What do toads eat?

[Prin]

I have a toad who lives in my stairs and I want it to stay here (I LOVE toads). Anybody know what they eat so that I can make its stay more enjoyable and make it less likely to leave? I picked it up today because he was just out in the open and I didn't want my doggies to get it, but normally, I just let him go about his business.

Any suggestions?

[Jackie467]

I really don't know much about toads but I think they eat bugs blah.

[happycats]

I believe they eat bugs, I also read, that if you get terra cotta pots, and bury them half way on their sides, it makes a great toad house (I read it in a gardening mag, for attracting toads to the garden)

[badger]

I hope you mean your outside stairs, he would be very unhappy inside! Better to let him feed himself (insects mostly) and bring him an occasional treat, wild creatures do better in their own environment, athough providing him with his own 'house' is a good idea.

[Dogastrophe]

Toads eat all sorts of destructive garden critters, such as beetles, slugs, snails, etc. One or two toads are more effective than any pesticide you could ever put on a garden.

[Lucky Rescue]

I have a great many very large toads living on my property. At night, they gather around my side door, as the light there attracts moths and other insects for them.

Don't worry about your dogs getting them. Toads secrete a foul tasting liquid when they are molested, and any dog who picks one up will quickly drop it!

[jessi76]

Originally Posted by LuckyRescue

Don't worry about your dogs getting them. Toads secrete a foul tasting liquid when they are molested, and any dog who picks one up will quickly drop it!

LOL - my cat just found this out. She caught one in the front gardens, and raced in the house with it, quickly dropped it on the livingroom floor, leaving me to catch a toad in the house. my kitty had a very disgusted look on her face.

[Prin]

I'm not worried about them eating the toad, just about crushing him with their feet...

I've contacted an amphibian guy from the govt to ask what I should do with this guy. I don't think he'll make it back to the water if he wanted to. I hope he sticks around. I love toads.

When I was little I used to collect toad babies and put them on my steps. I thought they liked me because they stayed. Little did I know they were immobilized by the sun and basically cooked. I was 4... I figured out that that is where they got gargoyles from though. Toads turn to "stone" when you leave them in the sun...

I'm gonna try to protect this little guy (now I know better)....

[happycats]

Toads don't require water (for swimming) frogs do though.

We have alot of toads in our gardens, we had one last year, who came out at the same time every evening, and would sit at the front door, he was there all summer and he didn't seem to mind not having a body of water near by.

[badger]

All this bl**dy rain is bringing them out. Who needs a pond? I wish I had a toad, none around here.

[Prin]

They do need water to reproduce though, and I just don't think he'll make it that far...

I found another in my back yard earlier. I was trying to teach Boo that he's a buddy, not a piece of meat.

[jiorji]

that's really odd. I'm surprised it's still there. I was told by someone at work that toads always go back to the place they were at when their feet developed. maybe there's a pond around that you don't know about? or maybe it likes it there cos there's lots of water from the rain. Don't know how much rain Montreal's been getting tho.

toads eat bugs and mosquitos....so there must be lots of them there

good luck

[Prin]

Well, there's a river down the street, but it's so far for a little hopper to hop. So many obstacles between here and there too...

The federal toad guy told me basically that the toad will manage... Survival of the fittest, I guess. Now I just have to work on making him fit.

[pags]

Originally Posted by Prin

They do need water to reproduce though, and I just don't think he'll make it that far...

But you'd be amazed at just how little water they need for this! A toad can bring up a veritable toad army from just one little muddy puddle! I love toads too, Prin. How could I not with what they can do for my garden? But it's not just that: I've loved 'em since I was a kid.. I always had to bring them around to show my mom when I found a nice new fat one. Hmmm.. You know.. my poor mother hates toads...

Anyway - toads appreciate the occasional meal worm treat. You can get them at most pet stores as they're sold as food for reptiles.

[Prin]

Alive ones? I don't know if I can do that..

[pags]

LOL But they look so yummy, Prin! Think of the toads! The toads!

[Prin]

LOL LOL. I'm tempted, but I can't get over the living part... Did you know that bugs SQUIRM when they're living? They slither and slather and creepy-crawl? (cold shivers up my spine)

[Sneaky]

Hi there,
I actually kept a toad as a pet for awhile.
A "Western Ground Toad".
These guys are awesome.
Mine went from a small toad of about 1.5 inches
to a much larger toad of about 5 inches in only 6 months.
I fed him on crickets who were fed on gut load,
and earthworms.
They do require some water, but as was said, it could be a mud puddle.
I provided my toad with an aquarium half sand half water,
and every night for about 3 hours he would sit in the water up to his eyes.
He just got simply too large for the aquarium I was keeping him in,
and needed more space then i could provide for him, so I released him back
into the wild at Somenos Marsh, a protected wildlife preserve.
Toads are awesome. Enjoy!

[12alexis3]

O.k I just found three toads yesterday and I really need to know what they eat because I want them to live. Me, My brother, and my sister all have one. Mine is Hoppy, My brother"s is Alan, and my sister's is Joe. Can someone please tell me what to feed them?

[katherine93]

Toads eat crickets/Flies...they eat the same as frogs dont they?

i would say you can buy crickets at your local petstore .


BTW- Welcome to pets.ca

Unless these toads are injured or in danger of dying, i would suggest bringing them back to their natural habitat. Wild aniamls do not make good pets. YOu can't just go out and keep a wild bird right? because it will go crazy couped up in a tiny cage, well same goes for toads! Just my opinion.

[badger]

I agree with Catherine, toads make poor pets. A landlord of mine had a pond in the backyard, surrounded by greenery, and even then, a toad he found in the wild didn't do well and he returned it.
The environment where you found these toads provides everything they need - the right food, the right amount of moisture, other toads to mate with - and your backyard, unfortunately, does not. Like any wild creature, they hate being handled and will not come when called .
Please take them back.

[bendyfoot]

I was responsible for the care of two toads at a wildlife education centre two summers ago, and they are a LOT of work!!! They need fresh, live insects and worms everyday (LOTS, a few flies won't cut it), they require very specific environments with appropriate substrate, vegetation humidity and water sources (or else they're not able to shed their skin and can get sick). It really would be best to let them go where you caught them. PLEASE make sure that your hands are SPOTLESS if you handle them, no cream, soap, sunscreen, food, etc....it can absorb through their skin and make them sick. Not to be a party-pooper or anything, but you actually have to have permits to keep any live wild animal in captivity, even if it's "just" a toad.

[Lukka'sma]

I must admit I don't know what toads eat, but only opened the thread because I saw it was started by Prin. Just wondered if maybe we had her back, but unfortunately not.

[clm]

They'll eat earthworms, slugs, flies, crickets, catapillars, meal worms. Toads are very easy to feed. Just remember they're mostly nocturnal, they come out to hunt in the evening, so don't expect them to be real active during the day and let them get their rest.

Cindy

[katherine93]

any updattes?