Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have two toads in the same 15gallon tank. But they are quite obviously two different species. They seem to get along just fine, I've had them about 3-4 months. Is there any danger in this? and what does it mean when they sit on each others backs?

don't do it. if they breed you will have created hybrids-bad. just take my word for it.
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A room of herps.
www.freewebs.com/kapoktree

If they're all bufos and a similar size there should be no problem if you have no option but to keep them together. As for "hybrids bad" ignore that advise , hybrid toads occur naturally . Nothing is intrinsically bad. Remember; the definition of a species is a manmade construct. If the toads want to breed they will, though in truth if they are different species they may have different breeding seasons or other isolating devices

great point kaplumbaga, lets just start randomly breeding animals because they are of similiar size? hybrid is a word created by humans, but it is a concept that has existed for as long as animals have existed. they (highly educated taxonomists) classify animals based on dna, and these two animals obviously had enough variation to be classified as two different species.

another thing, do you study these animals? do you have experience or any evidence that suggests that bufo's species breed regularly in the wild? and by regularly i mean something more than just one case study.

ever wonder why reputable breeders do not keep animals of the same genus together? because it's not responsible, it's just another example of humans messing with stuff that shouldn't be messed with. and if you think its natural, whats natural about two animals from completely different sources and locations being housed in a glass box being fed insects that were raised in a plastic box?

and next time you tell someone to ignore a post i would suggest backing it up with a little more evidence. or at least give some indication you know what you are talking about.
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A room of herps.
www.freewebs.com/kapoktree

Otis,Lets get this thing in perspective instead of getting on your high horse . You are the one who said "hybrids bad take my word for it" what sort of scientific statement is that? I do study toads and I know that lots of North American species have ranges of overlap where hybridisation takes place when conditions allow.This very forum is full of posters seeking id for toads which may be fowlers or americanus or others or hybrids with often no clear cut answers. Similarly with lots of other species of amphibian and reptile. Green toads, B.viridis, inhabit eastern europe and west asia and Natterjack toads inhabit western europe. Do you think hybrids do not occur naturally where they co exist? The whole of the kingsnake, corn snake forums are filled with people breeding hybrids and cross breeding. Look at larger species of mammals. Do you think timber wolves are a sepapate species to Gray wolves or other so called subspecies or even domestic dogs? In some parts of North America wolves were so reduced in numbers that they bred with coyotes.Is that unnatural or a possible way of passing on their genes down the line? . If a shipment of wolves landed in Australia and bred with dingoes would it be intrinsically bad or would it merely disturb humankinds pigeon holing attempts at nomenclature and disrupt the snapshot view of species definition that we have.
As for keeping things natural I agree that keeping animals in tanks and feeding them insects is unnatural but that is what a lot of this forum is about. Hybrid is indeed a man made term with connotations for some of some old testament style prohibition but in reality it happens all the time. I did state to the original poster that if he had no alternative he could keep similar sized bufos together. this is opposed to keeping e.g.: Rana and Bufo together which is a definite no-no due to different toxins and life styles etc. Would love to stay and talk more but work precludes it.

Did you ever hear me say that hybrids did not occur in the wild? nope. I know that occasionally animals from the same genus will breed, but do you know how infrequently this happens? I have talked with a lot of concervation groups and zoos about hybrids and I have not heard of one that promotes hybridization.

In regards to 'corn snake forums are filled with people breeding hybrids and cross breeding," just cause a lot of people are doing the wrong thing it does not make it right...

But you're missing my point, why the heck would anyone want to make hybrids? they are not natural, they shouldn't be sold to any breeders, and its just irresponsible. I am not saying hybridization does not occur, but it occurs so infrequently in the wild it would be pointless to mimic those patterns in captivity.

As far as my evidence, I have bred and raised hundreds of native Bufo species and work along side with local concervation groups in monitoring native amphibians. I also belong to a few national concervation groups and have spoken with many people who work at zoos, botanical gardens, and grassroots programs, and every single organization is against hybridization. If you don't beleive me you can see some of the toad offspring at http://freewebs.com/kapoktree under gallery. or you can look at pics at
gallery

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A room of herps.
www.freewebs.com/kapoktree

Do not want this to drag on. I told the original poster to not worry about his toads crossbreeding that was my original point. All I'm saying is that hybrids are a natural phenomenon. They are neither wrong or right. There is no wrong or right in nature. Any conservations groups or Zoos etc. who use such terms are being emotive and not scientific. Charles Darwin was told he was wrong when he put forward his theory of evolution, Galileo was told he was wrong, Columbus was told he was wrong. The list is endless. Any human intervention into animal extinction or conservation is neither right nor wrong. It is just as much or as little as we do or want do at this moment in the Earth's history. Good work on your personal conservation efforts. Lets get back to the forum business now.

It is only your opinion that it is wrong to breed hybrids. I am not really fond of hybrids myself, but I wouldn't say it is wrong. As for the toad this person has cross breeding, what are the chances that they will raise up a bunch of eggs to tadpols to toadlets to toad and then sell them or release them to reak hovoc on the land. Ok sorry got a little carried away. But my point is it take some dedication to raise toads from eggs. Not something a lot of people really want to take on. IF they do breed, destroy the eggs, end of story, no hybrids made.
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Anna

1.0.0 Ball python (RIP Shane)
1.0.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake {Slash}
1.3.0 Crested Geckos {Harley, Sally, Momma,?}
1.1.0 Jackons Chamelions {Spike, ?}
1.0.0 Short Tail Possum {RIP Eddie}
3.0.0 Pet Rats {Remmy, Blaze, Diablo}
2.1.0 Dogs Lab/Pionter mix,Basset Hound,German Shepherd {Vegas,Shorty,Nevada}
2.3.0 Kitties {Kenny, Sebation, Phoebe, Lily, Jade}
1.1.0 Ferrets {Weasle, Girlie}
3.2.0 Guinea Pigs {Moe, Maddy, Cloe, Nick, Jack}
1.0.0 Betta, Opaque Plakat
1.0.0 Boyfriend {Brian}
3 fish tanks with lots of fish
Lots of feeder rats
And the bugs

Thats it for now.....