Malayan Forest Toad

Malayan Stream Toad
Red Small Toad
Keel-headed Toad

Bufo parvus

Description

Malayan forest toads are small, tan, grey or brown toads with red and black tubercles. They have a slightly lighter underbelly. They are quite active and can often be found in large groups. They grow to 2 inches (5 centimeters) long and can live 5 years or more.

Natural Habitat

Within their range, Malayan forest toads are considered quite common. They are native to Thailand, Cambodia, Peninsular Malaysia, southern Myanmar and Indonesia (Sumatra, Java and the Batu Island of Pini). They are usually found in or adjacent to lowland primary or secondary forests where they inhabit leaf litter, twig piles and foliated forest floor areas. They are seldom seen outside of the forest in open areas and are usually not far from slow-moving streams and rivers or forest pools.

Artificial Habitat

Malayan forest toads come from areas of subdued lighting and saturated or semi-saturated substrates. They do well in a well ventilated (but not drafty) horizontally-oriented enclosure (aquariums with screen tops work well for this). The substrate should incorporate a mix of sterile potting soil, mulch, bark, peat and sphagnum moss, and should be kept damp to the touch. Cork bark, sticks, logs and rocks provide additional vertical space as well as hiding places. A large shallow water dish should be provided, although slow-moving water features (such as bubblers or waterfalls) are better. This species also does very well on any of the severally designed foam inserts. Many of these also incorporate moving water which mimics this toad’s natural habitat nicely. Although the toads themselves do not require UV lighting, it is a good idea to incorporate plants and mosses in their habitat and they will certainly benefit from ultraviolet lighting. Ideally, temperatures should be kept in the 72-76 degree Fahrenheit range, but ambient household temperatures are usually adequate, particularly if a good insulating layer of substrate (or foam) is provided.

Diet

Malayan forest toads are active, largely nocturnal foragers with good appetites. Their natural diet consists largely of termites and ants (though not the kind of ant usually found in the United States however). In captivity they feed readily on phoenix worms, small red worms, small crickets, termites and small roaches. They will also feed on most any small vertebrate or invertebrate, and do not appear to be cannibalistic. As always, prey items should be gut-loaded prior to feeding and should be dusted with a vitamin/mineral supplement once or twice a week. Because they are a diminutive species, they eat more frequently than larger toads, and should be fed daily or at least every other day.

Caveats

Due to their commonality, abundance and small stature, all Malayan forest toads currently in the pet trade are wild caught. Although they are extremely hardy, periodically they arrive with some ailments, including but not limited to internal parasites. Most imported animals (and most captive raised animals for that matter) harbor some parasites that remain in a type of homeostasis, but the added stress of traveling can through this out of balance. The most important factor (even before any sort of treatment) in combating this problem is to remove the source(s) of the stress. Generally this is done by providing optimal environmental conditions (in this case, not handling) and allowing the animal to acclimate to its new surroundings. After, and only after, this has been attempted should any sort of treatment ensue if necessary. Consult a qualified reptile veterinarian for treatment suggestions.