Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

I have 2 American toads, currently living in a small plastic cage...I bought them a bigger one and added a small pond at the end using a piece of plexglas stuck in at an angle, then sealed in place. My question is whether or not the liquid (silicone) gasket and the contact cement I used will be dangerous at all to the toads...I'm pretty sure the gasket was completely set before I added water, but I'm not sure about the cement (there was no specific set time on the package). I haven't introduced my toads yet to their new abode because I wanted to make sure it would be safe for them. I'm considering sticking a few ghost shrimp in the water to see if they survive (because of how susceptible they are to chemicals in the water). Anyone have any thoughts?

Silicone is generally safe for amphibians and other sensitive animals as long as it is completely cured. As long as it does not have any other chemicals such as anti-fungal or coloring, 100% silicone is fine. I'm not sure why you had to use contact cement, and I am unsure of its effect on amphibians. It is safe to assume it is toxic on some level, and if there is any way to remove it and replace it with silicone, that is what I would recommend.

Generally, toads do not need a pond feature, a simple water dish that is cleaned out every day would be better since it would be more sanitary.
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"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully."
Governor George W. Bush, Jr.

"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)

Thanks for the advice, I'll try to remove the cement. I actually used that to glue part of a filter in place. I know toads generally don't swim around or anything but I have one toad in particular who sits in his current dish all day and tries to submerge himself to no avail (i.e. he's too fat). It's not really a "pond" per se in the new tank, it's just a little declevity with rocks and some java moss (so it's not deep enough for them to drown or get stuck).