Frogs vs. Toads

~ BackwaterReptiles

Ever wonder what the difference is between frogs and toads?

Frogs and toads are very similar animals after all and both are in fact amphibians. So what differentiates these two animals from one another? Read our Frogs vs. Toads blog post to find out!

Frogs vs Toads

Frogs vs. Toads – Proximity to Water

One difference between frogs and toads is that frogs live in or near a water source. Toads, on the other hand, can live on land in dryer environments, although they do still need a certain degree of moisture present to thrive.

Eastern Spadefoot Toad
This is an Eastern Spadefoot Toad. It has unusually large and bulbous eyes for a toad as well as unusually moist skin.

Frogs will actually spend most of their time in the water and are adept swimmers. Toads prefer to be on land and are not very graceful in the water.

Frogs vs. Toads – Physical Differences

There are a number of physical differences in the way frogs and toads are built that also help differentiate them from one another.

Frogs have smooth, moist skin, while toads have rough, bumpy skin that is often dry.

Glass Frog Underbelly
This is a glass frog. This species is known for its transparent skin that allows you to see its internal organs.

The hind legs of frogs are very long, graceful, and powerful because their main method of locomotion is jumping. Toads tend to have shorter, stumpier legs that enable them to walk or hop instead of jump long distances.

Frogs are generally lean, athletic-looking amphibians, whereas toads tend to have bodies that make them appear squat and out of shape.

A toad’s eyes are usually shaped like a football, but a frog has round, saucer-like eyes. A frog’s eyes will also bulge out a bit from its skull, while a toad’s eyes will not bulge.

Firebelly Toad
Don’t let is name fool you! The Firebelly Toad is not actually a toad at all, but rather a frog. It lives a mostly aquatic life.

Most frogs also possess some kind of teeth. Some frogs have vomerine teeth, which are located on the roof of the frog’s mouth. Other frogs might have maxillary teeth in addition to (or in place of) the vomerine teeth. This distinguishes them from toads, which have no teeth.

Frogs vs. Toads – Behavior

The main difference in behavior between toads and frogs is the amount of time each animal spends in the water. As mentioned earlier, most frogs prefer aqueous environments, whereas toads live on dry land.

South American Giant Marine Toad
The South American Giant Marine Toad is an enormous toad that exhibits the classic toad physical traits of bumpy skin and squatness.

Both toads and frogs are omnivores and eat everything from worms, crickets, and roaches to algae and pond sediment.

When it comes to reproduction, frogs lay their eggs in clusters very near to a water source as the tadpoles need to hatch into a watery environment. Toads will often lay their eggs in long chains. The young of both frogs and toads need to be born/hatched near water to survive.

Frogs vs. Toads – Toxicity

Both frogs and toads can be poisonous, however only toads possess poison glands behind their eyes.

Frogs, such as the Poison Dart Frog, can exude a poison through their skin. Scientists are currently unsure of what causes these frogs to be able to secrete such a poison, but they believe it to be something the frogs generate from plants or food in their wild habitats since the captive bred frogs are not toxic.

Tomato Frog
The Tomato Frog can exude a white substance from its skin when aggravated. This substance can be irritating if it comes into contact with human skin.

A toad’s toxicity comes from the poison glands behind its eyes. Whenever a toad feels threatened, it can secrete poison through its skin. This poison can then be ingested by a predator or come into contact with the skin of another animal (even a human handler) and cause irritation.

The same gland behind the toad’s eyes can also produce a separate compound that makes the toad taste awful when a predator tries to eat it. The predator will try to eat the toad and end up spitting it out due to the bad taste. Frogs do not possess these glands.

Frogs vs. Toads – Conclusion

These are not all the differences between frogs and toads, but they are the basic ones.

It should also be noted that the differences and similarities listed are discussed as generalities and that not all frogs or toads will fit neatly into one category or another. A good example of this is the Surinam Toad (Pipa pipa) which is technically a frog but looks very much like a toad and even has the word “toad” in its common name. We wrote a whole blog article discussing the unique nature of this frog that you can read here.

One thing that both frogs and toads have in common is that they make great pets. This is why Backwater Reptiles has a large selection of frogs for sale as well as a sizable collection of toads for sale.

Suriname Toad (Pipa pipa)

~ BackwaterReptiles

The Suriname Toad (Pipa pipa) is one very unique and fascinating amphibian. Everything about them – from their appearance to the manner they reproduce – is odd.

Because these amphibians are growing in popularity in the reptile/amphibian pet world, we thought we’d dedicate an entire blog post to them in which we’ll address the most frequently asked questions we get about these unusual animals.

Is the Suriname Toad actually a toad? Or is it a frog?

You’d think that because the word “toad” is in its name that Pipa pipa would be a toad, right? Although it does resemble a toad in color, it is still very much a frog.

Suriname toad - Pipa pipa
This is a front view of the Suriname Toad out of the water. These are some FLAT frogs!

Toads live much of their life on dry land (albeit close to a water source), but Pipa pipa is an aquatic amphibian and actually spends most of its time in the water. While these frogs can leave the water, their body shape just isn’t designed that well for life on land. They are awkward on land, whereas in the water, they are quite at home and even graceful.

Frogs have thin, smooth skin that is usually wet, whereas toads have dry, nodular, bumpy skin. The Suriname Toad’s skin more closely resembles a frog’s because even though it does possess texture, overall it is smooth to the touch and nearly always wet.

Why are these animals so flat?

One of the attributes that draws hobbyists to Pipa pipa is its bizarre appearance. The first thing most people notice when seeing one of these frogs for the first time is how flat they are. Being flat helps them to camouflage and appear like leaf litter, wooden detritus, or other large sediment that settles to the bottom of murky ponds.

Their unique body shape also allows them to be streamlined when swimming.

Surinam Toad
You can see how this frog’s flat body shape helps it to look like detritus on the floor of a pond.

I’ve heard these frogs have amazing reproductive habits. Do they really hatch babies from their backs?

Yes! One of the most intriguing tidbits about the Suriname Toad is that rather than lay eggs that require hatching like most amphibians, Pipa pipa “hatches” fully formed froglets from the skin on its back! Unlike most amphibians which go through metamorphosis, the Surinam toad emerges as a fully formed miniature version of the adult frog.

After very elaborate mating rituals in which the males make clicking sounds underwater to attract a mate, the mating begins. While the male and female are performing the act, they somersault and do acrobatics that allow for the eggs to stick to the female’s back. The eggs will then sink into her back skin and form a “honeycomb” from which baby froglets will hatch.

Is the Suriname Toad endangered?

Thankfully, the Surinam Toad is listed as being an animal of “Least Concern” according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

They are commonly found and widespread throughout the Amazon Basin in South American countries.

How do I care for my pet Suriname Toad?

The nice thing about keeping Pipa pipa as a pet is that they are undemanding amphibians. They just need the bare minimum to be healthy and happy. A twenty gallon aquarium, which is the minimum recommended size for a single adult, an aquatic plant or two, and plenty of food is pretty much all that is needed.

Top view of Pipa pipa
The top view of Pipa pipa shows that it has weak front arms, powerful hind legs for swimming, a blocky triangular head, and beady little eyes.

Because they lack tongues, the Suriname toad is an ambush predator. Unlike a typical frog which will can extend its sticky tongue to catch food, this toad will sit unmoving until prey gets near it. Then it moves very quickly and snatches up anything small enough to fit in its mouth. They are happy to eat small feeder fish and earth worms which are readily available at any pet store.

Overall, the Suriname toad is a very quiet animal and will simply sit on the bottom of its tank for most of the day. From time to time, they swim to the surface of the water for air, but unless it’s feeding time, you can expect them to be very predictable pets.

If you want to own one of these “ugly cute” frogs for yourself, Backwater Reptiles has Suriname Giant Toads for sale.

Best Pet Anole Lizards

~ BackwaterReptiles

If you’re wondering what the best pet anole lizards are, you’re not alone. Anoles are very common pet lizards and are especially popular with those who are new to keeping pet reptiles. This is because they are small, easy to care for, and very pretty to look at.

I remember being a kid at the local pet store, and they would always have a tank full of Green anoles. I thoroughly enjoyed keeping them as pets, but back then, I had no idea the world of anoles was so large.

Did you know that there are many species of anoles that make great pets, even though the green anole (Anolis carolinensis) is the most widely available in pet stores?

In this blog entry, we’ll discuss the top four anole species we think make the best pets, excluding the very common green anole (Anolis carolinensis) and brown anole (Anolis sagrei), which both make excellent pets.

Big Head Anole (Anolis cybotes)

Best pet anole lizards
Pictured is a male Big Head Anole. You can tell his gender by his pronounced dewlap, head crest, and the bright green stripe running along his side. This species can make a hardy pet anole.

Bet you can’t guess where this species gets its common name? Yes, it’s because the males possess unusually large heads…at least by anole standards.

These anoles range in color from brown to tan to reddish-brown or even grey. The males also sometimes possess a bright green stripe that runs along the sides of their bodies. Their dewlaps also tend to be larger and they can also have small head and neck crests.

Cuban Knight Anole (Anolis equestris)

Pet Cuban Knight Anole
This is one of our young Knight Anoles. Its white markings will most likely yellow out as it matures. It’s head will also become disproportionately massive.

Cuban Knight anoles are known for their voracious appetites. If you enjoy making feeding time a spectacle, then a Knight anole might be a good fit as these little lizards are definitely not picky eaters.

You can recognize a Cuban Knight anole mainly by its size. These anoles are definitely one of the larger species and can reach lengths up to 18 inches in captivity, although 12 to 15 inches is a more common size.

These anoles are bright green in color and have white stripes and patches. As they grow, the white becomes more yellow in color, and their heads become massive in relation to their overall body–almost comically so.

Knight anoles eat insects and can’t be housed with smaller critters (including smaller anoles) because they’ll make a meal out of them! Starting with a young specimen is always a plus.

Haitian White-Lipped Anole (Anolis coelestinus)

Haitian White-lipped Anole
Can you see the white stripe on our White-lipped anole’s mouth? This is a well-fed specimen.

The White-lipped Anole is named after the white stripe that runs along its lip and down its shoulder area. It is a mid-size anole with a reasonable temperament, although like most anole species, it is still a rather flighty lizard.

This species attains a longer, stockier size than it’s cousin the Green anole, making them a hearty pet. They love crickets and waxworms.

The care requirements for this anole don’t vary much from those of the common Green Anole as they occupy the same type of habitats and eat the same type of foods.

Henderson Anole (Anolis hendersoni) 

Henderson Anole
Here’s one of our Henderson anoles, wary of the camera.

The Henderson Anole is a bit harder to come by in the pet trade.

They tend to be brown or gray in coloration with lighter sides and underbelly. They possess very long, triangular heads. Above their hind legs, they have a bright green/teal spot. They’ve got a very unique appearance.

Like all anoles, the Henderson anole requires an enclosure that provides it more vertical, climbing space instead of horizontal, floor space. They eat insects and do better when they’re being observed than when they are being handled.

Each of the anoles we’ve covered will do best with some UVB lighting–we recommend the ReptiSun 5.0 bulbs, as they have served our reptiles well.

Conclusion

All of these anole lizards make fascinating and entertaining pets. Just keep in mind that although they are pretty easy to care for, they are not very hands on pets and can be skittish. In other words, don’t be surprised if your anole doesn’t enjoy being held and taken out of its enclosure. This is true of nearly all anoles.

Still interested in a pet anole? Backwater Reptiles has all of these species of anoles for sale and more.

Do Scorpions Glow in the Dark?

~ BackwaterReptiles

Did you know that scorpions can glow in the dark underneath a black light?

It’s true! Nearly all scorpions will glow a purple, blue, green, or white-ish color when exposed to an ultraviolet or black light in the dark. Below we’ll use one of our our scorpions as an example.

Do scorpions glow in the dark?
This Asian Forest Scorpion (Heterometrus longimanus) fluoresces a purplish white color.

Juvenile and freshly-molted scorpions don’t glow in the dark however. This is because their exoskeletons have not yet had time to develop enough to produce the unknown substance that causes the glowing.

Heterometrus longimanus
Here is a photo of the same Asian Forest Scorpion pictured above without the blacklight.

Interestingly enough, scientists are not 100% sure what causes scorpions to glow or what the purpose or advantage the glowing gives to the scorpion. All that is known is that the substance is found in a very thin layer of the scorpion’s cuticle known as the hyaline layer and that as the exoskeleton hardens, the fluorescence is brighter.

It has been hypothesized that scorpions glow under blacklight for multiple reasons. Some believe it’s so that they can find other scorpions – scorpions have pretty poor eyesight plus they already blend in very well with their desert surroundings.

Others have said it’s to protect the scorpion from the sun – i.e. it’s a form of sunscreen. However, this doesn’t hold up as scorpions tend to come out at night. It’s even been suggested that the glowing is just a fluke of nature and actually serves no purpose at all.

Scorpion under blacklight
Here’s one of our scorpions under a blacklight.

The most recent research that has been done on the subject comes from California State University archeologist Carl Kloock. He believes that because scorpions dislike the light, they use the UV levels as a way to know whether or not they want to come out to hunt. Apparently, when there are more UV rays present, scorpions tend to stay in hiding and be less active than if it’s darker.

Backwater Reptiles has all kinds of scorpions for sale if you are interested in checking out this neat trait for yourself! We also sell blacklights specially designed for getting your pet scorpion to glow in the dark! Just use the drop-down menu on any of our scorpion pages to purchase one.

Don’t miss our other scorpion-related articles, including:

What’s the Longest Scorpion in the World?

~ BackwaterReptiles

Have you ever wondered what the longest scorpion in the world is? If so, you’ve come to the right place because we’re not only going to unveil which species is the largest scorpion in the world, but we’ll also touch on some interesting facts about it, including how to care for it in captivity.

What's the longest scorpion in the world?
Meet the Flat Rock Scorpion (Hadogenes troglodytes), the longest scorpion in the world.

The Flat Rock Scorpion (Hadogenes troglodytes) is in fact the longest scorpion in the world. It might not qualify as the biggest in terms of overall body and limb size, but from pincer to tail tip, it is the longest. While it’s very common for the Flat Rock scorpion to be five to six inches long, it can actually can reach a length of up to eight inches!

Found only in Africa, this species of scorpion got its name from its body shape, which is long, flat, and segmented. This makes it ideal for squeezing into tiny crevices between rocks where it likes to make its home.

Large Flat-rock scorpion
Here is a top view of the flat rock scorpion showing how flat and long its body shape really is.

Like all scorpions, the flat rock eats insects. In captivity, they should be fed crickets, roaches, and other appropriately-sized invertebrates. A small water dish should also be provided.

Because flat rock scorpions are ground-dwellers, their cage should have more horizontal space over vertical space. A substrate that mimics that of their natural environment, such as sand, is ideal, coupled with some rocks and hiding crevices.

These scorpions make good pets for both novices and experienced hobbyists due to the fact that they are overall fairly docile with a sting that is very low in toxicity. Although they can sting, they are slow (at least for a scorpion) and would generally rather hide than sting their handler.

Flat Rock Scorpion Pincers
Even the pincer claws on the flat rock scorpion are flatter than the average scorpion’s claws.

Backwater Reptiles has flat rock scorpions for sale. If you’re lucky, maybe yours will grow to hold the next record for longest scorpion in the world!