American toads are not typical pets, but they can be kept that way if you know how to care for them. Set up an aquarium for it with materials that mimic nature so that your toad will be comfortable in your home. You can show love for your toad by maintaining its habitat, feeding it live insects, and looking out for its health.
Steps
Part 1
Part 1 of 3:
Housing an American Toad
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Buy a 15 gallon (56.8 L) aquarium for your toad or a plastic storage bin. House your American toad in an aquarium or plastic bin that is at least 24 inches (61 cm) long, 12 inches (30 cm) tall, and 12 inches (30 cm) wide. These are the measurements for most standard 15 gallon (56.8 L) aquariums. Purchase an aquarium at a pet store or online. [1] X Research source
- Be sure to buy an aquarium with a lid that closes securely.
- Never place the tank in direct sunlight because it will overheat the toad.
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Line the tank with 3–4 inches (7.6–10.2 cm) of substrate material. A substrate is a material placed at the bottom of a cage or tank that that absorbs your pet's waste and allows it to burrow. Fill the bottom of the aquarium with an organic material such as potting soil, moss, or shredded leaves. You can also purchase special substrates such as ground coconut fiber or forest bark bedding at pet stores. [2] X Research source .
- Avoid using gravel or sand as a substrate as they can be harmful if swallowed by your toad.
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Add hiding spots to the aquarium. Toads like having places to hide in their habitat. Find or purchase items that will mimic nature, such as pieces of driftwood, large dried leaves, or pieces of tree bark. You can also add items like flower pots for large, sturdy hiding spots. [3] X Research source
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Add a large water dish that is no deeper than the height of the toad. Most toads will soak in an available water source at night, including their water dish. Choose a water dish that is wide enough to accommodate your toad, but not taller than it. This water should be changed each morning, or whenever it looks cloudy. [4] X Research source
- Amphibians are sensitive to chlorine so avoid using chlorinated municipal tap water.
- Use bottled water or filtered water.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 3:
Feeding the Toad
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Feed your toad live insects that can fit into its mouth. American toads are carnivorous and eat insects as their sole source of nourishment. They prefer them live and might not consume them if they are not moving. As a general rule, you can feed your toad any live insect that is small enough to fit into its mouth.
- Worms and crickets, which can be purchased from pet stores, should form the bulk of your toad's diet.
- Avoid feeding your toad flying insects, which it may not be adept enough to catch.
- You can feed your toad insects that you find in nature, such as spiders or ants.
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Feed your toad 3-6 insects every 2-3 days. Be sure to give your toad at least 3-6 live insects a day to eat to maintain its weight. If the insects are particularly small, such as ants, feed your toad twice as many for the same results. Space out feedings to keep your toad satisfied.
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Add a calcium supplement powder to the bugs every 4th feeding. Your toad's nutrition should be enhanced with help from a calcium supplement. Simply sprinkle a bit of the powder over the insects you are feeding your toad before putting them in the aquarium. Do this once every 4 times you feed it, which is enough to boost your toad's diet.
- Purchase calcium supplement powder from pet stores or online.
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:
Maintaining Hygiene and Health
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Replace the substrate every 2 months, or as soon as needed. As a general rule, the substrate material should be removed and replaced every 2 months. If you see that the substrate is visibly soiled before that point, replace it early. While the aquarium is empty, clean it with a 5% bleach solution and rinse it thoroughly. [5] X Research source
- Buy a small plastic tank from a pet store to hold your toad while you clean its aquarium.
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Find a vet who treats "exotic pets" for your toad. Many veterinarians will not treat toads as they do not have enough experience with their physiology and illnesses. If you suspect that your toad is sick, look for "exotic pet" veterinarians and inquire about their experience with amphibians. An inexperienced vet may inadvertently do harm to your toad while trying to treat it.
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Handle your toad as little as possible. Limit touching your toad to when you need to move it and avoid picking it up for fun. Toads prefer not to be handled and get frightened easily by human contact. Their skin may also cause irritation to human skin after prolonged contact, so keep this kind of touching brief.
- Always wash your hands immediately before and after handling your toad. Any lotions, perfumes, or other substances on your hands may irritate your toad.
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Tips
- Do not put a small toad in the same enclosure as a big toad. If the toad is small enough to fit in the big toad's mouth, the big toad will eat it!Thanks
- Toads can thrive in room temperature. If they get overheated, they will simply burrow into the substrate.Thanks
- Always keep your toad's cage moist.Thanks
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Article Summary
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To care for your American toad, feed it 3-6 live insects every 2-3 days. You can find spiders or ants outside or buy worms or crickets from a pet store. Additionally, give your toad a calcium supplement powder with the insects every 4th feeding to keep your toad healthy. You should also provide your toad with a water dish that’s at least as wide as your toad is without being taller than it is, since these toads like to soak in water at night. Additionally, be sure to keep your toad in an aquarium that holds at least 15 gallons, and put 3-4 inches of substrate at the bottom to absorb your toad’s waste. For information from our Veterinary reviewer on how and when you should handle your American toad, read on!
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Reader Success Stories
- "This toad, 'Sherman', has been living in our basement window for about 7 years! He's gone all winter hibernating somewhere, and comes back mid-spring. We don't feed or touch him, just talk to him every year he comes back. We look forward to seeing them every year. Apparently it's a great habitat for him in the window. Plenty of sun and weeds that grow in rocks, and plenty of mosquitoes and insects for him to pick and choose from. He's a cute little bugger and we enjoy having him!" ..." more
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"This toad, 'Sherman', has been living in our basement window for about 7 years! He's gone all winter hibernating somewhere, and comes back mid-spring. We don't feed or touch him, just talk to him every year he comes back. We look forward to seeing them every year. Apparently it's a great habitat for him in the window. Plenty of sun and weeds that grow in rocks, and plenty of mosquitoes and insects for him to pick and choose from. He's a cute little bugger and we enjoy having him!"
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"I now have two pet toads, named Topaz and Copper. I also had one named Rocky, but he escaped a few months ago. Both toads are males, and they get along nicely. I once put my toads in my old dollhouse and put them in the chairs, that was hilarious. Toads are awesome pets. You can tell their gender by gently putting your finger on their back. The males will croak, unless they are too young. Your toad's container does not need to be glass. "
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"This article really helped me care for our family's new rescue toad. My dad found Kermit cornered by a feral cat outside our home. He brought him inside, and my mom set up his habitat just like the one shown in your article. It's been about a month and he has gotten bigger thanks to your helpful outline. We are still learning about him and improving his habitat. "
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"I caught a baby toad at my house and took it in because I thought maybe he can't protect himself from predators. I named him Shadeow. A mixture between Shadow and Shade. I didn't know how to take care of him, so I looked up "How to take care of a toad". This article popped up. I read it and it has really helped me take care of Shadeow."
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"Thank you for this article. It was very helpful. We love toads and found a small toad outside that my grandchildren wanted to keep. I read your article and I had an old fish tank in my basement which, thanks to you, is now a really nice habitat for our new little friend. "
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