already had it so I just gave it a try. With the AC on it helps cut the chill and keeps my Christmas toads at a perfect 74 daytime and around 70 evening when I turn the light off.
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Heather

I have a caresheet for this toad on my website... www.herptiles.org.
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Christina Miller
Herptiles.org

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1.0 Iguana iguana - Draco
1.0 Anolis carolinensis - Duke
0.1 Eublepharis macularis - Ocelot
1.0 Cosymbotus platyurus - Baron
1.0 Cynops orientalis - Hyper
1.0 Leiocephalus schreibersi - Turbo

Well, from what I've read from books and my personal experience with my baby California toad you need to get it water bowl that is deep enough for it to almost completely cover submerg itself. I keep mine in my room with the AC on at night and temperature drop to as low as 68 degree and I would find mine soaking in the lid of the container with water in it. They don't really care about the cool temperature that much and it doesn't seem to bother them, unlike the reptiles. Yesterday he went to the bathroom twice, one during the day and one at night when the AC was on...and I think he went again this morning because the water was very dirty and so I changed it. I feed mine everyday twice daily and he/she goes to the bathroom everyday. Like I said the cold doesn't bother them and they even soak in the water. They seem very alert and has huge appetite if there environment is moist and humid...at least that's how mine is and that's what the book said. She eats like there is no tomorrow. It seems that if I don't stop feeding her/him, she would just keep on eating. That's my $00.02.

You do not need special lighting for toads because they are nocturnal as with most amphibians because it is cooler at night...this helps them conserve water.

It is important that you clean the cage and chang the substrate often to avoid amonia and bacterial and fungus build up. Bacteria breed especially well in moist and humid evironment. Any fungus infection on the skin will kill your toads. A word of caution: Any skin infection on the amphibians is lethal. Change the water dish every time your toad deficate in it. If it went to the bathroom on the moist substrate you need to change the substrate immediately. Change the substrate and clean the cage every week...it works for me. Usually, they go into the water dish to do their business...at the very least mine does. Have fun herping dude!!!

I have been rehabilitating Am's for about 25 years (no, I'm not that old, I just started VERY young). In my rehab tanks, what I've found works best is the same soil that dear ol' toad was living in when you found him, thats right "Yard Dirt". It's easy to refresh, readily excessable, and the price is spot-on (FREEBIE). As far as heat goes, it seems like Toados Americanos likes things on the cool side (65-75 degrees). There is a growing colony of them here ("I am the TOAD-KING, I feed everything!) and I've seen them begging for food on my patio when it's as cold as 50 degrees. I keep my house relatively warm so I don't use any heat source at all. I put about 4" of good ol' "Yard Dirt" in the bottom of the enclosure, along with some dried leaves and a big peice of bark. For water, I mist the cage at night when Toadasaurus is on the rampage (feedin' time). These critters don't need much water. I mist just enough to get said citter wet and keep his substrate damp. If you mist them too much they will let you know by giving you a dirty look from beneath their piece of bark. I have brought many of these little crusty varmints back from the brink in these little hospitals. They seem to respond well to ugliness, just keep it clean (Hah! clean dirt!) and change his "Yard Dirt" every now and then. I even dig up a little sod complete with grass to pretty it up a bit, but they don't seem to care (ingrates). Good luck with your toad. If you love him, he will love you right back(Toads show their love by peeing on you).
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How to get your wife to like toads; 1.Get a male toad. 2.Get him to hug your wifes wrist (amplexus). 3. Tickle him so he chirps in protest. 4.Say "Awww, he likes you". Note; Make sure he pees first or you may receive bodily harm during this procedure.

Mealworms can chew on animals in vivariums if not consumed quickly. You say this animal was found in a sandy area? That would lead me to question the ID. Fowler's toads are commonly found in sandy substrates near marshes, rivers etc. If you're sure its an American toad, still doesn't mean it needs a sandy substrate. Animal may have been passing through when you located it. I would chose a substrate that retained more moisture.