[That guy]

just wondering how toxic is cane toad poison? I heard it can kill a human in half an hour. This ture? thanks

 

[Meefloaf]

i this one of those "i hope i get a quick reply, i live 10miles from the nearest hospital" posts ?

 

[That guy]

well...

 

[HforHERP]

As long as you don't actually ingest the venom, by like eating it, it isn't fatal.
If for some daft reason you've eaten a cane toad i'd get to a hospital :lol2:

 

[That guy]

ok thanks. reason i'm asking is I may be getting one and the last thing I wanted to know was how toxic it is.

 

[Patto96]

Cane toads can kill humans. The toxin is an irritant on the skin. If ingested or comes in contact with the blood it can kill you in high enough concentrations.

Small concentrations <5mg (1mg=0.001g or 1/1000 gram). This is very small toxin levels of Bufotenin (which is found in cane toad excretions). The above is in humans.

It affects respiratory, which is a tightening of the throat and a heavy chest. Increased amounts cause the throat to block and the intercostal and diaphragm to rapidly contract. This means that you can't even take in small breaths, as the muscles are locked. It causes death by asphixiation.

A number of organisms consume cane toads, and other toads with the toxin. These are mostly region specific predators, which are adapted to deal with the toxin.

So yeah, it can kill fast. Depending on the amount, and concentration taken in. So yeah, not the best things to eat.

 

[That guy]

thanks

 

[Ron Magpie]

Don't lick them, don't handle them with open wounds on your hands, don't handle them when they are stressed, always wash your hands after handling, get out of the habit of sticking your fingers in your mouth, if it really worries you, wear disposable gloves if you have to handle them, don't handle them unless you really do need to. Think that covers most things...

I have kept them since I was about 11- with no issues whatsoever.

 

[Liam Yule]

Don't lick them, don't handle them with open wounds on your hands, don't handle them when they are stressed, always wash your hands after handling, get out of the habit of sticking your fingers in your mouth, if it really worries you, wear disposable gloves if you have to handle them, don't handle them unless you really do need to. Think that covers most things...

I have kept them since I was about 11- with no issues whatsoever.

After all these years Ron has managed to resist the urge to lick his cane toad! :notworthy: lol :Na_Na_Na_Na:

 

[That guy]

Don't lick them, don't handle them with open wounds on your hands, don't handle them when they are stressed, always wash your hands after handling, get out of the habit of sticking your fingers in your mouth, if it really worries you, wear disposable gloves if you have to handle them, don't handle them unless you really do need to. Think that covers most things...

I have kept them since I was about 11- with no issues whatsoever.

Cheers All ready decided on that I was not going to touch the thing unless if I have too. And when I do going to wear disposable gloves lol. I know the chances of messing up are small but if I do, I wanted to know in how much danger I would be in.

 

[jackdart]

a little off the topic of toxins but can anyone get female cane toads here in england? my friend has been looking to buy one for a while now and all he can find is males (or the other way round i cant remember ha)

 

[Ron Magpie]

a little off the topic of toxins but can anyone get female cane toads here in england? my friend has been looking to buy one for a while now and all he can find is males (or the other way round i cant remember ha)

Supply varies, but generally there are more females around as they are larger and more impressive and (in my experience) a lot less shy.