Scientific Name: Bufo marinus.
Common Names: Cane Toad, Marine Toad, and Giant Toad.
Distribution: Originally from the Lower Rio Grande Valley in South Central America, they have been introduced to many other countries including Hawaii in 1932, Australia in 1935 and have now also spread into Peninsula Florida, the West Indies, and New Guinea.
Size: Males: 20cm, Females: 25cm.
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 and second fingers. Females have a more rounded body shape and can be up to twice the size of males.
Colouration: The colouration of these toads varies little across their range. Adults are usually a plain orange-brown. Juveniles are a grey-red brown with lighter or darker markings on the dorsal surface. Some populations in Barbados have a “golden” colouration, others such as those from the Dominican Republic retain the juvenile markings.
Requirements: These toads are very large individuals and require a large terrarium. A 24" x 18" x !8" vivarium would be adequate for a single adult. 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 hiding places. A large shallow water bowl (no deeper than the toad's height at rest) must be provided with clean de-chlorinated or spring water. The tank will need to be heated to a daytime temperature of 26°C with a drop at night to 23°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.
Maintenance: Water will need changing daily to avoid the build up of ammonia and bacteria. Whilst changing the water it is a good idea to spot clean the tank and remove, clean, and replace any soiled items. At least once a month the entire terrarium and it's contents should be striped, cleaned, and sterilized using an amphibian friendly disinfectant.
Feeding: Juvenile Toads should be fed daily with a mixture of suitably sized insects including crickets and 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 adult crickets, giant mealworms, earthworms, flour beetles, waxworms, adult locusts, pinkie mice, fish, and may even be trained to take inanimate foods such as lean raw steak, and cat / dog food. The food items should be dusted with a calcium and vitamin supplement once a week.
