Hi all- I have two toads (ok, my daughter has two toads 
that came from Petco, labeled "Egyptian" toads. I think they are common African toads? Anyway, we've had them many months, but recently their appetite is waning (do they eat less/hibernate as winter comes on?) and tonight we noticed each had a sore red looking right front foot. The same foot on each, a coincidence, I'm sure... but one is much worse than the other, definitely looks infected. They are housed in a 10 gallon tank on repti-bark with fresh water and a clay pot for a hide. They eat crickets exclusively ('ve tried feeding mealworms with no takers). Do you think the bark it too rough a substrate for them? We initially used coconut fiber, but it was messy, so we switched to the bark... is their nutrition poor from their cricket-only diet? And what the heck to do about the infected foot? I'm a vet tech, but I've never encountered treating toads with antibiotics, lol! Help us please, "Lily" and "Wart" need some tlc .
Thanks in advance,
Kris in N. Ca.
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"Egyptian" toad /newbie q's- help!
Replies (2)
I would take the infected frog out and make sure it is still eating like the other one. Petco's animals generally suck so chances are it was probably something that it came with and not something you caused. I would also switch to a moss and leaf subsrtate. I use that for all my frogs and have never had a problem. Orchid moss or spahgnum moss with a few inches of leaf litter works well and it will be softer on their feet and provide more hiding spots. I would also post this in amphibianforum.com if you don't get another response here.
The cut could be a lot of things, do you have pic?
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A room of herps.
www.freewebs.com/kapoktree
It's not a cut, it's an ulceration with swelling underneath, and there are now other smaller ulcerations on the ventral side of her legs/feet. The other toad also has a few small ulcerations, and neither is eating now 
. Doesn't bode well, I don't think. We already removed the bark and replaced it with paper towels for now, plus gave them a hide with moist moss so they can burrow/hide.
Thanks for the reply!
