LA
Egyptian toad giving the general area the once over.
LA
Better picture in his new home.
Origin:
With the appellation Egyptian toad, you know these guys come from
Egypt. They were probably the plague of frogs Moses furnished old
Pharaoh so he'd let his people go. During a plague, very few people
quibble over the differences between toads and frogs. Egyptian toads
are spread all over Africa in any area that has a wet season.
LA
Quite a bit of variation in their colors when in different conditions.
LA
Delivered to our door in a deli cup.
Size:
Neither a mini nor a monster, Egyptian toads grow to an excellent
pet size (unlike the heftier cane toads). You can easily keep two or
three in a 10-gallon aquarium.
LA
Not so typical amplexus.
Breeding:
Three Egyptian toads were inadvertently placed with three chubby
frogs overnight because the Egyptian suite had not been prepared. Next
morning we extricated all but this guy. He was dedicated to his
purpose in life even when picked up. He was in love. She was not
impressed. She tried to waddle away to no avail. He was stuck on
her in every sense of the word. Like most toad/frog males, Egyptian
toads develop sticky black pads on their "hands" to hold onto the females
during egg production. We left him to his own devices because arduous
males will also cling to human hands with equal ardor.
LA
Egyptian toad not spotting his cricket yet.
Feeding:
In their African homeland, Egyptian toads consume vast quantities
of ants and termites. (Not too many critters will willingly eat ants.)
They adapt instantly to crickets. I accidentally dropped some 40
crickets into a cage with two Egyptians. They polished them off quite
rapidly.
LA
Formerly a mere 10-gallon tank, now a luxurious Egyptian suite. Note
that filter tube.
LA
Plenty of room in these terra cotta hideaways.
Housing:
In their luxurious Egyptian suite, these three Egyptian toads have easy
access to their own private pool (alas, no high board and no lifeguard) to the
left plus two sturdy cabañas two the right. Two sort of tropical
looking plastic plants complete the suite.
LA
Pretty good jumpers.
LA
Excellent climbers. That airline tube works as well as a mountain
climber's safety rope.
LA
Right to the top sans benefit of lederhosen.
Keep them Covered:
Egyptian toads have little else to do all day other than trying to
figure out how to Steve McQueen their Egyptian suites, no matter how
luxurious or Luxor-ious. You need a secure cover if you want to keep
them successfully.
LA
Plants Optional:
Egyptian toads see plants as something to hide behind or
under. Add
them if YOU like them. They will provide their own toadstools, so you
need to clean them weekly -- thus the simplicity of their Egyptian suite.
LA
Crickets hiding behind him -- lotsa crickets. Not their best hiding
place but it's working for now.
Security:
Egyptian toads need a little hideaway because they know
instinctively that big critters eat little critters. They know because
little critters eat even smaller critters which eat etc. Small flower pots work well.
LA
IF you fail to provide a hiding place, they'll make their own.
Hunkerers:
Egyptian toads will dig their own hideaway. They'll also
burrow in during dry spells
LA
Remember lover boy?
Eight hours later this guy's still hard at work.
LA
Actually one of the prettier toads in the hobby.
Last Words:
Egyptian toads make an interesting, attractive, easy-to-keep
critter. They're inexpensive and fun to keep. Last odd fact:
Egyptian toads were once used in pregnancy tests like rabbits and African
clawed frogs. LA
© 2008
LA Productions
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