Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I work at a pet store and have plenty of frogs/toads I can use. 2 tomato frogs, 4 red eyed tree frogs, 5 fire belly toads, and 2 pacman frogs. But how the heck do I scent a pinky with toad?

I know they kinda pee on you if you pick them up. Would that juice be sufficient to scent a pinky with? I could put some of that pretty easily into a plastic bag, and dunk the warmed pinky in it. Suggestion?

>>I work at a pet store and have plenty of frogs/toads I can use. 2 tomato frogs, 4 red eyed tree frogs, 5 fire belly toads, and 2 pacman frogs. But how the heck do I scent a pinky with toad?
>>
>>I know they kinda pee on you if you pick them up. Would that juice be sufficient to scent a pinky with? I could put some of that pretty easily into a plastic bag, and dunk the warmed pinky in it. Suggestion?

First off, one has to ask what exactly it is you are wanting/needing to feed a scented pinky to. I assume it is a hognose of course, but is it a Western, Eastern, Southern, Mexican or South American?

Second, why are you wanting/needing to scent a pinky? Is said animal not eating at all? Is this an adult, a yearling, a hatchling? I assume it's of a small size considering you are asking about pinkies, but some pinkies can be big whereas some adult male hognose can be on the small side, so it's always worthy of mentioning.

Third, not every frog or toad is worthy of scenting. Every species and subspecies of really any animal can and will emit a scent unique to it's species. There are also frogs/toads that might be local to the specific hognose you are referring to that still might not be appetizing. So again, it's imperative that we know what species of hognose you are referring to.

It is my understanding that most of the frogs and toads available at pet stores are not recommended or usable towards getting a hognose to eat a scented rodent. Although I have not tried this on my own and documentation is rather scant, several people have told me that some frogs and toads might even be harmful for a hognose to ingest. One toad most often mentioned that might be harmful is the Marine Toad (Bufo Marinus). What I do know is that Woodhouse toads and Spadefoot frogs are typically accepted and are North American native species. I'm sure there are plenty of other species that are readily taken as well but I do not know what particular species those are.

To the topic of actual scenting, there are a few schools of thought on the matter. I have heard that the urine of the frog/toad can be used as a scenting method. Another is rubbing the pinky on the parotoid glands of the frog/toad until a secretion is obtained. Some have even suggested holding a frog/toad just within smelling distance of a hognose and when it opens it's mouth to take a bite, shove the pinky in it's mouth.

Of course there are also other scenting methods such as using tuna and/or chicken. But to be honest, I have had no luck in any of my stubborn eaters taking anything scented, whether I've rubbed my Woodhouse toad to kingdom come or used tuna water or all the grisly things you can do to a pinky such as braining and dismemberment. Perhaps my approach is wrong or whatever, but I've always ultimately had to force feed my stubborn eaters until they eventually take food on their own.

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Troy Rexroth
Rextiles

Thank you so much for telling me so much, I really appreciate it!

It's a 6 month old Western Hognose female. She hasn't eatten for me in almost two months. I'm going to go ahead and try with tuna water tonight and see how that goes.

I've had great luck w/ruby red minnows! I buy 2-3 from my local petstore, freeze them, then scrape frozen minnow on the pinky! The other method I've heard but haven't tried, is take their water out overnight! The next day, dip the pinky's head in water so a drop of water hangs from it's head! Offer it to the hog, when it goes to drink the water, it naturally will continue on to the head of the pinky! Good luck!

I use a switch method. Either I pinch both a small american toad (live/dead/or in parts) and a pinky mouse with feeding tongs, then kind of jig them around the cage, then when the snake chases it (usually with its mouth open) I turn the tongs so that it actually grabs the pinky mouse instead of the toad.

Sometimes you can get them chasing a toad so aggressively that you can actually put the toad down, then pick up the pinky mouse, and they chase and eat the pinky mouse.

FYI I would never scent a pinky mouse with an amphibian that is non-native to a hognose snake's natural environment, such as firebelly toads.

Adam

I have yet to have to scent a mouse. There are a few caresheet tips, if you google 'scenting feeder mice' im sure you would come up with a few suggestions.

I do have 1 clutch incubating and 3 more on the way though, so Im sure before long here I will have plenty of experience. lol

on the hognose.com caresheet
"WARNING: only American bufonids should be used; other frogs and toads (such as firebelly toads and dendrobatid frogs) may cause death or injury."

Yikes good to know, thanks. I'm going to try scenting them with tuna first, then.

Tuna usually works, if that fails, salmon (canned or fresh) has always worked for me. I've had a few in the past actually take pieces of salmon from forceps. Good Luck.