Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have three American Toads. Wild caught. (obvious from title, but anyhow) and they are sick,or something is really wrong!
They wont eat. and they used to be very voracious eaters and would gobble up meal worms like they were candy. I just recently changed the brand of peatmoss in their terrarium and noticed that their hands and bellies are a bit red and swollen. they are also shedding like nobody's business! They've all shed about three times last month. So i'm wondering if the peat moss is chemically treated (which it says it isnt) or if there are parisites. or if its just too wet. because i read recently that if the substrate is too wet it can cause some problems. I'm basically looking for other suggestions. I'm definitely going to change back to my old brand of peat moss with wich i havent had any problems with. So if anyone knows anything more about reasons why my toads hands and feet are red and swollen and why they shed constantly and wont eat...well tell me please!

(to those who worry that I'm an amature, and that i dont know what i'm doing...i've had these toads now for quite some time. they're not starving, its been only four days since they havent eaten, and they still sing at night, so i know that this isnt a cause for major concern. please, i dont want to be bombarded with "you're a bad pet owner" comments)

I might be wrong but arn't you not suppose to feed meal worms to frogs because they can't chew them. in result the mealworms don't die. Then the meal worms eat the insides of the frog

I've been feeding them meal worms for almost a year now, and i havent had any problems at all. That, and I dont think they will eat crickets....its winter here too so i cant get wild bugs. I have plenty of crickets and meal worms, but the problem is getting them to eat...well the little guy anyhow.
I've heard of that before though, the mealworm eating insides story.
*sigh*
The two bigger frogs seem to have gotten a bit better since i put in the old brand of peatmoss.

Are you catching the insects anywhere near where pesticides are at? The insects could of traveled throguh someones yard that had pesticides. It sound like the frogs may have red leg disease. How often is there water dish and tank cleaned?