Herbert the toad meets an Axolotl

[PunkMartyr]

I was thinking of eventually doing a terrarium in a 20 gallon long and considering what I would put in it. I have a toad from outside I named Herbert in a 10g, and my gf is going to be getting an axolotl ("water dog") for her 5.5 gallon.

Will a toad and an axolotl get along ok? From what I have seen toads don't go in the water much anyway. I think they'll both eat worms and similar foods too.

Also, I know the preferred substrate for Axolotls is smooth river stones large enough they can't eat them. For a toad though I have no idea. I have him in a sand terrium right now because I just had to slap something together when I found him.

I like this toad a lot, he reminds me of a bulldog or a tank or something, he's really stocky to be so small.

He looks a little dry today maybe I should spray some water on him or something?

[wetmanNY]

Why not give Herbert a really moist crisp leaf of lettuce? Is he cold enough? Does he have a flowerpot to get under? Did you try him with a mealworm?

I'd never combine a toad and an axolotl in one terrarium myself. Like a rhino with a hippo. They don't add up together to more than they are separately.

Besides, aren't toads fiercely territorial with other toads? --BTW, is Herbert Bufo americanus or B. fowleri? --Check him out at http://www.mnh.uconn.edu/amtoad.htm

[PunkMartyr]

He's as cute as the American Toad picture but from the text he seems to be a Fowler. I found him in a gravelly area near the hose that is wet sometimes during the year. I was amazed he burrowed into that stuff. His pouch is also white, not dark at all.

Live 35 years in captivity how about that..

Do you think its ok to hold the toad, I like to pet him occasionally and stuff but I don't want him to secrete stuff from his glands.

I am still unsure about how wet he needs to be, like uh, he likes to stay on land and just keep his belly wet and not bother with his top which gets dry looking like the fowler picture.

[Ashes]

I've seen some pretty big axolotls...

[pinballqueen]

It's generally a bad idea to handle frogs/toads/tortoises too much. It's not so much for the toad's safety as it is for your own.

If he gets to looking REALLY dried out, try misting him with a water bottle. It's kind of like dew settling on his back in the great outdoors. (I did this occasionally with the tree frogs I had with pretty good success...) I don't think it's quite so necessary with a toad, though, because they are normally used to a little drier conditions. Putting a glazed pot-dish (those things they put under terra-cotta pots to catch excess water) filled with river rock with water in it should provide a humid enough environment for him.

Be sure he has a decent hiding place, such as an upturned flowerpot. Also might be a good idea to check your local ordinances on keeping wild-caught pets, you know, just to cover your butt...

You've got a cool pet! Have fun!

[PunkMartyr]

Thanks, he has been sitting in a pvc pipe the last few hours. I have to share a dorm with someone and the room can get somewhat hot at times (78 degrees is kind of normal). I don't know if this will effect his hibernation cycle and me putting him back or not. I might just build him a cool terrarium and keep him. I like the idea of having him for 30 years thats really cool lol

[FishBait]

Where is your g/f going to get the axolotl? If it coming from an lfs, it's most likely going to be a tiger salamander, not the true axolotyl. As such, it will eventually transform into a terrestrial animal, and that 5.5 gallon tank will prolly be a little cramped for him, even as an aquatic form.

And if your "toad" turns out to be a species of Bufo (the bullfrogs?) then it is not a toad and should be kept wet.

[OrionGirl]

There is not scientific difference between a toad and a frog. These terms are common reference to amphibians, and generally, toads are primarily terrestrial as adults while frogs are primarily aquatic, but this is a vagary of the language, rather than a biologically based separation.

A 5.5 gallon tank won't be adequate for a bullfrog, nor for the axolotl. They need at least 10 gallon, prefreably of water. The true ones will remain in their juvenile form their entire life, if not prodded into morphing into the adult form.

[wetmanNY]

Axolotl: what's the other word that's made the transition from this unusual language-source into English? (counts 10 points)

[wetmanNY]

Hey! it's no fun if you're peeking!

[wetmanNY]

You're peeking!

Quit that!

[BettaFish]

Atl-atl? The spear throwing thing?

[wetmanNY]

Warm. ..but is yours kept next to the umbrella stand? I was hoping for something more thoroughly domesticated into English.. not wrong. But guess again, Bettafish.

[PunkMartyr]

Originally posted by OrionGirl
There is not scientific difference between a toad and a frog. These terms are common reference to amphibians, and generally, toads are primarily terrestrial as adults while frogs are primarily aquatic, but this is a vagary of the language, rather than a biologically based separation.

A 5.5 gallon tank won't be adequate for a bullfrog, nor for the axolotl. They need at least 10 gallon, prefreably of water. The true ones will remain in their juvenile form their entire life, if not prodded into morphing into the adult form.

I disagree. I visited numerous websites that said a 5.5 is good enough for one, and a 10 could support two. This is of course with proper filtration, substrate, cleaning, etc. Regardless if it did appear cramped I have a 20 gallon lying around.

There are issues with getting good filtration in such a small tank though. I will have a submersible filter but it could be difficult to set one up in it. Also I use just a bucket and tube for cleaning so getting it to start suctioning will be hard.

Also I am aware of the tiger axolotl but thanks for the warning

[wetmanNY]

In case anyone missed Chapter One of Herbert's Winter Adventure...

[ChilDawg]

Quetzal? Quetzalcoatl? Tenochtilan?

[ChilDawg]

No, wait...cacao.

[Faramir]

Chocolate.

[ChilDawg]

I'm not sure that a creature which can be 4-6" (and may be larger because of neotenism which seems to run in the Ambystomidae) could be comfortable in a 5.5 g, as it seems like turning around might be a chore.

[ChilDawg]

Oh, and since "true" Axolotls are protected by CITES, you will likely be getting a Tiger Salamander from the U.S.

[wetmanNY]

Gimme a break.. o' that xocolatl bar!

"Avocado" has been reshaped to make it sound like a Mexican lawyer, but it's also Natuatl in origin. So's "chili."

[Egress]

Arise! (http://redwing.hutman.net/~mreed/warriorshtm/necromancer.htm)

[ChilDawg]

All of a sudden, I see all of these threads where I don't remember responding, but I see that I did...had it really been six years since someone had posted in this thread? Not quite, but pretty darn close!