Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Most everyone talks about their toads burying themselves so I'm starting to wonder if I've got a problem with my toads. They never bury themselves except when hibernating for the winter. Even then, some remain half buried, and one stayed on the surface one winter. Do you think there is a problem since my toads don't bury themselves? I've always thought they just feel safe enough not to bury themselves or just thought this is how they prefered to sleep. The only one of my toads that burys itself much more frequently is one that was captured in the wild as a toadlet. Anyway, I was quite happy to get a picture of this finally. I just want to know if my toads are unusual for sleeping this way.

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-Laurah

Your substrate may be too firm. It may be too much work for them to bury themselves every day, so they figure "screw it". Even my tadpole raised toads bury themselves every day. I keep them in pretty loose "Yard Dirt" (see my post on keeping Am's)with a few large dead leaves and pieces of bark. They usually don't bury themselves completely, they are usually half buried under a leaf or bark. Most of the time I see them peering out from beneath the shelter, like they are waiting to ambush something. They seem pretty happy this way. Even the wild ones in the infirmary tank will greet me as I walk in the room by approaching the glass at feeding time after only a few days. They like to have something they can crawl under and at least make a shallow pallet to sleep in. I've seen some of them use the same pallet every day without digging as long as it was deep enough,fit their bodies close enough, and had a low enough piece of cover. One of my toads backs herself into the same depression, under the same piece of bark every day. She seems to do this very carefully so she doesn't disturb the size and shape of the hole. When I change her "yard dirt", I always put the bark back in the same place and the first thing she does when I put her back in her home is re-excavate her little house, exactly the way it was before.
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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.

You make a good point about the substrate being too firm, but even when I put new dirt in and it was loose they still slept on top of it. And I actually have several small cave-like structures that they could crawl under but they don't. They very rarely ever go in these 'caves'. Some do sleep under the large plants. They do make holes in the moss from time to time but the moss would be(I'd think)harder to dig into. I've got two large stumps with some of the roots which form holes that they can easily access. I'm thinking it may be about warmth- most of them gather where the light usually shines. Half my cage is electrically lighted during the day with the other half just lit by the sun's natural rays (which in a basement room with two half windows isn't much light, especially if I want the plants to grow) They even like to climb on top of the stumps and sleep up there.. sometimes there might be two or three of my toads sleeping togther side by side on top of it. The temp never goes below 65 at any time during non-hibernating periods. Usually its in the mid to high 70's. Its about 40 degrees F in the winter down there at lowest temp. Another thing I think it might be is wetness, though I keep one side of the cage less watered in case they prefer a dryer climate. They really seem unafraid of anything.. even the small mole that got in the cage! It was hiding from the toads which were taking their time snapping their tongues at its sniffing nose poking out from its hole!! I don't know how or why a mole made its way into our home let alone the cage, but I guess if mice can get in the house then so can moles! I should have video taped that because it was hilarious yet I was too concerned it might bite the toads and rushed to get it out. Thanks for responding! (-:
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-Laurah

If the substrate is significantly too moist (or otherwise non apt), toads do not bury themselves...just an idea

Oh yea, I forgot about that. When I mist their cages, they usually seek out the driest place to make their pallets. As I mentioned in my response to "American toads as pets", they usually seem kinda cranky if I over-mist their homes. I have a large female that we rehabilitated about 2 years ago that lives in my garage. I adjusted the door so that it doesn't go all the way down so she can come and go as she pleases. By day, I can always find her in the driest corner (the same one every day) sometimes all tucked up like the one in your picture. I'll try to post a picture the next time I see her sleeping like that. Usually she is sitting up when I see her. I think the sound of the door wakes her up. I toss her a june bug or a cricket now and then so I think she associates the sound with snack time.
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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.