Asian Common Toad (Bufo melanostyx)

Common Name: Asian Common Toad
Scientific Name: Bufo melanostictus
Source: WC
Adult Size: 8–15cm (females typically larger than males)
Native Range: South and Southeast Asia, including India, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, and surrounding regions

Enclosure: A minimum 60×45×45cm Viperia PVC vivarium for a single toad, with a loose coconut fibre or topsoil-based substrate at least 5cm deep to allow burrowing, multiple hides, and live or artificial plants to provide cover and maintain humidity
Heating: Ambient temperature 24–28°C during the day, with a gentle drop to 18–22°C at night; a low-wattage heat mat or thermostatted overhead heat source works well to achieve this
Humidity: 60–80%; achieved by lightly misting one end of the enclosure daily and using a deep moisture-retaining substrate, whilst ensuring adequate ventilation to prevent stagnant conditions
UVB: A 6% UVB tube run along most of the vivarium's width is recommended — though largely crepuscular (most active at dawn and dusk), low-level UVB exposure supports vitamin D3 synthesis and overall health
Diet: Carnivorous invertebrate feeders — offer a variety of gut-loaded crickets, mealworms, waxworms, and earthworms dusted with a calcium and vitamin supplement 2–3 times per week; feed adult toads every 2–3 days, adjusting portion size to avoid obesity

ABOUT THIS SPECIES

The Asian Common Toad is one of the most widespread amphibians in South and Southeast Asia, found in habitats ranging from tropical forests and rice paddies to urban gardens and roadsides. They are a robust, adaptable species with a distinctively warty, dark-speckled appearance, and prominent parotoid glands behind the eyes that produce mild defensive secretions — always wash your hands after handling.

These toads make a rewarding choice for keepers who enjoy observing naturalistic behaviour rather than frequent handling — they are personable and bold at feeding time, and their relatively hardy nature makes them well suited to intermediate-level amphibian keepers looking for something a little different to the more commonly kept frogs.