How do toads (warty toads) safely overwinter? Winter management methods

The toad is also called the warty toad and is an amphibian with warts on its skin. The toad venom extracted from its body is also a rare traditional Chinese medicinal material. The toad is an animal that hibernates, and safe overwintering is crucial for toad farming. So, how do toads safely overwinter? Let's find out together!

1. Strengthen autumn feeding

Toads are ectothermic animals and enter hibernation whenever the weather turns cold, so we must strengthen their nutrition when they enter hibernation, otherwise by the end of hibernation their nutrition will be insufficient and they will die. Toads, like frogs, can only see moving creatures and cannot see stationary things, so feeding must take this into account. You can mix okara with pig blood, put it into containers, and place them in the enclosure to let it ferment on its own, attracting flies and insects to lay eggs, which will then hatch into maggots for the toads to feed on by themselves. In addition, at dusk or at night, turn on lighting equipment to attract mosquitoes and insects for the toads to prey on. You can also buy yellow mealworms and snails to feed them.

2. Preparation before winter

Toad farming is divided into outdoor and indoor farming, but regardless of whether it is indoor or outdoor, preparations must be made before overwintering. First, inspect the farming site to see whether there are any leaks. If leaks are found, block them and replenish the water in time. If there are no leaks, check the water quality. If the water quality is poor, change the water in time. If the water quality is good, then do not change the water. When the toads enter the water to overwinter, dilute bleaching powder and spray it for disinfection to prevent the toads from being troubled by pathogens during hibernation.

3. Outdoor overwintering

For outdoor overwintering, dig ditches around the farming site and excavate several water trenches. Make the trenches as large as possible and store about 0.3-1 m of water in them. The amount of stored water depends on the temperature: in slightly warmer areas less water can be stored, while in colder areas the water needs to be deeper. Then place 10-30 toads per sq m to overwinter. Pay attention to the temperature and the water surface conditions. If the temperature is low and the water surface freezes, break the ice layer in time. This allows oxygen to dissolve into the water and prevents the toads from dying due to lack of oxygen. For outdoor overwintering, always pay attention to the water surface conditions.

4. Indoor overwintering

Indoor overwintering is more convenient than outdoor overwintering. Deepen the water level in the farming pond by about 20 cm, then put the toads in to overwinter. Because the indoor temperature is higher than outdoors, the water surface generally will not freeze, but you still need to pay attention to the temperature. If the temperature is too high, the toads will not hibernate enough, which is not good for later rearing. Keep the water temperature above zero degrees and below 10 degrees.

The above are the methods for safe overwintering of toads compiled by the Tuliu.com editor. We hope they can help you!