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Square marked toads are native to Africa. They are an extremely wide ranging toad found in many countries including: Egypt, Gambia, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and many others.

The Square Marked Toad has colonised a broad range of habitats including moist savannah, tropical and subtropical forests and grassland, dry forests, the edges of rainforests (but never within true rain forest regions), human settlements, swamp land and even high altitude grassland, this species must be regarded as highly adaptable.

Square marked toads are highly inquisitive and lively toads, and can often be seen exploring their tank. They make an ideal first amphibian as they are relatively easy to care for.

Size

Males 6-9cm – Females 7-13cm

Life Span

(Captive) Pet Square marked toads can live 10 years plus with the right care.

Caging

Square Marked toads are quite large and will require a larger terrarium than most ground dwelling amphibians. A 15-20 Gallon tank should be adequate for 2 adult toads. They are quite social and can be housed with other square marked toads.

A coco husk substrate, sandy top soil or compost (without fertilisers), orchid bark chips, sphagnum moss, live moss and a selection of live plants can all be used in your set-up.

All amphibians require somewhere to hide and may become stressed if this is not provided. This could be a plant pot on its side, which is low cost but easily cleaned if it becomes soiled.

Logs and cork bark make good natural looking additions to your terrarium and make great hiding places. Plants and stones can also be used.

Stones or branches from the wild need to be debugged by soaking first in chlorine/water solution, then rinsed thoroughly, soaked in clean water, then left to dry in the sun. Some live plants may be harmful to your toad.

Square marked toads are very inquisitive animals and like to explore new surroundings. Once in a while change the layout of the terrarium; this will keep your toad from becoming bored. You will notice once you put your toad(s) back in the tank it will start to re-explore its new surroundings.

All amphibians need fresh water daily. A large water bowl should be given (no deeper than the toads height when at rest) with de-chlorinated or bottled spring water. The water should be changed daily to avoid the build up of bacteria.

Toads like most amphibians will soak up water through their skin and since their water bowl is used as the main place to defecate it is important that it is cleaned regularly.

Misting the tank regularly with de-chlorinated or bottled spring water will ensure that the substrate does not dry out. Placing the water bowl in the warmer side of the terrarium will also raise humidity levels.

Heating & Lighting

Square marked toads do not need the edition of UV lighting if they have enough vitamins and variation in their diet. Although you may find the live plants in your terrarium will die without any light. A fluorescent UVB tube is ideal as it won’t give out any heat and will help the plants thrive. You should place the light at one side of the terrarium creating a light gradient so your toads can find a darker place out of the light if preferred. Ideally you should cycle the lighting to mimic the toads natural habitat by having a 12/12 system - 12 hours of light and 12 of dark.

The ideal temperature for your toads is a temperature gradient of 21-26°C with a slight temperature drop at night or 2 or 3 degrees.

Heat should be provided using a under tank heat mat with thermostat. Heat mats should only cover between a third and a half of the floor space to allow your toad to thermo regulate. A cool hide should be placed in one end of the tank and a hotter hide at the warmer end, giving your toads a place to hide at both ends.

Never use heat lamps or basking lamps for amphibians, as these can cause your toads to dehydrate.

It's useful to have a small thermometer on either end of the terrarium to check the temperature. One end should be around 26°C and the other around 21°C. Your toads can thermo-regulate by moving around the tank.

Diet

Toads should be fed daily with a varied diet of appropriately sized gut loaded insects, including meal worms, crickets, small grass hoppers, flour beetles, wax-worms, moths, caterpillars, earthworms and woodlice. Feeding 3 or 4 insects per toad per feeding. The live food should be dusted with calcium supplements once a week.

Square marked toads will actively hunt their food, instead of waiting for it to come to them like other frogs and toads. This makes them enjoyable to watch at feeding time.

Breeding