Anaxyrus speciosus is a species of medium-sized toad that lives in southern America and northern Mexico. The habitats of Texas toads alter as they mature. Tadpoles inhabit the silt and aquatic vegetation of rivers, ponds, and streams. Snout-vent lengths for men and females are 52–78 mm (2.0–3.1 in) and 54–91 mm (2.1–3.6 in), respectively.
Habitat
Native to the western two-thirds of Texas, southeast New Mexico, and western Oklahoma are Texas toads (Anaxyrus speciosus). Northeastern and north-central Mexico are included in the southern extension of their range. Texas toads can be found in large numbers at Little Sahara State Park in Oklahoma and Big Bend National Park in south Texas. These toads are common in Mexico’s Tamaulipas Desert. It is a desert species that inhabits arid grasslands, savannahs with sporadic mesquite trees, and open woodlands. These habitats are typically sandy or frequently inundated.
Appearance
Texas toads have a rounded body with skin that is both grey and green. They have warty, bumpy skin like most toads do, and their dorsal side is speckled with brown and yellow spots. These toads contain tiny parotid glands behind their eyes that release a poison. Males can weigh up to 645–680g as adults, but females are often heavier, weighing 700–980g.
Eggs are brown with yellow specks and a jelly coating surrounding them. The average egg size is 1.8 mm; however, the range is 1.2-2.4 mm. The dorsal side of the tadpoles is pale green, and the ventral side is pale white. The average tadpole SVL is 19mm, ranging from 12-28mm. The tadpoles’ tails make up 60% of their entire body length.
Reproduction
Texas toads only reproduce during or up to 4 days following heavy rain, which occurs from April to September. In close proximity to permanent bodies of water like streams, pools, and irrigation ditches, mating will occur in a temporary pool. At this temporary pool, male Texas toads will call to establish a territory and will then violently battle one another. To entice women, the males will make commercial calls. All day and all night, there will be calls that last 1.5 seconds each with a one-second break. However, the chorus of toads can appear to be continuously singing.
Female Texas toads will approach the males, and it seems that they prefer the larger, louder-calling males to the smaller ones. Males will amplexus seize females if they are sufficiently close. If a female seizes an unsuitable man, she will try to swing him off. When a mating attempt is successful, the eggs are externally fertilized with sperm. Egg masses from multiple pairings may be present in one area, which is usually along the substrate at the foot of underwater plants.
Diet
Texas toads are algivores as tadpoles. Adults and children are insectivores. Ants, beetles and flies are among the opportunistic foods consumed by juveniles. Adults consume a greater variety of foods, such as these as well as crickets, real bugs (Order Hemiptera), cicadas, moths (Order Lepidoptera), and cicadas (Order Orthoptera). Spiders, centipedes, and millipedes are examples of non-insects. They are able to eat close or in the water. Since their prey are drawn to the lights, they may even forage under streetlights.
Conditions to Keep as Pet
Size of Enclosure
For two Texas Toads, I strongly advise at least a 40-gallon terrarium. These toads benefit from the increased room and work best in pairs. Being able to interact with them in their habitat is made much easier by having an Exo Terra front opening enclosure.
Humidity
50%–60%
Temperature
The ideal daytime temperature is from 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit (21 to 24 degrees Celsius). There is no need for a basking light. At room temperature, Texas toads thrive. Never allow the temperature to fall below 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15 degrees Celsius) at night, and try to keep it about 65 degrees (18 C). a low-watt heat source that is activated when the temperature gets too low. Heat that is too intense causes the cage to dry up and can be fatal to amphibians!
Lighting
UVB light is advised but not required in terms of lighting. This enhances the general health of your toads as well as the growth and health of your plants. The ideal UVB is a linear 2.0. Use no more than 2.0 because it is excessively strong and could hurt your toad!
Texas Toads were not fans of even 2.0 UVB, in my experience. They hid in their hut throughout the day because the light was only 20 inches away. Every other Friday calcium D3 doses instead of UVB light have worked wonderfully for mine.
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