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ViolentJ
Pondweed
United Kingdom
6 Posts |
 Posted - 12/04/2010 : 14:23:43
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Hi,
As per the topic title really. I've read the caresheet on this site and many others but what are they actually like to keep?
How loud are the males? I doubt I'd have a choice of sex when/if it comes to buying.
I've had a horned frog in the past and regret selling it, so was going to get another one but cane toads have caught my eye. |
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Kazerella
The Amphibian Administrator
United Kingdom
969 Posts |
Posted - 13/04/2010 : 14:38:00
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Our cane toad doesn't do much actually, but I don't know if this is because she's a bit timid because she was a mistreated rescue. I am hoping she will come around eventually.
They are supposed to be really intelligent and can be trained to respond to their owners, but I've not witnessed it yet  I'm training her using a feeding bowl so she can recognise when feeding time is, but although she does know the hand that feeds, she still too timid to eat in front of anyone or take things from the tweezers.
She does like to head but me sometimes though, which is amusing.
I think from the two I would choose a horned frog. The Mighty Alberto is so interesting and easy to look after, that even though Micky Marinus is not that much harder to care for, she is over-shadowed by the horned frog.
Plus you have to worry about the potent toxins with a Cane Toad, wheras you don't with a horned frog.
I can't answer the question about the call of a Cane toad, but I've heard it is loud. Luckily I think we have a female.
Apart from that though they are quite amazing. They are not the most hated toad in the entire world for nothing. They are really adaptive and will eat anything! If you do get one, get a young one so you might be able to get it to connect with you better. I think they are alright in small groups too, but you may need a massive tank if you keep more than one  |
 
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ViolentJ
Pondweed
United Kingdom
6 Posts |
Posted - 13/04/2010 : 19:16:02
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| I guess what attracts me more to the cane toad is that they're not a very common toad to keep and hard to get hold of it seems. I've only seen WC sub-adults for sale so far. Horned frogs are common as muck these days but still lovely. |
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Kazerella
The Amphibian Administrator
United Kingdom
969 Posts |
Posted - 14/04/2010 : 11:08:11
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Where abouts are you?
The Snake shop in Sheffield normally has them in regularly.
I think a lot of people don't keep them because they are so big, so take some feeding, and because they are scared off the toxins. Their reputation for being a nasty pest doesn't help either. Most people only know about Cane toads because they have heard they are a nuisance in Australia. A lot of people think that making fertilizer and wallets out of them is the only thing they are good for  |
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ViolentJ
Pondweed
United Kingdom
6 Posts |
Posted - 14/04/2010 : 18:12:32
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I'm in Staffordshire (west midlands). I can only find one online retailer selling WC and my local shops don't sell them.
The toxins don't put me off, I understand they only release it when feeling very threatened and I suspect the only time I'd pick one up would be for cleaning purposes and then I'd wear disposable gloves. I remember watching a documentary on TV a long time ago showing the toxin being squirted out into the air but from what I've read it normally just oozes out? I've seen various youtube videos of people handling them with no face protection on though. So does it ooze or shoot?
Do you have any pictures of yours and how you keep it? |
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Kazerella
The Amphibian Administrator
United Kingdom
969 Posts |
Posted - 16/04/2010 : 19:07:49
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There's a picture of our big fella here: http://www.theamphibian.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=352
There is one of the set up somewhere too, but I'll have to have a search about for it.
I think it's an ooze. Luckily Mickey has never secreted anything. It is still best to use gloves at all time with all amphibians anyway. It's not just their toxins that can hurt us, it's our salty skin that can harm them too |
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ViolentJ
Pondweed
United Kingdom
6 Posts |
Posted - 17/04/2010 : 10:23:20
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| Thanks for the info. For now at least I've decided to go with another Horned frog, in fact I've just been out and bought one :) I'll post pics in the correct section. |
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Kazerella
The Amphibian Administrator
United Kingdom
969 Posts |
Posted - 17/04/2010 : 11:13:43
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*runs off to look at the pics*  |
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geckoface
Pondweed
United Kingdom
4 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2010 : 01:59:12
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| I have had two giant toads for the last 6 years or so and have always handled without gloves or face protection and i have never seen them produce any toxins at all. Only on a very rare occassion have they released their water store which was when they were younger. These toads are generally docile and as long as you support them when you pick them up and handle them gently they should not feel threatened. If when you go to hold them they display defence stance etc then best to leave handling till later. The big female does inflate occassionally and angle herself but i leave her alone and she soon calms down. I have never handled them alot as i think they are best left to their own devices most of the time but when i have handled ive never had a problem |
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Ade
Tadpole
United Kingdom
153 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2010 : 14:44:19
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Have a look in the reptile centre at The Hollybush Garden Centre ViolentJ. Last time I popped in they had quite a large range of different amphibians. If you don't already know where they are, they're quite close to J11 of the M6 and are signposted from there, inbetween Cannock and Wolverhampton. I used to live down that way before I moved to my current home. I miss having access to such a large range of reptiles and amphibians.
Ade |
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Cane Toads - what are they like to keep?
