Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

I have been told from many people to house my 5" Cane Toad in a cage that has bark for the substrate. Then I have been told to house it with newspaper substrate. And finally, I have been told to house it in a 75% water 25% gravel tank. I have personally seen large Cane Toads live in all these setups. So what is the "right" setup?

100% Bark mulch with a water dish?
100% newspaper with a water dish?
75% water 6 inches high with a 25% "non-water" area above all made out of gravel and structures?

Any help would be appreciated as I just want to have the right setting for it.

Oh yeah, and also, should the pads of the frog (including their front digits) be red ont he underside? Almost like blood red while the rest of it's body is brown/white? Thanks

Steve

Anybody who tells you that Cane toads should be kept in an aquatic set up, knows absolutely nothing about them (it is practically a throwback to the days of Carl Linnaeus, when he thought cane toads were seagoing, and gave them their scientific name Bufo marinus). Newspaper is never inappropriate set up for cane toads or any amphibian, because when it gets wet the ink is liberated and can easily be absorbed by the frog. This can happen even if the newspaper is dry!

I keep cane toads in 100 percent coconut fiber and a water dish, although I'd imagine that a little bit of cypress mulch would be appreciated by them. They basically need something that is compatible with amphibians, and something that they can burrow around in.

I commonly see frogs and toads with the palms of their feet a reddish color, this is quite normal. Although if the animal is kept in a completely inappropriate set up, it may be a sign of severe irritation.
-----
...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)

Ok, great, thanks for responding. I am so happy to have some more input. In the time I was hoping for a response, I took a 20GAL long, split in in 1/2 with a 6 inch ornamental wall divider, siliconed it, and plan on giving the 1/2 of the cage (10 gal)bark 6 inches deep to burrow, and the other 1/2 (10 gal) water 6 inches deep. Filtering with a submersible pump and using that side of the tank as a makeshift "water bowl."

Do you think that is acceptable? If not, let me know, I can always use the cage for something else.

Thanks again for your response and it is quite funny the "Marinus" term laid upon this toad.

Steve

I am not sure a 20 gallon will be appropriate, especially if it is female and is going to hit 9 or 10 inches.
-----
Andy Maddox
AIM: SurfAndSkimTx04
MSN: Poloboy32486@hotmail.com
Yahoo:surfandskimtx04
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