Did you know that toads like to be

[MuseRider]

scratched? I didn't. I have a barn toad, he has been there for quite a while. I made him a little house in the horse shower stall and he seems to like it. Today he came hopping out like he was just there to say hello and I bent down to scratch him. He leaned into my finger and even raised up onto his little toady toes. I was stunned. I scratched his other side and he did the same so I went to get my phone to take some pictures because, damn, I had no idea. Can you tell he is enjoying it?

[alphafemale]

1. You'd better call that toad in the morning or it'll feel used.

:D

[MuseRider]

3. LOL

I promise.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. I love toads.

But I had no idea they liked to be scratched. Or maybe that's just your toad.

[MuseRider]

4. I have certainly

had enough of them around that I have picked up and handled but none of them seemed to enjoy it, in fact I would usually have to chase them down but this little guy just hopped out and sat there and would not leave even when one of my cats came over to investigate. I had to pick him up and put him in his little toad house so the cat wouldn't bat him around. Very odd.

[alphafemale]

5. I've known a few like that. Generally if they're around you awhile

and trust you. Especially if there aren't other toads around.

There's a distant memory from a bio-flick that the stroking has some purpose...can't remember what though.

Find a pond for the sweetie.

Even if you've grown attatched. It's where he should be.

Cue Music - "Born Free"



Even if he does get eaten by a bass.

[AlienGirl]

6. Toads don't need a pond except for breeding

They're like frogs' land-based cousins.

Tucker

[alphafemale]

10. So... the strokin' desire could be....?

A Horny toad?

:evilgrin:

[neweurope]

8. Yes and no... FRiends of mine had a toad in their cellar.

They kept putting it in the garden and it kept coming back. It wanted to live in that cellar, basta, and made that very clear.

My mother told me that in the "old days" when all houses still had good, cool and damp cellars it was very usual to have toads there. And this little fellow wants to live in the horse shower.

----------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[AlienGirl]

15. They like damp, cool environments

But they only use ponds for laying eggs, rathe than routinely living in the water as many frogs do.

Tucker

[MuseRider]

11. I have 4 1/2 ponds

and just outside the barn is a big waterer for the horses where it stays nice and moist. I see him out there and he hops under the manger when the horses are around for shelter. There are plenty of places for him and I have wondered why he seems to stay around the barn. I do have a large and very nice wildflower garden just outside the barn that is most likely full of bugs to eat.

[AlienGirl]

18. The barn probably has a lot of good food around it

Toads like ground-crawling insects and earthworms (among other things). If you have grain in the barn you probably have crickets, a nice fat meal!

Tucker

[MuseRider]

19. Not too many yet

at least the big, dark crickets. I have seen some of those light colored ones (I have no idea the difference) and I have been herding them into his area. Yup, lots of good eats in a barn.

[AlienGirl]

22. That toad probably preys on the little ones mostly, judging from size...

[neweurope]

27. Ponds! Wildflower garden! AND a shower for the horses!

*sigh* Envy is a deadly sin *reminds self* Where we keep the horses we have neither running water nor electricity... But I do have a garden, you could even call it a wildflower garden if you count all the nettles, brambles and dandelions in ;)

----------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[MuseRider]

28. I was lucky/unlucky

my entire birth family is dead, any left over money came eventually to me. I bought my farm and built the barns (remember when the market was good?).

My place is heaven to me but it is so far below the standard around here that I too suffer occasional envy. It is very modest by comparison but I love it.

[neweurope]

30. Having no family left is sad, yes. But you have what I

dream of - a place of your own and the horses around you. We live in a not very nice rented apartment and I have to drive 15 km to get to the horses/garden - and that won't change. How I long to have the horses around the house, even if a rented place!

So next time whren you're envious of other places you think about me - and when I get envious again I'll try and remind myself that I still have brother and sister.
:hi:

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Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[MuseRider]

33. That is a wonderful idea!

I do not live there yet. I have had horses for 12 years and have never lived close to them. BUT, that is going to change in the next year as we build our house there.

The good and the bad. My place is a dream come true, really it is. Give your brother and sister a hug for me and I will think of you when I am working away in my barn.

:hi:

[AlienGirl]

7. I knew that!

I've known quite a few toads. They're mellow little critters. They also like it if you put a terra-cotta pot in your garden, half-buried, so it makes a good shelter, and keep it damp for them during the heat of the day. In exchange for this they'll take care of the bugs for you!

Tucker

[MuseRider]

12. I just thought of that

in the last post I made I mentioned my wildflower garden outside the barn. That is a great idea because it would stay much nicer for him out there and he would not have to go so far for his dinner.

Thanks Tucker

[EstimatedProphet]

9. Some toads like to be licked too-try it!

:)

[MuseRider]

13. Don't think so

but nice try. Ewwwwww:P

[Redstone]

14. I'll be dog.

I'd never have guessed that a toad would enjoy that.

Warm-blooded animals, yes, they all like to be touched. But a toad? I think you have a first, there.

But now you're going to have to give him (her?) a name.

Redstone

[MuseRider]

16. You are correct.

I name everything (my manure spreader is named after my youngest son). I name everything after music or musicians since I am one. Any thoughts as to an appropriate musical name for a toad? This may take a while. Names taken already by creatures out there are Strauss, Bartok, Eric Satie, Jones (for Quincy), Quincy (for Jones)...I guess everyone else was named by other people so that is all. Hmmmmmm...off to think.

[enigmatic]

20. Toad, The Wet Sprocket!

The obvious choice:)

[MuseRider]

23. Ding Ding Ding

A very big, but appropriate name for a little bitty toad.

[neweurope]

26. Gustav! Like Mahler ;)

------------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[MuseRider]

29. How in the world

did I forget Mahler! Love Mahler, going to do the 1st Symphony this next season. Now I have to think a bit.

[AlienGirl]

17. Heck, even some fish like to be touched!

I had a pet rock bass who liked to have her back lightly rubbed.

Get a close-p of the toad's head and I can tell you if it's a boy or a girl (they're very slightly dimorphic).

Tucker

[MuseRider]

21. Interesting

I will try but I am afraid my good camera is broken. Can you tell me what to look for? He may be gone for a while but I will look the next time he shows up.

I went scuba diving in a place that had two grouper named Ben and Jerry and they would swim over to you and turn tail down for a tummy scratch. It was odd. They were quite large too, about a foot long. I guess it is much like the shrimp groomers on the reef.

[AlienGirl]

24. The ears and poison glands on males are a little bigger...

I played with some stingrays in Florida who were almost puppy-like.

Tucker

[MuseRider]

25. Cool.

I have seen quite a lot of different kinds of stingrays but never touched one.

I have a very good Reptile and Amphibian book, I will check that to find what to look for or where to look and check him/her out. If I get the chance I will get that photo.

[Deja Q]

32. Fish might like it but it does affect their slime coating that protects

them from poor water conditions, bacteria, et al.

[MuseRider]

34. I am always

hesistant to touch anything underwater. The reef is such a mess from people who can't stay out of it. I wondered about the fish. This place was pretty strict about not damaging the environment so I guess we didn't think about it much. I will remember what you have said and not trust our "guides" as much as my own instincts.

[Deja Q]

31. Nooooooooooooooooo comment.

:evilgrin: