Toad Pictures

Sally, the largest female

Bufo debilis Information and Care

Description: A small toad (1.25 to 2 inches long) with a flat head and body. Their skin is green with black lines or dots. Males are smaller, with a dark throat. Females are larger, with a light-colored throat.
The markings on the Western subspecies, Bufo debilis insidior, are more often black lines. The Eastern subspecies, Bufo debilis debilis, has black spots.

Wild habitat and behavior: These toads shelter under rocks and plants in semi-arid regions of the south-central U.S. and northeast Mexico. Our toads are from around El Paso, Texas.
They are nocturnal and are most often seen in the wild during or after heavy rains. When threatened, their defense is to flatten their body against the ground.

Calling: Males have a round vocal sac. They call while floating head-up in the water, or sometimes from under cover near the water. Their call is a high-pitched, cricket-like trill lasting for 5-6 seconds with intervals of the same length.

Wild Breeding: From March to September with heavy rains. Strings of eggs are attached to plants in the water. If conditions are not favorable, the toads do not breed.

Enclosure: At least a 20 gallon for 4-6 toads, mostly land but with a water dish. To breed, they will need a bigger tank (55 gallon?) with one end divided off for water.

Lighting: Fluorescent suitable for plants, with incandescent for heat in warm seasons.

Temperature: In winter, average house, use fluorescent lights during daytime. In summer, add incandescent so day temp is 75+. They may need a winter cooling period to breed.

Food: Small crickets (well-fed and gut-loaded), small mealworms, etc.

Captive behavior: Mellow and not shy after they become used to their surroundings. They do best in groups. They like to climb onto pots and shelves to sit and possibly bask. They go into the water once every day or two. They are most active in the evening, but sometimes are out during the day. They dig shallow depressions in the substrate to sleep in, or crawl under moss or low plants. We have observed no aggression between them, and have seen them sitting close to each other or even on top of each other. The larger toads made no attempt to eat the juvenile toad even when he was quite small.

Links and References

Article in Reptile Hobbiest magazine, February 1997

There are many web sites related to frogs and toads, but these have information on Bufo debilis:

Anuran -- This page has an e-mail list and searchable archives.
TOADs Dome -- Lots of toad info.