Reptile & Amphibian Forums

One of our nicely green FBT's is turning a dark brown/black color. Is this normal? What is it doing? Anyone know? We have not done well with these guys. Between one dying and then another escaping, which I still havn't foung the body, I would hate to see this one go too. They have clean dechlorinated water and are ready to be fed again today. Everything seems normal otherwise.

Alicia

How old is your FBT, what does the diet consist of, and how did the other one die? Don't be discouraged, they really are very hardy and easy. I had them as a kid with no knowlegde of care yet I had many clutches from them.

I have no idea as to how old they are. Pet store special. Well the one that died I think died because my intelligent neighbor and his roomate found a cave salamader and thought that they could all live in harmony. Needless to say they were wrong. This one was the lone survivor out of that mess. I quickly got rid of the Salamander and removed the dead body. I scrubbed out the tank and rocks. This toad that I still have started to turn colors that day. I put her in a platic tub with clean water and she turned green again stayed that way for a couple of weeks and now is doing it again. Also, one of the 2 is regurgatating their crickets. I guess that answers the next question. They are eating crickets about 2-3 times a week. I Gut Load the crickets after the first feeding. The pet store where I get them already feeds them GutLoad. In the end I would like to have eggs and tads and toadlets. Any other suggestions?

Well, I am no expert but a lot has been said about Stress and color. Stress can happen from diet, or having lived with a Salamander. From your comments I take it you are deducing that the death was caused by the Salamander due to some transferrence of parasites or stress and maybe not injuries? How long had you had the Toads before death occured? It maybe that if you had them for a short time, and then the salamander was introduced that they were already ill at the pet store and the salamander just made the stress level worse bringing on death sooner. There has been so much said about not mixing due to stress or parasitic transferrence, but let me tell you this as a person that agrees with not mixing-when I raised 700 FBTs from eggs as a kid and knew nothing, I had the parents and an anole, a Red Eye Tree Frog, some crabs, some fish altogether in one tank! I'd never in a million years do that now, but that is just an idea of how hardy they are when they are healthy. Just don't add anymore to the tank for 3 months-essentially quarrentine this guy. Keep giving vitamin covered or loaded food. And Paprika is supposed to help with the yellow/red colors. When you are ready, post again or write to me, I'll share excerpts from the journal I kept the summer I had 700 FBTs.

my FBTs change color occassionally as well, from bright green to green-brown...i'm beginning to think that it has to do with the amount of time they spend in the water or shedding...i could be making that up though, but mine are healthy and active no matter their color...