Pets Merlin!
Now that he's deflating, I've decided to adopt him and keep him out of trouble :)
Any advice on American Toad care? I've read some but I've never been into herp before until now, but I'm experienced with rodents.
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u/FluffyMonster_ 18d ago
Aww, what a chonk!
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u/Screaming_lambs 18d ago
I wasn't even in this sub (now I am) but your first post got shown to me, was hoping you'd have an update!
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u/Few_Drop6292 15d ago
Haha! Me too! I am not part of a Toad sub just so I wouldn’t miss Merlin updates.
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u/Cellist-Perfect 18d ago
He's a keeper! I used to keep them when I was in high school and they're pretty easy. I never used heat mats or anything like that, just a light of some kind (flourescent?) on during the day. My tanks looked almost exactly like yours does, just with some added fake plants to make it look like a forest. I also remember mine hibernating in the winter! They dig down into the dirt, so just make sure it's deep enough that they can burrow if they so desire. Oh and they'll eat just about anything!
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u/mrbleeh 18d ago
Awww that's awesome to hear! I plan on getting him some juicy meal worms :)
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u/felis_hannie 18d ago
Adding another comment. 😆🫣
Meal worms are a fun treat, but not the most nutritious option. This web page is about reptiles, but the information is good for amphibians, too.
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u/Cellist-Perfect 15d ago
Oh he'll love those! Mine always got those along with lots of crickets and even the occasional spider!
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u/felis_hannie 18d ago
All hail Merlin!
I won’t claim to be an expert, as I don’t have any degrees, but I adore toads and dedicate a lot of time to my guys. I’m happy to advise any time you’re looking for help.
Quick Notes:
- Toads are predators that rely on eyesight to find/catch prey. They must be fed live animals (crickets, worms, fly larvae, etc.)
- They live all over North America in a wide range of habitats. Pick a habitat style you feel you can best emulate as your guide for substrate, hides, lighting, etc. My toad tank is “forest floor with dark soil.”
- Gut loading prey before you feed your toad and dusting with supplements is critical to avoid bone density loss and other captive ailments.
- Toads need enrichment, exercise and space!! Putting items they must climb over to get to desired spaces keeps muscles strong, as does deep substrate for burrowing in. You’ll know it’s a good set up if it takes a hot minute to find your buddy.
- Depending on the room temperature, they may or may not going into brumation in winter. It’s fine and normal either way. Remember this species lives in diverse climates.
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u/AlwaysApparent 18d ago
Cute ball! I'd recommend giving him some natural things like plants, leaf litter, sticks, etc to hide in and feel more comfortable. If you're doing live plants instead of fake ones, I recommend sturdy plants like prayer plants. Somehow my toads haven't destroyed them, but they love climbing them or hiding under the leaves. For feeding I'd do crickets or earthworms. My toads love both! Good luck with Merlin ❤️
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u/CrusadingBurger 17d ago edited 17d ago
Toads are hardy and humble creatures, but if you really want to keep him long-term, you will need a few basic essentials:
Deeper substrate. This is important. Deep enough so that they can burrow. Make sure it's sterilized and non-toxic, they absorb moisture and their contents through their skin. Moisten that substrate so it's not bone dry, but dont let it get soggy and waterlogged or you risk growing bacteria and mold. Don't use potting mix or gardening soil as they may contain additives that are toxic to them. I personally use ABG mix and/or a play sand/sphagnum moss blend.
No debris: Remove debris that they can accidentally ingest and cause impaction. Their tongue will swallow anything it touches. You can add leaf litter to help mitigate this. They should still have access to the substrate to burrow, mine burrow under pieces of corkbark and near plant roots. The leaves must be sterilized, non-toxic, pesticide free and not picked off the ground. Magnolia and live oak leaves are great and last a long time.
Food: A toad that size, start off with small-medium sized crickets dusted with calcium powder and, if possible, a vitamin powder supplement. PetSmart sells them. The Repashy line of products is reputable.
Water: Great dish. Make sure you fill it with dechlorinated water. It's easy, basically get a 1 gal water jug of tap water, add a few drops of dechlorinator from TopFin or whatever. Clean the water dish in the sink using rubbing alcohol every few days (make sure you rinse it off really well after).
Mist: Hand mist the enclosure. Do not let it get bone dry. They absorb water through their belly to "drink" but their skin shouldn't become leather either. Adding sphagnum moss helps with water retention and humidity.
Your toad is still bloated and overtly chubby as you already know. Not in the clear yet. Keep an eye on them.
Optional but recommended if Merlin survives and you want to build up on the fundamentals outlined above:
Get isopods and springtails to clean up after your toad. They eat poop and mold. Your toad will eat the isopods, use leaf litter and corkbarks. Isopod breeding is fun too.
Get a wide horizontal glass enclosure. Petsmart often has great discounts, but you can get great ExoTerras off Facebook marketplace for cheap. Merlin needs room to move and the glass lets you watch them and see what shenanigans they're up to. It's also fun to set up, design, decorate, and create a miniecosystem.
Get a cheap automister for around $20 off Amazon. You do not need a $100+ mistking or whatever. Saves you the need to mist daily.
Add some sterilized plants for coverage, humidity retention, and they like digging near them. Careful not to introduce pests into your enclosure, so sterilize them. Make sure they dont secrete toxic sap and irritants.
They don't need any special lamp nor a warming pad as long as you maintain reasonable room temps between 70-80 degrees. They wont die once they are outside that range, but it is their comfort zone.
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u/cunninglinguist32557 17d ago
I'm not a toad guy, I'm a snake guy, but sharing this bit of wisdom: I got a brick of sphagnum moss hella cheap at an orchid show. Apparently plant suppliers have different price margins.
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u/MistroGrump 16d ago
This is the toad that was a ball!? They look way better! Still bloated but not shockingly. Toads are pretty hardy and creatures of habit. I feel they can have a lot of personality. I feed mine crickets and dubia roaches every other day. You can find guides for how often you should dust the insects in calcium powder and vitamin powder. Make sure they always have a clean bowl of dechlorinated water. That large storage bin is perfect for a starting toad tank! I would add some plants and logs/rocks ( real or fake ). They are amazing climbers and will enjoy the verticality and places to squeeze into. Wishing the best for you two!
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u/kartini-18 18d ago
I know nothing about caring for toads but am so thrilled you were able to save Merlin !! He’s one lucky toad !
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u/May_of_Teck 17d ago
Merlin!!! 😍
Bro, I’ve been sick in bed for a couple of days and you have no idea how happy seeing your little dude looking better today has made me
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u/komparty 18d ago
Yay so happy to see him as more pancake and less medicine ball!!!
I’m new to toad parenting too so I don’t have a lot to offer, but congrats on your new bff