Author	Topic:   Something wrong with bufo marinus
Danielle	posted 6/28/08 4:21 AM       I'm worried about a rescue bufo marinus that I acquired from a teacher. The toad was living in an unsanitary aquarium that had many dead crickets in it, luckily the toad was not that class pet for very long, about a month. The toad came from a biological company that I contacted and found out that it was wild caught, and had never been treated for parasites. I tried, and tried to get the toad to eat to obtain a fecal sample, but I was afraid that the toad would deteriorate. I decided to have the vet treat her for parasites, she was given Panacur, and a vitamin B shot. That night the toad did eat. The vet thought that the toads body condition was good, but I thought that it was thin. The toad has eaten, but the appetite is not very good, and the toad has not had a bowel movement. I did a temp reading in the cage and it is 73 ° I was not sure if I should provide additional heat because I didn’t want the toad to dry out, but I can add a heating pad. Would a UV florescent light help? I would like to keep this animal instead of adopting out, I think that if she was properly cared for and healthy the toad would make a nice pet, and education animal. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Kisco	posted 6/28/08 4:37 AM     Hi Danielle, It sounds like you did the exact right thing to help this toad. The average wild caught toad does have parasites, and the question is, are they the kind that the toad can live with? It sounds like this one couldn't. I would have told you to take the toad for treatment of parasites, so that part is done. The toad should resume having a better appetite once back to full health. Have you tried pinkie mice or pinkie rat pups? They offer the best nutrition and most toads love them. I would also add an under tank heater that only takes up one small corner of the tank. See if the toad likes to stay on it. Marinus are native to warm places, so that should help. The UV can't hurt either if you'd like to add it on top of the tank, but I wouldn't add a hot, basking bulb. Just a flourescent UV lamp. The toad might also be tramatized between the filthy living conditions and being in a classroom with bright lights and loud kids all day. I'd be sure to put aquarium paper around 3 sides of the tank and a hide cave or hide area of some kind. I've found most marinus caught in Florida, which is where these bio suppliers usually get them, are shy and like dark corners where they are out of site. http://www.toadilytoads.com
Danielle	posted 6/28/08 9:50 PM       Thanks so much for the quick reply back. I have not tried pinkie mice or rat pups yet, but I can definitely try that. You brought up a good point about the toad being traumatized, the toad was not only in filthy cage the substrate was astroturf. The teacher said that the toad would hide and sometimes jump around frantically, I would think because of the stressful environment. One good thing that I didn’t mention was that the toad had some raw spots on one of her legs, probably from the filth and astroturf she was kept on, now both legs look great, and the toad has calmed down I did block off three sides with black aquarium background. I’m using coconut fiber bedding and the toad really enjoys it sometimes all I see is two big eyes sticking up out of it. How often do you think that I should change the bedding, or should I use something else? My vet suggested using sphagnum moss, and I do have some in the cage, but it seems like the toad likes the coconut fiber. I’m using filtered tap water, should I use bottled spring water? I cannot thank you enough for your input, it’s hard to find any good husbandry info for toads. I bought a book recently about frogs and toads and it’s many about frog care.
Kisco	posted 6/29/08 2:03 AM     That's why I started toadilytoads. Everything focuses on frogs, not toads. Frogs need more moisture and more delicate handling than toads, and true toads tend to be less skittish than most frogs, though that's not always true. I don't prefer the moss in the tank because frogs and toads ingest it too much. Frankly I use organic soil that's been baked. However, coconut fiber is fine, too. How often you change it will depend on many factors, such as the size of the toad, the size of the tank, and whether you feed crickets who die in the substrate and lose legs in the substrate, and whether you feed a mouse large enough to pee and deficate in the substrate, etc. As a general rule of thumb, maybe once a month. Much more than that is too much and will only serve to freak the toad out. They hate being disturbed and uprooted, even for a short time. But I would say it sounds like you're doing all the right stuff. The toad should begin to really settle in, but will he ever get to the point of not being shy around humans? That is less likely. How large is this toad and what size tank is he in? http://www.toadilytoads.com
Danielle	posted 7/4/08 5:02 PM     The toad is 4” long and in a 40-breeder aquarium. I’m happy to say that the toad has started eating. I added a heating pad to the cage and a UV light on a timer, and tried feeding baby mice and the toad ate, and ever since then has wanted more and more food.Unfortunately there is a problem with the toads back leg at the joint there is a good-sized hard bump that sticks out. I don’t think that my vet and I could have missed this if it were some kind of old injury or birth defect. The toad is behaving normal, and now has a great appetite and has no problems using the leg. I work at a wildlife center and was told that a box turtle had a hard bump on the back leg that turned out to be a botfly larva. So the toad will have to have this looked at, and possibly removed.
Kisco	posted 7/5/08 0:46 AM     I would have the leg looked at, too, but the fact that the toad is now eating is very good news. You're doing a great job. Two Flippers UP!!!! http://www.toadilytoads.com
Danielle	posted 8/25/08 4:43 PM       I wanted to give an update on “Cupcake” the bufo marinus toad. Shortly after the last post The vet took a biopsy from the lump on the toads ankle and it is not a parasite, abscess, or cancer, he’s not sure what it is, it may have been there all along, and be nothing to worry about. I was told to keep an eye on it for any changes. The toad loves to eat everything earthworms, feeder roaches, many crickets, hornworms, and the occasional fuzzy mice. She has grown bigger and wider, every night she looks forward to eating. She leaves me poop presents in the water bowl on a regular bases. I was not sure that the toad would make it, and I think that if she didn’t receive vet care, and a change in husbandry she would have died. I wanted to comment on the bedding, I recently changed it to an oven sterilized soil that you recommend on the site, it is far better to use then the coconut fiber bedding. The coconut bedding dries out easily and becomes dusty, it also has an unusually smell, and would stick all over the toad and her food items. This toad is the farthest thing from a friendly cuddly animal, but I love her, and I’m so happy that she’s doing well. I’ve taken some pictures of her and would like to send you some, maybe you could use them on the site if you liked them.
Kisco	posted 8/25/08 11:14 PM     I love hearing such good news! I will email you as to where to send the pics and I'd be happy to give Cupcake a gallery. http://www.toadilytoads.com

Post New Topic