Question about Toads

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K

Keeper of the Ropes

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 29, 2006
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Texas
I've researched toads a lot but I have found NOTHING regarding maternal care of young toads.

I'm collecting American Toads and Woodhouse Toads for my mom - she doesn't have very many around her house, and there's a city not far from here that is absolutely infested with them (imagine black and red splotches every two feet on the street - adult toads that got hit). Anyway, a friend of mine (in a trade for an old tank I wasn't using) brought over this toad (which looks a lot like a Gulf Coast Toad) that is the size of a man's fist... and her 30 babies. It LOOKS like they are eating her poop... all of them are so small they could sit on my pinky nail and not touch the edges. She is very careful about not stepping or hopping on them, and sometimes confuses them for food. She'll snap them up, but refuses to eat them. She wipes them out of her mouth as soon as she realizes it's one of her kids. I don't get it. Are they really depending on her? And if they aren't eating her... stuff... should I try to feed them fruit flies? That's the only thing small enough that they might be able to eat. Seriously. The smallest crickets you can buy at petsmart are the same length as these babies.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Jessie*
 
There might be some kind of tiny bugs in the turds, that they're trying to eat.

Toads don't care for their young...if anything she's spitting them out because toads are bad tasting & toxic to other animals, and I assume that includes their own kind.

I would try to get some baby crix or fruitflies in there, they should be able to eat them...toads can swallow a pretty large meal compared to their size.
 
I have the same size American toad young around my pond. They are very tiny and must prey on the smallest of insects at that age. I would recommend finding some wingless fruitflies and then move up to pin-head crickets and so on.
 
Where would I find wingless fruitflies??

The baby crickets wouldn't work. Way too big. Honestly, one could sit on the "Quick Reply" button and not touch the border. They're pretty much the same size lol
 
I would call around to all pet stores in the area and find out if they have WINGLESS fruitflies. We used to breed them when I was in college for genetics experiments, I don't remember where we got them but I guess you could call a H.S. or College Biology department. They might be able to tell you where you can order some. Or heck, look online!
 
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