So I went to a reptile expo and knew I wanted to get a Cane toad because I’ve been in love with them for a while and was one of my dream amphibians. So I got a toad it was in a big tub with about 10 of them in there I knew they were most likely wild caught from Florida as most of them are, but I was ready to deal with whatever pests it came with. So I paid the $15 got a toad and was on my way home. When we got home put him in his new home and a few days later I looked at it to see if there was any noticeable pests or parasites crawling around. Yep. There sure is. I’m not sure what it is because I haven’t really dealt with anything like that before but he has little white bugs crawling around on him and I’m not sure how I should go about treating him. If anyone knows what it is or how I should treat him any help would be much appreciated. If anyone needs pictures I can take some if you need to see what they look like. Just want my little Randall boy to be healthy. (Yes I named him Randall lol, not 100% sure if it is a boy or girl but either way Randall is the name)
So I just googled “cane toads”. I don’t know how to paste websites yet but according to the first one I looked at, these “spots” are toxic poisons and can be fatal to other pets in the household. I am just repeating what I read so please research it for yourself as well and please don’t take my word for it. The toads in this article were from Florida as well.
If I am wrong please forgive me. Others will, I am sure, give advice. When I saw the word “toxin” I just wanted to jump in just in case……
Oops I just reread your post and I see that you stated “little white bugs” not “ spots”. In this case I could be wwwwaaaaayyyy wrong! @lumpy ? Did I goof on this one?
I will definitely see what Travis thinks you can do to help @pegakorn1. @t_h_wyman is a super wonderful wealth of knowledge and should have some helpful information for you.
I’m just worried about it being wild caught and it just picking up and being brought in with them. @pegakorn1 what are you currently keeping this animal on?
Ok so those white specks may be the mite eggs? But don’t mites (dark specks), feed off the host and then crawl off to lay eggs (white specks)? I had a run of mites on my snakes, don’t ask me how, and this was the pattern I experienced. I think.
In any case the mites should be dealt with as they are feeding off your toad? And “mite” this be very uncomfortable and detrimental to your toad?
However I don’t have knowledge of parasite cure for amphibians. But I would bet these are plain old fashioned mites……
Also in the top picture the specks do look brown…… Ivermectin is another mite treatment in reptiles but here again, Randall (he looks like a Randall by the way), is a toad so if I were you, I would get him to a vet asap because mites are GREAT crawlers/travelers. You could also put him on paper towels for awhile to watch for crawling brown specks that “bleed” when you crush them…… that way you would know for sure
So these are wood mites, in my opinion. I had them in an enclosure this year due to high humidity. They’re harmless, but they can be a little annoying at times. They won’t harm your toad, as far as I’m aware.
The white specks were moving around and crawing so I’m assuming they are not eggs but i do find the mites in large groups around and on very moist bits of the soil.
