Pet Toad Care Sheet

• Shedding is normal for toads, and younger ones will shed more frequently than adults. 
• Most toads reach adult size within 6–18 months. 
• Avoid touching toads with your bare hands, as their sensitive skin can absorb harmful substances from you, and they may also transfer diseases to you.  

• Some toads are highly vocal, and their calls sound like sneezes, chirps, or snores. 
• Pet toads tend to live longer than wild toads, around 10 years or more. 
• Toads are cold-blooded amphibians, not reptiles, and rely on external heat to help regulate their body temperature. 

You’ll need at least a 10– to 20-gallon tank for up to six adult toads. The toad species determines the tank size, as some are larger than others. Generally, for every additional toad, add 5 extra gallons of tank space.  

Housing multiple toads of the same species is usually fine. Only keep males and females together if you want to breed them, as females can lay hundreds of eggs at once. 

Line the bottom of the tank with at least two inches of substrate. Good options for toads include sphagnum moss, coconut fiber, or cypress mulch. Don’t use reptile carpet, artificial turf, or small gravel, as these can harm your toad. 

Ensure you have a moisture gradient in the enclosure, keeping one side of the tank drier and the other more humid or damp, so your pet can choose their preferred moisture level throughout the day and night.  

The tank should have a secure, well-ventilated, screened lid. Install an under-tank heating pad to one side of the enclosure to allow for a temperature gradient, and check the tank temperature daily to ensure it’s within the ideal 70–80 F range, with 80 F being on the warmer section of the tank near the heating pad. 

Place two thermometers in the tank to monitor the temperature gradient in the enclosure—one on the cool side closer to 70 F and one on the warm side closer to 80 F—or use a digital point-and-shoot thermometer to instantly read temperatures. The temperature gradient will vary based on toad species, so it is important to look up your toad’s specific temperature needs or consult with an exotic veterinary specialist. 

Use a low-level fluorescent UVB bulb to give your pet 10–12 hours of UV light daily. Turn this light off at night and replace the bulb every six months.  

Keep the humidity level in the enclosure between 50–60% on the drier side and 70% on the more humid side, depending on the toad species. Increase the humidity level by spraying the habitat with dechlorinated water, placing a water dish on one side, or using foggers. 

Give your toad at least two hiding areas inside the habitat—one on the warm side and one on the cool side. These help your toad regulate body temperature and also give them privacy.  

You can also include artificial or live plants throughout the habitat, like driftwood, terrarium leaves, cork bark, and branches.  

Spot-clean your pet’s tank daily by removing any uneaten food and droppings. Clean and disinfect food and water dishes every day. 

Thoroughly clean and disinfect your pet’s habitat at least once a month. Always wear powder-free latex gloves moistened with dechlorinated water to carefully move your toad to another secure location when you clean their main habitat.  

Discard old substrate and remove any decor and accessories. Scrub the tank and furnishings with an amphibian-safe habitat cleaner or a 3% bleach solution.  

Leave the solution on the tank for at least 10 minutes, then thoroughly rinse until the smell of the cleaning agent is gone. Let the habitat completely dry before placing in the new substrate, cleaned decor, and your toad.  

Feed juvenile toads daily with very small live insects—no longer than 1 inch—like pinhead crickets or wingless fruit flies. Adult toads can eat three to six insects during feedings every other day.  

For juvenile and adult toads, sprinkle a calcium plus vitamin D supplement onto the insects at every feeding, and sprinkle a multivitamin on the insects once a week for adults and two times a week for juveniles. 

Adult toads can eat a variety of gut-loaded (recently fed) live insects and worms, like crickets, earthworms, and roaches. Make sure the prey is no larger than the width of your toad’s mouth.  

Toads need clean, dechlorinated water in a large, shallow dish that’s deep enough for them to soak in. Clean the dish and replace water daily. 

For the most part, toads don’t enjoy being held. Handle them only when absolutely necessary. 

For handling, wear disposable, non-powdered gloves wet with dechlorinated water. During daily habitat cleaning, use a fine mesh net to move or block your toad.  

Remember that toads are potential carriers of infectious diseases like salmonella, so thoroughly wash your hands before and after handling your pet. 

Toads regularly shed their skin, often in one complete piece, and most will eat the shed skin. 

Take your toad to a vet every year for an annual checkup. You may also need to bring your pet in if you notice something is out of the ordinary, like eye or nasal discharge, skin lesions, or lack of appetite. These could be signs of a larger issue.  

Healthy toads have clean eyes, nostrils, and oral cavities. They have straight, smooth toes and a good appetite. 

• Appropriately sized habitat  
• Substrate and sphagnum moss  
• Water and mealworm dishes  
• Climbing decor, plants, and hideaways  
• Heat light and fixture  
• Under-tank heater, thermostats, and thermometers 
• UVB lighting and fixture  
• Multivitamin supplement  
• Calcium supplement with vitamin D  
• Cricket keeper, food, and quencher 
• Live insects 
• Humidity gauge 
• Water mister  

Is a toad a good pet? 

Toads can make great pets for the right person. They are fascinating to look at, relatively quiet, and often lower-maintenance than reptiles like bearded dragons or leopard geckos. Don’t capture wild toads, though, as they may carry parasites and other diseases. 

Is it legal to have a pet toad? 

Some states have laws against keeping toads as pets, so check what’s legal where you live. 

Can I catch a toad and keep it as a pet? 

Wild toads may harbor diseases or parasites, and they could be poisonous if you touch them. 

How long do toads live? 

Most toads live about 10 years with proper care, sometimes longer. 

How big do toads get? 

Depending on the species, toads can reach sizes anywhere from 1 to 6 inches. 

What do baby toads eat? 

Very young toads eat small insects like pinhead crickets and wingless fruit flies.