North American Toad: Care Sheet, Pictures, Lifespan & More

The North American toad is a remarkable animal. They belong to the genus Anaxyrus, which includes many other species commonly adored as pets (such as the Woodhouse and Western toad). For the right person, the North American toad can be a perfect pet.

The North American toad is a common species found in many parts of the United States and the rest of North America. In terms of care, they do not need too much maintenance but require specific conditions. Before deciding whether the North American toad is the right fit for you, examining the level of care needed will help the amazing animal thrive. In this article, we’ve developed a general care guide, including vital considerations you should know before bringing this animal home.

North American Toad Characteristics

North American Toad Overview

The North American toad is typically greenish-brown in appearance. Normally, they have a solid color; however, some may have patterns. Their skin may have a slightly tan hue as well. They can vary in size but range from 2 to 4 inches. The male is usually smaller than the female and may have a darker-colored throat.

Caring for a North American toad can be an incredibly rewarding experience. They are interesting little animals that do not require much maintenance, making them an excellent choice for first-time frog owners. You need to feed live insects to your North American toad regularly as well as remove any waste in their enclosure, but for the most part, they won’t require anything high-maintenance.

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Where to Find a North American Toad?

The North American toad is most commonly found in the United States and Canada. They thrive in humid climates, which tend to be areas near a body of water. They also like areas that are abundant with insect life. In the wild, they live in prairies, forests, and mountainous areas. However, they can also be found in places populated by humans, such as farms, parks, or suburban backyards.

However, you should never take a North American toad out of the wild to make them your pet. Wild toads should be left in their outdoor home since it’s familiar and safe to them. Removing them from that area would be detrimental to their quality of life. Instead, purchase a North American toad from your local pet store. However, some towns have amphibian rescue centers, and you can see if they have any North American toads to adopt.

Care Guide & Tank Set Up

Before bringing home a new pet, one of the most important things to consider is whether you can provide the specialized care they need. While the North American toad isn’t particularly high-maintenance, they still have their own unique needs that must be accommodated.

Tank Size

The size of your pet’s enclosure will play a huge role in their happiness and health. Your North American toad needs adequate room to move, hop, and get exercise. Providing them with enough room to explore will also help to provide for their enrichment needs.

Typically, juvenile toads require a tank of 5 or 10 gallons at a minimum. Anything smaller than that will be too cramped for them as they grow. Once your North American toad grows into a mature adult, they will need a larger enclosure. A tank of at least 20 gallons will be appropriate. If you intend to house multiple toads in one enclosure, add an extra 20 gallons for each toad.

Substrate

The substrate, or the material kept at the bottom of the tank, is another key part of your North American toad’s care. There are plenty of options for you to choose from, which can make it difficult to find the right fit. To pick the right substrate for your pet, focus on natural materials that mimic the environment that your North American toad would experience in the wild. Coconut husk can be an excellent and easily accessible choice.

The substrate should be replaced weekly or monthly and should be spot cleaned every time there is waste in the tank (typically daily). Some substrates are easier to spot clean than others, so review your options before making a choice.

Humidity

Humidity is vital to your North American toad’s health. While toads can survive in varying ranges of humidity, it is best to keep the humidity level between 50% and 60%. Providing your North American toad with a dish of clean, fresh water every day will allow them to soak whenever they need to and keep their skin moist and healthy.

If your North American toad needs extra moisture, you can gently mist the enclosure with a spray bottle. Just ensure the water is not chlorinated before spraying it on your pet. To ensure that the humidity levels in your pet’s enclosure are consistent and precise, you can use a hygrometer.

Lighting

Your North American toad will need a light source, but it can’t be a regular lightbulb. To help your North American toad create vitamin D3, you must provide a UVB light. Without vitamin D3, your North American toad will be unable to produce enough calcitriol, which is necessary for your pet to use calcium for vital body functions.

Heating

Your North American toad’s enclosure should be kept between 70° F and 75° F. Temperatures below 70° F prevent your toad from maintaining a high enough body temperature, while temperatures above 75° F may burn them.

Things to Know When Owning a North American Toad:

There’s more to caring for a toad than just providing an enclosure. Before bringing home your North American toad, you need to know all about their care needs, which include food and diet requirements, hydration needs, health conditions, and more.

Food & Diet Requirements

North American toads are insectivores and primarily eat live insects. This can include Dubia roaches, black soldier fly larvae, crickets, and mealworms. Avoid freeze-dried insects since they lack the nutritional value that live insects offer.

To ensure that an insect is not too large for your North American toad to eat, try to estimate the length of the insect’s body compared to your toad’s eyes. If they are around the same, you should be safe feeding them to your toad. They may be a bit too big for your pet if they are much larger than the space between their eyes.

Water/Liquid Requirements

Access to fresh, clean, and dechlorinated water is essential for your North American toad’s health. Without continuous access to water, your frog can become dehydrated and even die.

Provide a water dish for your toad to submerge in, except for their nose and mouth. This will allow your pet to keep their skin moist without the risk of drowning.

Size & Growth Rate

The North American toad typically grows to 2–4 inches, with the males being smaller than the females. The toad’s life begins in a spiral, jelly-like tube laid in strings of several thousand eggs. The eggs will hatch after 3–12 days, and the tadpoles will emerge. The tadpoles will grow over 50–65 days until they become fully grown, mature adults.

Varieties

There are several subspecies within the genus Anaxyrus, from which the North American toad belongs. Among these are the Eastern American toad, the Hudson Bay toad, and the Dwarf American toad.

Lifespan and Health Conditions

Understanding the health conditions your North American toad is prone to will help you provide your pet with a better quality of life. The North American toad can live as much as 10 years in captivity, but some have been recorded as living even longer.

The most serious issues that your North American toad may face include metabolic bone disease and obesity. Both medical complications are closely related to your toad’s diet. Therefore, feeding your pet a proper and healthy diet can minimize the chances of either of these conditions developing.

As for minor conditions, you must watch out for infections caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. These issues are minor when compared to metabolic bone disease and obesity; however, any health condition can become serious if left untreated, so don’t delay in getting help if you notice anything amiss with your pet.

Male vs Female

As mentioned, the male North American toad is typically smaller than the female. Males may also have a darker throat than females. Regarding mating, the North American toad usually mates from late spring to mid-summer.

3 Little-Known Facts About the North American Toad

1. North American Toads Are Primarily Insectivores, So They Mostly Eat Live Insects.

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2. They Are Typically Nocturnal.

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3. Males Have a Loud Mating Call.

Final Thoughts

The North American toad is a special amphibian that requires the best possible level of care. They have a bold yet occasionally shy temperament, and their entertaining nature makes them an excellent choice for first-time owners. We hope this article has helped you better understand the toad’s needs so you can provide the greatest quality of life for your pet.

• See also: Cane Toad vs Southern Toad: The Differences (with Pictures)

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Featured Image Credit: Viktor Loki, Shutterstock