Cane toad (Rhinella marina)

Short answers

Cane toad: How big does the enclosure need to be?

120×60×60 cm for a pair.

Cane toad: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–28 °C, basking spot No basking spot, at night 20–23 °C.

Cane toad: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Recommended (UVB 2–5 %).

Cane toad: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 10–15 years in the wild, up to 20 years with good care.

Cane toad: Is it suitable for beginners?

Yes – it is considered suitable for beginners (difficulty: Beginner).

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–28 °C

Night temperature

20–23 °C

Basking spot

No basking spot

Humidity

60–80 %

UVB

Recommended (UVB 2–5 %)

Enclosure

Minimum size

120×60×60 cm for a pair

Substrate

Unfertilised potting or forest soil, or coco fibre, 10–20 cm deep and diggable, plus leaf litter and pieces of bark; a shallow water area of about 60×30 cm at around 10 cm water depth

Feeding

Food

Large insects, roaches, earthworms, the occasional nestling

Feeding interval

2–3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

females up to about 23 cm body length and over 1 kg, males remain noticeably smaller

Life expectancy

10–15 years in the wild, up to 20 years with good care

Origin

Originally Central and South America, from the Amazon region through Central America to southern Texas; introduced to, among other places, Australia, Hawaii, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan and Egypt. The IUCN lists it among the hundred most damaging invasive species worldwide, though it is not on the EU Union list.

Protection status

Not on the EU list of invasive species, but considered highly invasive worldwide – never release it

Brumation

None

Cohabitation

Singly or as a pair; only similarly sized animals. Only put together animals of the same species and roughly the same size — smaller ones will otherwise be treated as food. Enough hides so that every animal can get out of the way.

Notes

A very large, powerful skin toxin (bufotoxin) in the parotoid glands – wash your hands after every contact, and it is life-threatening to dogs and cats. Straightforward and long-lived; it eats practically anything that moves. Never release it into the wild.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

Look for Cane toad (Rhinella marina) in the marketplace →

Related species

• African common toad (Sclerophrys regularis) – Beginner
• American toad (Anaxyrus americanus) – Beginner
• Asian common toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus) – Beginner
• Colorado River toad (Incilius alvarius) – Intermediate
• Common toad (Bufo bufo) – Beginner
• Natterjack toad (Epidalea calamita) – Intermediate
• European green toad (Bufotes viridis) – Intermediate
• Alpine newt (Ichthyosaura alpestris) – Beginner

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Cane toad (Rhinella marina) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (120×60×60 cm for a pair), substrate (Unfertilised potting or forest soil, or coco fibre, 10–20 cm deep and diggable, plus leaf litter and pieces of bark; a shallow water area of about 60×30 cm at around 10 cm water depth), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.