Keeping/Breeding:

Approx. 10 years ago about 6 Bufo melanostictus from Thailand were released in a temperatured section of a palm house in Austria. Climate in this section is tropical with a mean temperature of approx. 24°C. A minimum temperature of 18°C is reached in winter. In summer temperature sometimes may exceed 30°C. Humidity exceeds 90 %.

During summer when the sun is shining hot the palm house is rained every 20 minutes. Breeding takes place mostly in spring and late summer. During summer time some toads also may be found outside, but there they are not able to survive winter.

Below the higher vegetation relatively thickly growing tropical herbs and small bushes cover the bottom. For decoration large pieces of brunks are lying between this vegetation and during the day are used by the toads for resting. The toads are not fed additionally. They obviously find enough food like snails and centipedes.

The pond measures approx. 8 square meters and especially in low water regions contains plenty of water plants. Water is temperatured to approx. 26 °C. Some small fish species and Chinese Fire Bellied Toads live in it.

Besides the toads also Australian Swamp Frogs occupy the section and spawn in the pond (foam nests). Meanwhile more than 100 toads are estimated to live in the palm house.

They not only live in the tropical section but also occupy both neighboring sections (temperate climate). Moreover by plant exchange very small juveniles reached the reserve garden which is approx 1 km from the palm house.

As plants are exchanged with the palm house regulary the toads were able to get as far as there. Now often very big toads are observed below the green house tables which are covered by Tradescantia.

The toads occur in quite different houses, not only in the tropical, but also in quite dry and cool houses. But they have the possibility to go from one house to the other. Anyway, they are only able to breed in the heated palm house.

On the whole I would say that Black Spined Toads must be an ecologically very tolerant species.

Remark:

From the description by Andreas can be concluded that breeding Black Spined Toads may succeed under the following conditions:

A several months of drier and cooler conditions at approx. 18°C. Possibly at these temperatures less food is available. Anyway, the toads won't slow down to real dormancy.

Thereafter a several months of humid conditions with frequently spraying and a mean temperature of 24°C up to max 30°C should follow. Now also offer plenty of food.

For spawning arrange for a water temperature of approx. 26°C and include many water plants (plastic plants certainly also are ok).

Offering the toads a permanently rained water container possibly will be successful, as during breeding season also the palm house is rained very often.

Possibly the toads are ready to breed when the males have developped nuptial pads.


It would be interesting if someone checked the above conclusions under terrarium conditions.