Colorado River toad (Incilius alvarius)

Short answers

Colorado River toad: How big does the enclosure need to be?

100×50×50 cm.

Colorado River toad: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 26–32 °C, basking spot No basking spot, at night 18–22 °C.

Colorado River toad: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Recommended (UVB 2–5 %).

Colorado River toad: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 10–20 years.

Colorado River toad: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

26–32 °C

Night temperature

18–22 °C

Basking spot

No basking spot

Humidity

40–55 %, a short rainy season

UVB

Recommended (UVB 2–5 %)

Enclosure

Minimum size

100×50×50 cm

Substrate

Sand-loam they can dig in, stones, a shallow water dish

Feeding

Food

Large insects, roaches, earthworms

Feeding interval

2×/week

Key facts

Adult size

11–19 cm

Life expectancy

10–20 years

Origin

The Sonoran Desert (Arizona, northern Mexico)

Protection status

IMPORTANT: The skin secretion contains 5-MeO-DMT, which falls under German narcotics law. The toad itself may be kept – extracting, possessing and passing on the secretion are criminal offences. In parts of its range, taking it from the wild is additionally prohibited.

Brumation

A dry rest of 8–12 weeks

Cohabitation

Keeping singly is always safe. A pair works as long as both animals are roughly the same size and are fed separately. As soon as one animal refuses food, loses weight or shows injuries, separate them - this is not an exception but the planned normal case.

Notes

A desert species with a long dry rest and a short rainy season; without this rhythm there is no breeding. The skin toxin is highly active in humans and pets – never lick it or let it be milked, as dogs die from it. The legal position around the secretion is unambiguous: hands off.

Do you keep this species?

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

Look for Colorado River toad (Incilius alvarius) in the marketplace →

Related species

• African common toad (Sclerophrys regularis) – Beginner
• Cane toad (Rhinella marina) – Beginner
• American toad (Anaxyrus americanus) – Beginner
• Asian common toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus) – Beginner
• Common toad (Bufo bufo) – Beginner
• Natterjack toad (Epidalea calamita) – Intermediate
• European green toad (Bufotes viridis) – Intermediate
• Italian crested newt (Triturus carnifex) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Colorado River toad (Incilius alvarius) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (100×50×50 cm), substrate (Sand-loam they can dig in, stones, a shallow water dish), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.