Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Our 3-year old Dwarf American Toad has been kept at room temp (which during the winter is cold where we live...around 64 degrees) in a round glass aquarium, with a small under-tank heating pad in one area, and a 25 watt bulb suspended above. The toad usually sits in her water dish. Today the toad seemed on the verge of lifelessness...warmed it up in our hands and it at least started moving. After putting it back in the habitat, it started burrowing down into the substrate. It looks "under the weather" - not very active.

Should we brumate the toad - putting it in the unheated basement? It ate a couple of days ago, and someone at a local pet store said you should wait 1 week after feeding before brumating, due to problems caused by undigested food. Or raise the temp and go onward.

The question is should be just warm up the habitat and go one with the usual setup? Any idea what the best temp is for this variety of toad? If we brumate, how long should the "nap" be??

Any advice or experience you could share would be greatly appreciated...including how much/how often to feed this a Dwarf American Toad that seemed to be developing a weight problem (!)

Thanks.

Dwarf American Toad...now in the basement in damp spagnum moss since the little b.a. charlesmithi seemed to be declining, kept digging down into the substrate, & seemed to indicate a need to hibernate. The big concern is what we'll find when it's over. Any counsel? Keep the moss moist, ideal temps, maybe try it for a month, etc??

Sorry about the bad link in the prior message...hope it works this time.