Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My kids bought 2 toads w/ no idea of how to care for them. Right now they are in small critter keeper... I'll be dealing with that soon...

We have a California Newt that we've had for years. He eats the occasional cricket and "newt pellets". I don't want to upset his world so I doubt I'll move the toads in with him...

I called the pet store and they told me to "treat the toads like newts". I doubt that this is sage advice.

So, my questions are:
1. Will these guys eat pellets? How often should they be fed? (They haven't eaten yet...)
2. Right now, their space is cramped... When I move them, how deep should their water be?
3. Do they need a heat source?

Any other basic info would be appreciated!
Thanks! Michele

>>So, my questions are:
>>1. Will these guys eat pellets? How often should they be fed? (They haven't eaten yet...)
>>2. Right now, their space is cramped... When I move them, how deep should their water be?
>>3. Do they need a heat source?
>>
>>Any other basic info would be appreciated!
>>Thanks! Michele

Michele,

It all depends. What type of toads did your kids buy?

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Corvus

They bought fire-bellied toads. I moved the toads to a bigger critter keeper last evening and we fed them some crickets. The toads gobbled up 2 each.
When I dumped the water to move them, the ammonia smell was strong (after only 2 days). I think I need to get a filter for the new tank. What kind should I buy?

Thanks for any help you can give.
Michele

There are filters that you can buy that just sit in the bottom of your tank. They aren't like the filters people use for their fish, because they don't have that long plastic tube attached to it to suck up the water.
These filters that sit at the bottom can be hidden away as well so that you can't see them.
I am not sure of the brand name, or what they are called, but I'm sure that if you go to your local pet store and ask someone about it, they can help you!

Tanzee

You can make the setup as elaborate as you want, but I would question how much expendature you really want to make for a pair of $4 toads. If you provide them with a larger water area, it will stagnate less quickly. Another option is to giver them a tank with about 3/4 water/land and put a small submersible pump ($10) in the water section and maybe some aquatic plants to help with biological filtration. Snails might also help with removing detritus, but you would run the risk of the frogs swallowing one, and possibly dying of intestinal blockage.

My two firebellies live in a 5 gallon tank together.. and the bottom is gravle with lots of larger rocks and plants. places for them to hide and sit on. the whole tank is prodomatly water and i dug out a deaper end so they can swim. I use a Whisper 2-5 filter for the water. it works well. it's tall and barely sits in the water.. it sucks the water through it and pours it back out the top. the toads like to hide next to it often.
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2 firebelly toads (Ernie and Oscar)
1 american green tree frog (Booger)
1 Pacman frog (Atari)