Common toad (Bufo bufo)

Short answers

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

80×40×40 cm.

Common toad: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 16–22 °C, basking spot No basking spot, at night 10–16 °C.

Common toad: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Recommended (UVB 2 %).

Common toad: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 15–30 years.

Common toad: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

16–22 °C

Night temperature

10–16 °C

Basking spot

No basking spot

Humidity

70–85 %

UVB

Recommended (UVB 2 %)

Enclosure

Minimum size

80×40×40 cm

Substrate

Forest floor with leaf litter and moss, hiding places, a shallow water dish

Feeding

Food

Earthworms, slugs, insects

Feeding interval

2–3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

8–13 cm

Life expectancy

15–30 years

Origin

Europe, north-western Africa, Asia

Protection status

Specially protected (German Federal Species Protection Ordinance) – taking from the wild is prohibited, only legal captive breeding

Brumation

A winter rest of 12–16 weeks at 3–8 °C

Cohabitation

Single keeping. The common toad mostly lives singly; it only gathers at the breeding ponds and sometimes hibernates in groups. A group of equal-sized animals is possible if the enclosure is large and each animal has its own hide; downside: it swallows anything that fits in its mouth (even small mice), smaller animals are at risk, and the skin toxin can stress conspecifics.

Notes

A native species, to be kept cool – permanent room warmth markedly shortens its life. Documented captive-bred animals only; taking it from the wild is a criminal offence. It needs a genuine overwintering.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• African common toad (Sclerophrys regularis) – Beginner
• Cane toad (Rhinella marina) – Beginner
• American toad (Anaxyrus americanus) – Beginner
• Asian common toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus) – Beginner
• Colorado River toad (Incilius alvarius) – Intermediate
• 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 Common toad (Bufo bufo) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (80×40×40 cm), substrate (Forest floor with leaf litter and moss, hiding places, 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.