Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am looking for a fair supplier that is likely to have a real big American Bullfrog, Cane Toad, or anything you guys might recommend for school assemblies that would be a good representative of frogs and toads. I am digging a pond in my back yard next spring, so a native Bullfrog might fit the ticket. I can catch all that I want next summer, but I need something right now. Any leads are appreciated.

Frank

noahsarkwildlife@hotmail.com

Where I work, we use both species and I would recommend cane toads because of their adaptations for an independence from water. Cane toads simply are more likely to deal favorably with the stresses of transportation, handling, and exhibiting. I also think that people or far more interested in a toad that is 25 times the size of any toads they have ever seen. Most everybody has seen a bullfrog. Both of them have a huge conservation component to their natural history, where they have been introduced into foreign habitats and are responsible for the decimation of numerous species abroad multiple taxa. For that reason, I would not recommend buying a bullfrog and then letting it go in any pond other than where it came from. It does not matter if the species is native to your area, the localized genes that will come from the bullfrog you buy will not be native. The cane toads can be purchased from Glades herps in Florida (gherps.com), where they are also introduced. In fact, you're probably due in the people of Florida a favor by buying them!
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...the oldest task in human history: to live on a piece of land without spoiling it."
Aldo Leopold (1938)

"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us."
Calvin and Hobbes (Scientific Progress Goes 'Boink', 1991)

As well, many bullfrogs have some degree of wariness that will never pass. Cane toads are normally a little more lax in their demeanor, and especially if you are going to have kids running around and wanting to pet the "frog" and continually supervise every minute move the animal makes, a cane toad would probably be better adapted to take the stress, in comparison with a bullfrog at least. Of course, some bullfrogs could probably be "tamed down" but without a lot of work and a lot of time, Bufo marinus would certainly be the better bet IMO. Andy
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Andy Maddox
AIM: SurfAndSkimTx04
MSN: Poloboy32486@hotmail.com
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

Burgundy baby, With your blue eyed soul, You play the hits and I'm on that roll, Capricorn sister, Freddie Mercury, Jupiter Child cry

Have you guys seen the Cane Toad docu/Mocku-mentary about tgeir introduction to Australia? It is hilarious. I showed it to my high school students and they still sing the "Cane Toads Are Coming" song almost four months later (that is about 10 years in teenager attention span time).
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Stacey

LOL

I've seen that! Back in middle or high school I dun remember. Like more than 5 years ago but yea, the theme song is corny as hell but REALLY catchy. They show the toads in every way possible, from eggs to toadlets to getting smashed by cars, to eating mice, ping pong balls....to people smoking them. It's awesome..hahhaah.

ARe they STIll such a nuisance in Austrailia?

"Cannnne toooaaads...when ya gonna leave me along??"

-Johnny

I'll have you know that I have a rather long attention span. Andy
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Andy Maddox
AIM: SurfAndSkimTx04
MSN: Poloboy32486@hotmail.com
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

Burgundy baby, With your blue eyed soul, You play the hits and I'm on that roll, Capricorn sister, Freddie Mercury, Jupiter Child cry

Must be the "mean old teacher" in me coming out! I never thought I'd feel so old at 34 !!Of course I teach 15 year old "At Risk" kids so they are a little different in the attention span category!

My humble apologies Andy!
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Stacey

No worries! I was just kidding around anyway. Most of my friends are ADD and nothing can hold their attention, so I know exactly where you are coming from. Try fishing with ADD kids...you won't catch anything because as soon as the lines are out and waiting, they start throwing rocks into the area where your lines are. Amazes me because they then complain about the lack of fish we are catching.
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Andy Maddox
AIM: SurfAndSkimTx04
MSN: Poloboy32486@hotmail.com
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

Burgundy baby, With your blue eyed soul, You play the hits and I'm on that roll, Capricorn sister, Freddie Mercury, Jupiter Child cry

Hey,

Just wondering..how much irritation does it take to get a cane toad to spew its poison? I've seen people manhandle them roughly before and they seem ok with it...but I would guess constant scratching with fingernails would bring it out...and don't they have one of the more powerful toxins (able to kill dogs, venomous snakes, be smoked...)? Obviously all pets may retaliate if pushed too far, but I'm just asking about these toads...

Johnny

Thanks guys for your recommendations. I tried several suppliers, ie. Glades for one, and they are out of canes right now. They said they rarely get the big ones and its kind of sporadic rather than seasonal. I'll not have any big toads/frogs for 3 assemblies next week, unfortuneately, so I'll just keep my eyes open for one in the future.

As to leading me away from bullfrogs, or from releasing one later, I agree whole-heartedly after stopping to think about it. It would be aweful stressful on one. I'll take your advice and go w/a cane when I can find a big female. Only problem is that teachers tell me that kids today have changed quite a lot from when we were in school, so I guess I got to watch that they don't try to lick 'em. hehe

Rococco toads are just as large as canes. There are quite a few on the ks.com amphibian classifieds right now. Good luck. Andy
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Andy Maddox
AIM: SurfAndSkimTx04
MSN: Poloboy32486@hotmail.com
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

Burgundy baby, With your blue eyed soul, You play the hits and I'm on that roll, Capricorn sister, Freddie Mercury, Jupiter Child cry

I have Marine toads in my area, although they're all sound asleep and buried for the winter. I sometimes get large ones and I can send you one (or more) if you're still interested when they come out again for the cost of shipping. I sent some to Ohio a few months ago, to Lonny who posts on the toad forums, and I think it was around $25 for three. Just let me know, as Colchicine mentioned, they're pests here in Florida.
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Got hips like Cinderella / Must be having a good shame / Talking sweet about nothing / Cookie I think you're Tame