Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Does anyone have any suggestions about training toads (Bufo), mainly to eat from the hand, but I'd be interested in stories of any learned behavior.

I trained(accidently,that is)my Darts to position themselves for feeding. I would go through a ritual of tapping on ff containers to get the ff down to the bottom before opening the top. Just after 2-3 days of doing this, the frogs came to my designated feeding site by the que of the tapping noise everytime. Now when they see me come to the room, they automatically come to the "spot" and wait there whether I mean to feed them or not. Its made watching them very easy and enjoyable.

You simply have to be patient. The frog must be fully acclimated to captivity and the presence of a large predator (you) around them.

There are some things you can do to help along the process. Try to minimize your disturbance when you go to access the tank. Do not bump the tank as they are very sensitive to vibrations. It helps to take the lid off very slowly. Avoid getting your face too close to the toad, you're enormous eyes is enough to frighten it. Also use a small pair of hemostats to distance yourself from the food. It also helps to feed during their normal activity, preferably at dusk.

>>Does anyone have any suggestions about training toads (Bufo), mainly to eat from the hand, but I'd be interested in stories of any learned behavior.
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*Humans aren't the only species on earth... we just act like it.

".the oldest task in human history: to live on a piece of land without
spoiling it."
Aldo Leopold (1938)

I don't know if this counts, because this toad is a wild toad.

There's a Gulf Coast Toad (Bufo valliceps valliceps)(that I named Ted) that sits outside my back window every night. I've been having to pick him up when I let the dachshund out so that the dog won't hurt Ted and so Ted won't burn my dog's mouth again.

For several nights on end the toad peed on me and struggled and I had to be very careful with him and then the past two nights he's calmed down quite a bit. He still hops around like usual so I don't think he'sick or anything, but he's much calmer when I pick him up as if he's learned that I'm not going to eat him.

I wish I could keep him for a pet but I know he's happier being wild.

I have a large female american toad that likes to site on my lap and be petted while watching David Letterman. I also have a male that likes to be my ventriloquist. I hold him in my hand so he is sitting up, kind of on his back, and he will just sit there and squeek his head off.
Just a lttle patience and practice.