Scientific Name: Bufo raddei.
Common Names: Siberian Sand Toad, Mongolian Toad, Radde's Toad.
Distribution: Russia, north-eastern Pakistan, Mongolia, Korea, northern China.
Size: Males: 5cm, females: 8cm.
Sexing: Males can be identified by the vocal sack that appears as a stretched-looking skin on their throats. They also have a nuptial pad on the first finger, and are smaller in overall size and proportion than females.
Colouration: The dorsal surface can range from a light olive to a greenish grey with large dark spots and a single light-grey dorsal line, red spots appear along the flanks in older specimen. The Ventral surface is a light grey with a few odd dark spots.
Requirements: These small beautiful toads require only a small tank A 24"x12"x15" tank would be adequate for 4 adults. They require a savannah / semi-dessert type set-up with a substrate of sandy topsoil. Furnishings such as logs, cork bark, rock and plants (live or plastic) can be arranged to provide a number of climbing and hiding places. A medium sized water bowl (no deeper than the toad's height at rest) must be provided with clean de-chlorinated or spring water. If kept indoors the tank will not usually require additional heating as long as the temperature of the room does not drop bellow 15°C. A fluorescent UVB tube can be used as a source of light.
Maintenance: Water will need changing daily to avoid the build up of ammonia and bacteria. Whilst changing the water it is a good idea to spot clean the tank and remove, clean, and replace any soiled items. At least once a month the entire terrarium and it's contents should be striped, cleaned, and sterilized using an amphibian friendly disinfectant.
Feeding: For adults a mixture of suitably sized insects including crickets, caterpillars, beetles and ants should be fed every two-three days. A calcium and vitamin supplement should be used once a week. Young toads will take hatchling crickets, aphids, fruitflies, and are especially fond of springtails. These should be fed every day and a calcium and vitamin supplement used two-three times a week.
