Housebound Toad - Ask Extension
I have a (now) 3 month old Toad. As it has been on my porch since it was as big as my fingernail. I gave it a toad house and started feeding it m...
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Housebound Toad #424585
Asked September 01, 2017, 5:08 AM EDT
I have a (now) 3 month old Toad. As it has been on my porch since it was as big as my fingernail. I gave it a toad house and started feeding it mealworms as I have a lizard who eats them. It has never left my porch. The other night I left the dog out and a snake was carrying it away. I grabbed the snake and shook it and Toad came out of it's mouth. Well, ever since Toad will not come out of the toad hut and will not eat. It is almost time for hibernation and I am thinking Toad thinks she is already hibernating. Should I bring her in? She will freeze to death in the Toad hut. Am worried that she stopped eating also. This was NOT right away after being caught by the snake. This was a week later.
There are some other issues that concern me as well . Like she never was afraid of anything and almost was stepped on numerous times and would not move and came into the house every chance she got, getting almost shut in the door in the process. What to do??? I really don't mind if I have to bring her in. I have a 35 gallon tank with all the bells and whistles.
There are some other issues that concern me as well . Like she never was afraid of anything and almost was stepped on numerous times and would not move and came into the house every chance she got, getting almost shut in the door in the process. What to do??? I really don't mind if I have to bring her in. I have a 35 gallon tank with all the bells and whistles.
New Castle County Delaware
Expert Response
Thank you for your question. I wouldn't be concerned with bringing the toad inside at this point. The weather is still warm enough that the toad should not be considering hibernation. Assuming it was not severely injured by the snake, toads are most active at night, and your toad may be coming out late at night/early morning to catch insects, when no one is around.
As far as your toad not getting out of the way is concerned, they will often stay in one place as long as you don't physically try to catch them. They don't seem to expend a great deal of energy trying to run away the way that lizards do, for example.
There are four species of toads in Delaware, but you didn't mention which toad you have on your porch. As it starts getting closer to fall, if you decide to bring it inside, I have listed links below to Reptiles Magazine's species care sheets for the American toad and Fowler's toad. If your toad is a different species, you should be able to find recommendations for maintaining a suitable habitat for it, and what to feed it.
American Toad Care Sheet:
http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Frogs-Amphibians/American-Toad-Feeding-And-Care/
Fowler's Toad Care Sheet:
http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/natural-history-and-captive-care-of-the-fowlers-toad/
Hope this information helps, and thank you for contacting Ask an Expert.
Jim
As far as your toad not getting out of the way is concerned, they will often stay in one place as long as you don't physically try to catch them. They don't seem to expend a great deal of energy trying to run away the way that lizards do, for example.
There are four species of toads in Delaware, but you didn't mention which toad you have on your porch. As it starts getting closer to fall, if you decide to bring it inside, I have listed links below to Reptiles Magazine's species care sheets for the American toad and Fowler's toad. If your toad is a different species, you should be able to find recommendations for maintaining a suitable habitat for it, and what to feed it.
American Toad Care Sheet:
http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Frogs-Amphibians/American-Toad-Feeding-And-Care/
Fowler's Toad Care Sheet:
http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/natural-history-and-captive-care-of-the-fowlers-toad/
Hope this information helps, and thank you for contacting Ask an Expert.
Jim
