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Care Sheet: Black-spined Toad (Bufo melanostictus)

Common Name: Black-spined Toad, House Toad, Shingleback Toad, Gold Toad, Asian Toad, Spined Warty Toad.

Scientific Name: Bufo melanostictus.

Distribution: Asia.

Size: 8-10cm.

Sexing: The males of this species can be heard calling, this is the most reliable way of sexing. The males also tend to have darker skin on the throat and during breeding season nuptial pads appear on the first three fingers. Females have a more rounded body shape and are usually larger than males.

Colouration: Pale buff background with jet-black tubercles and orange-brown markings. These brown markings may be absent on juveniles.

Requirements: These toads are rather large individuals and require a fairly large terrarium. A 15-gallon tank would be adequate for 2-3 adults. They require a woodland / savannah type set-up with a substrate of bark chips, sandy topsoil, and moss. Furnishings such as logs, cork bark, rock and sturdy leafed plants can be arranged to provide a number of climbing and hiding places. A large water bowl (no deeper than the toad's height at rest) must be provided with clean de-chlorinated or spring water. The water will need to be changed daily to avoid the build up of ammonia and bacteria in the water whilst changing the water it is a good idea to visually inspect the tank and remove, clean and replace any soiled items. The tank will need to be heated to a daytime temperature of 24 - 26°C with a drop at night to 20-22°C this can be done with an under-tank heat-mat controlled by a thermostat. It is not advisable to use spot / heat lamps with amphibians and so a separate light source should be provided by the means of a fluorescent UVB tube. Once every two-three weeks the tank and its contents should be completely cleaned and sterilised using an amphibian / reptile friendly disinfectant.

Feeding: Juvenile Toads should be fed daily with a mixture of suitably sized insects including small crickets and mini-mealworms. The food items should be dusted with a calcium and vitamin supplement two-three times a week. Adult Toads should be fed every two-three days with a mixture of crickets, regular mealworms, earthworms, flour beetles, waxworms, moths, and caterpillars. The food items should be dusted with a calcium and vitamin supplement once a week.

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