Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi. It's me again.

I had thought that I needed to feed my babies ASAP, since I had heard from a so-called frog expert that toads will eat even though they are still absorbing their tails.

Most of mine just have stumps of their tails so I figured that they would be hungry.

So, I dumped in a handful of fruit flies last night and from what I can tell, no one ate any. I even saw a couple times where a fly crawled on the head of the toad and the toad just swiped it away from it.

The "frog-expert" said to feed about 10 flies per toad. I thought that this was a lot, but I did what he said.

Is it possible that they did eat some and I just can't tell because they only ate a few?

I was going to feed them until they were a little less than an inch or so long and then release them back where I got them. For how long do I keep trying to feed them? When do I say, enough is enough, and take them back to make sure that they don't starve in my care? Should I take them back today? In a week?

Please help me help these guys.

-----
alstiver@hotmail.com

1.0 '01 hypo snow cornsnake
0.1 '02 ghost (pastel) cornsnake
1.1 '02 bloodred cornsnakes
0.0.18 '03 American toads

.

-----
alstiver@hotmail.com

1.0 '01 hypo snow cornsnake
0.1 '02 ghost (pastel) cornsnake
1.1 '02 bloodred cornsnakes
0.0.18 '03 American toads

I would suggest give it a few more days. New babies can probably last at least a few days before starving.

Mine appear to be eating. I have about 20 American toads(rescued from our neighborhood swimming pool right before they clear the pool for the summer season) just like your picture. Last night I dropped in about 30 flies. An hour later, there were maybe only half that number left. I have witnessed one successful catch, a few near misses. But they are definitely paying attention to the flies and attempting to catch them. The flies are pretty "smart." They seem to sense when a toad is watching them. They immobolize so that the toad cannot see them (toads can only see movement) or hop away. It appears to me that my baby toads are practising their hunting skills. Hope they get better.

Mine loved their termites. The reason why yours aren't eating, is because their tail is providing them with "food" until it is completely absorbed. Tey should love fruit flies, they just looking for anything moving.
-----

P. sauvagei
derekb15.tripod.com/tropicaltreasures

Like maybe put a piece of banana on the ground? Do you think that would work?

Most of the flies I put in yesterday are at the top of the cage. And while I know that some of the toads have climbed the wall too, I doubt it would be easy to hunt them up there.

Also, do you know if they flick their tounges out like frogs do to catch their food, or do they just lean down and grab them with their mouths?
-----
alstiver@hotmail.com

1.0 '01 hypo snow cornsnake
0.1 '02 ghost (pastel) cornsnake
1.1 '02 bloodred cornsnakes
0.0.18 '03 American toads

Their tongues come out a little ways. Mine do to get termites.
-----

P. sauvagei
derekb15.tripod.com/tropicaltreasures

When my Leopard frogs morphed and hopped up onto land it took nearly 2 weeks before they would eat. Don't worry about it and give them more time. They won't eat anything for *at least* after those tails are completely absorbed.

-----
Heather

Most toads don't feed while they are reabsorbing their tails. You could have some small terrestrial food available, but not so much that it bothers them, and NOT crickets which will munch on them.
I used to add a small piece of fruit to encourage the Drosophila down to the ground, but I don't bother any more. The toadlets manage to catch them when they wander down.