Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi: I usually am on the PDF forum, but today and from here on you'll hear from me. My son got a trio of WC Pampas Toads 2.1 and we have very little info on them. Could someone enlighten us on them. We got them from Reptile Depot and the man said they should not get any bigger(they are thumbnail size)and today they all seem active and eating well. Does anyone know:

1. what is the smallest size tank to place them in. Would a 5 gal. be too small for the trio?

2. what is the best set up for them?Plants, temp, water souce, humidity.

3. what is their breeding like in captivity, and how do I set up for it and encourage it?

Thanks! What is their scientific name?

Maggie

1. what is the smallest size tank to place them in. Would a 5 gal. be too small for the trio?

2. what is the best set up for them?Plants, temp, water souce, humidity.

3. what is their breeding like in captivity, and how do I set up for it and encourage it?

Thanks! What is their scientific name?

Please do research on a species before you buy it next time. A 5 gallon is too small for a trio. 5 gallons per toad is good, so a 15 gallon. For all the other information that you should have found out a week or so ago, go to Devin';s page, link below. Scientific name: Melanophryniscus stelzneri.
Devin's Amphibian Care

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P. sauvagei
derekb15.tripod.com/tropicaltreasures

Wow, I went to Devin's page just out of curiosity and was amazed. Looks like you got your hands full - and the breeding, wow again! They sound like fun to keep, but I'm still in the beginner fire belly stage. Good luck with your toads.

I appreciate the feedack, and yeah, I agree-it was an impulse buy that I would have advised another in my place to do otherwise. When leaving the reptile show, I knew I'd get into some trouble and being a mostly responsible person, I don't blame any scolding I might get. However, I know I must learn about them now that the transgression is done, and I thank you for pointing me in the right direction. My next thought is, though, already I have gotten 3 opposing/different views on space requirement. Devin's care page says 2.5 gal/frog and no tank smaller then 5 gal. Your feelings are that no tank smaller then 15 should be used for the trio(more like a larger frog's requirement). The guy who sold them to me said: no tank smaller then 10 gal and alot 1 gal/frog. Correct me please if I am wrong in saying that we have some subjectivity going on because the hardiness the toads are charactorized by have produced a number of different opinions as all have succeeded in the different set ups or do you have a different view on why there are so many different views? Thank you.

First off, don't listen to reptile depot guys, they are like any other pet store employee, cluless imo. I think that 2.5-5 sounds right, but more the better. That's all.
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P. sauvagei
derekb15.tripod.com/tropicaltreasures

Hi,

Those care sheets actually weren't written by me. They were written by others who have more experience than I do with those toads. Personally I feel that 2.5 gallons of space per toad would be over crowding, 3 in a 10 gallon aquarium would be a maximum number of toads and a 15 gallon aquarium would be better. Keeping the toads in over crowded conditions would stress them and large amounts of stress often lead to other problems, especially with wild caught amphibians. Good luck with them! They are really cute toads,

Devin
www.amphibiancare.com

Hi:

I am one of the contributors to the care sheets on Devin's site about these toads. I intend to provide better information on what I have learned since then.

I think the information provided should answer most of your questions and I agree that more space would be better.

Concerning breeding -- Today I found tadpoles! What is surprising is that I did not try Seth's breeding method. I did not try any method at all. Seth provided me with some males and nature took its course!

Good luck and don't panic. They are very hardy, and would probably do in the smaller tank. However, they will be happier and more active with some more room and the conditions described by Seth in his care sheet on Devin's site.

Chris D.

Thank you all for the additional comments. It clarified more for me the different info I was getting. I realize the decrepency in info is bound to happen as we are all just "playing" GOd when keeping these beautiful creatures that we have still so much to learn about! I do notice as one has suggested that less space does seem to cause less activity. I will attempt to better their space requirements soon. They are very cute toads and have been good for my son. He wakes up every morning(when prior attempts at helping him to get up himself have failed and was not for lack of good trys on my part)to turn the tank light on because he feels responsible to "wake up the sun for them". Perhaps this weekend at Frog day, I will get to learn more from qualified sources such as you all to aid me in providing a better set up for them. I appreciate the good start you all gave to me. Now one of you has found eggs! Tell me how that happened-Please!!!