Categories
Amphibian Basic Care Guides

American Toad (Anaxyrus spp.)

Care level: Beginner

Temperament: outgoing and interactive; handling should be kept to a minimum

Minimum Enclosure Size: 20 gallon long (30x12x12” (75x30x30cm)) for 1, 40 gallon breeder (36x18x18” (90x45x45cm)) for 2, add approximately 10 gallons (40L) for each additional toad

Cohabitation: generally can cohab if each individual is of similar size, but can be kept alone

Ideal Temp: 70-75°F (21-24°C)

Night Temp: ~65°F (18°C)

Safe Temp Range: 60-85°F (15-29°C)

UVB: UVI zone 0.5-1/Ferguson zone 1 (e.g. Arcadia Shadedweller 7% at 18+” (45+cm) with no mesh or at 12+” (30+cm) over typical mesh)

Humidity: 50-60%, but can tolerate higher and lower

Diet: insectivorous

Size: 1.5-4” (4-10cm); with exception of Anaxyrus quercicus 0.8-1.5” (2-3.5cm)

(care guide written with contributions by mandi#6740)

Species Specific Details + Other Resources

Anaxyrus americanus americanus (eastern American toad)

  • Wild Distribution – wide variety of habitats throughout the eastern half of the United States (NE Alabama, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, N Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, E Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, N Mississippi, North Carolina, E North Dakota, E Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, NW South Carolina, E South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia), Canada (SE Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec)
  • Size – males 2-3.3” (54-85mm), females 2-4.3” (56-110mm)
  • Other Resources – ADW – Anaxyrus americanus ssp., AmphibiaWeb – Anaxyrus americanus ssp.

Anaxyrus americanus charlesmithi (dwarf American toad)

Anaxyrus cognatus (Great Plains toad)

  • Wild Distribution – lower, damper areas of grasslands in central United States (Arizona, SE California, Colorado, W Iowa, Kansas, W Minnesota, W Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, S Nevada, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, NE Wyoming), north/central Mexico, and small parts of southern Canada
  • Size – males 1.75-4” (45-100mm), females 2-4.5” (50-115mm)
  • Other Resources – ADW – Anaxyrus cognatus, AmphibiaWeb – Anaxyrus cognatus, Hopp’in Help – Great Plains Toad Care

Anaxyrus fowleri (Fowler’s toad)

  • Wild Distribution – coastal, sandy regions near lakes and river valleys throughout eastern/central United States (Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, West Virginia), southern Canada (Ontario)
  • Size – males 1.5-3” (40-75mm), females 2-3.5” (55-85mm)
  • Other Resources – ADW – Anaxyrus fowleri, AmphibiaWeb – Anaxyrus fowleri

Anaxyrus houstonensis (Houston toad)

Anaxyrus quercicus (oak toad)

  • Wild Distribution – moist, grassy areas near pine/oak savannahs with sandy soil throughout southeast United States (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia)
  • Size – males .75-1” (20-26mm), females 1-1.2” (24-30mm)
  • Other Resources – ADW – Anaxyrus quercicus, AmphibiaWeb – Anaxyrus quercicus

Anaxyrus speciosus (Texas toad)

Anaxyrus terrestris (southern toad)