Here is a great look at those red feet. Even some additional red markings on the legs and underside of this little toad. Did I say little?
Here are three of the colony of four that I currently have. I'm currently working with the conditions within their terrarium to see if they can be bred. I haven't heard, or read of anyone being successful at it as yet.
They tend to like conditions on the dry side, and seek out water on occasion. They have proven to be hardy to date, and quite temperature tolerant. They will eat fruit flies, and small crickets. They showed little interest in small meal worms, so I'm staying with the traditional for now with the crickets.
Very nocturnal, but quite the acrobats when they do come out. I have had great fun with the flash light watching them at night performing.
Melanophryniscus stelzneri is the scientific name for this colorful little Argentine toad. The name is much longer than the toad itself! They measure only about an inch in length. They are commonly revered to as the "Argentine flame-bellied toadlets." This picture will give you the obvious clue to it's name. They are hardy little toads, living on dry land and only occasionally interested in getting their little red toes wet. They can swim, but are rather awkward at it, and will quickly scamper back on to dry land.
As long as we are on the nocturnal side of the viewing screen, let's take a look at another amazing creature the night. This is a Leaf Tailed Gecko, or Uropaltus henkeli. This stealth creature of the night is a Gecko from Madagascar that has only been bred in captivity a few years now. While wild caught specimens are available a lot cheaper than the captive bred ones, you can expect at least a 30%, or even as high as a 50% mortality rate with wild caught specimens. Captive requirements include a constant humidity of 805 or higher, with relatively cool temperatures.
This is the Female.
Those eyes are just amazing! Both beautiful and delicate looking all the while having that sinister look about him.
Hansome, don't you think?
Another fantastic species of this incredible family of leaf tail geckos, is the Uroplatus fantasticus, or Satanic Leaf Tail gecko. Not hard to figure this one out is it? While a delicate animal, if treated and housed correctly can become a long term captive..
And this is the male below!
They will vary their pattern to blend with the background, as you can see in the two pictures here. If the resting places were swapped they would vary their individual patterns accordingly. Even with this camouflage adaptation capability they still have very individual, and distinctive markings.
Let's change gears just a bit and look at some more Amphibians. Yes some of those fantastic frogs!. First and I have to admit one of the favorites in my collection is "Mr. U." First you would think it would be more likey for his noame to be Mr. T. At least with Mr. T we have the TV character / actor and after all this is a "T"oad. Well we did go that route with our first Suriname Marine Toad. We felt it would not be in good taste to call our next suriname Marine Toad with the same name. In fact it would just be disrespectful of an animal that had become our families favorite. So the next obvious name would be.... lets se A..B...C....D....E and so on. Get the picture? Now this is with no disrespect for this newer additon fo a Suriname Marine Toad to our collection. In fact this new additon assumes his own unique name and allows us to respect our first Suriname Marine Toad. The scientific name for this species is Bufo marinus giganticus. His name fits!
You'll have to excuse "Mr. U's" manners. He just ate some worms and, well...I think he forgot to wipe his chin
Next is a tree frog that has become very popular recently. It is the Waxy Monkey Tree Frog, Phyllomedusa biclor. No wonder with such natural charm, and cute smile.
