Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We found 2 American Toads in our yard. Can you keep them as pets or will they die in captivaty. I think they are husband and wife. One is small and keeps trying to get on the back of the larger on(I think the big on is the girl). We have them in a 5 gal tank with cypress mulch and a rock with moss on it that we found. There is also a water bowl one big enough for them to both fit in but shallow so they won't drown. They have made themselves seperate little cubby holes that they stay in most the time. I bought some crickets and they just jumped all over catching them. I will let them go though if they will die. Please respond back. Thank you

American toads make great pet amphibians. They aren't your traditional pet that you can hold or play with, but they are fun to keep nevertheless. Toads don't get married, this time of year they will mate with any toad that comes their way. It sounds like you removed a male and a female that were in the process of mating. Rather than keep those two, consider releasing them exactly where you found them and waiting a month or two to remove some juvenile toads instead. Care information can be viewed at http://www.amphibiancare.com/frogs/caresheets/americantoad.html Good luck,
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Devin Edmonds
devin@amphibiancare.com
www.amphibiancare.com

Yes they can make great pets... They are interesting toads and they are fairly hardly I believe... At least, the one I caught as a child did great in captivity even though I really didn't know what I was doing in terms of environment for him... Actually my american toad was one of my favorite childhood pets.
Have fun!