Defining Characteristics:

• Easy to Keep
• Small terrestrial frog species
• Pi-Pi-Pi call
• Males carry developing eggs on hind legs 

Name: The Majorcan or Mallorcan Midwife toad’s Latin name is Alytes muletensis. Alytes is from the Greek alytos which means “tied up” in reference to the males of the species wrapping the strings of eggs around their hind legs. Muletensis is derived from Muleta which is the old name of the island of Majorca/Mallorca and “ensis” indicates origin. Literally their name means “from the Island of Muleta.” Midwife toads get their common name from the fact that the males during breeding will facilitate pulling eggs out of the female and wrapping them around their legs to carry them around until the tadpoles are ready to hatch. The toad moniker is actually misleading as these frogs are not true toads in the family bufonidae, although they do have skin more similar to what one would consider traditionally toad-like.

Recommended Enclosure Size & Setup: Due to their small size, an 18x18x12 glass terrarium or a traditional 20 gallon is sufficient for up to 6 frogs. More space can be provided by upgrading to a 24x18x12. 

These frogs are reclusive and therefore need ample hiding places. This can be accomplished with cork flats or flat stones. A water dish with clean dechlorinated tap water or spring water should be provided daily. Because these frogs live in rocky terrain they can be housed over aquarium gravel as a base substrate—we use this pea gravel from Home Depot. You can dedicate a corner of the enclosure for water by making a divot in the stones to allow water to pool in place of a water dish. Regular cleaning of the gravel should be done with an amphibian safe disinfectant solution.

Temperature (°F): These frogs inhabit a more temperate climate than many of the other species we offer here at Josh’s Frogs and therefore can have a temperature range of 65-75°. Temperatures over 80 can be dangerous.

Humidity: Majorcan Midwife toads need 50-70% humidity. Providing humid refuges in your enclosure is an important part of setting these frogs up. As always a water dish should be provided so the frogs can rehydrate if they feel it’s necessary.

Size: Majorcan Midwife toads are on the smaller size of frogs. Females will be around 1.5 inches and males can be just as large but can be as small as 3/4 of an inch. At the time of sale Majorcan Midwife Toads will be at least 5/8 of an inch.

Age: Majorcan Midwife Toads typically live between 5-8 years but can live over 10 with ideal care. 

Feeding: Josh’s Frogs feeds these frogs primarily 1/8 inch and 1/4 inch crickets. These frogs can also eat appropriately sized isopods, roaches and flies.

Sexing: Majorcan Midwife toads don’t have as much distinction between the sexes as some other species of frogs. Females on average are larger and more rotund, and when fully mature can have visible eggs in the belly that appear a pale yellow color.

Color/Pattern: Josh's Frogs does not recommend, support, or endorse line breeding as we believe this leads to weaker captive animals and nature has done a wonderful job of creating an amazing variation in color and pattern of frogs already.

Majorcan midwife toads tend to be a sandy or light brown coloration with a variable amount of dark brown to black spots. 

Social Behavior: Majorcan Midwife toads are gregarious and will not bully each other. It is not abnormal to see them bunched together in a hide. During mating males and females can compete with each other but not to the point of harm being caused.

Breeding: The Alyes genus has one of the more unique breeding strategies among frogs. Males will amplex females after calling and attracting them. Amplexus is inguinal and takes place year round if conditions are met. Males will fertilize eggs as they are laid while simultaneously using his hind legs to wrap them around his upper thighs. He will then carry them as the tadpoles develop within the eggs until they are ready to hatch. Once tadpoles reach that stage of development, the male will find a suitable body of water and drop the eggs off to hatch. The average clutch size is around 10 but can be as large as 30. Males can breed with multiple females in quick succession and collect multiple clutches of eggs.

Josh's Frogs recommends purchasing multiple frogs if you are interested in breeding them – this greatly increases the chances of getting a pair (male and female).

Natural Range: These frogs are only found on the North western mountain range of the Island of Majorca.

History in the Hobby: These frogs have been breeding in captivity since the late 1980s to help bolster the wild population on Majorca. 

Links of Interest: 

• Majorcan Midwife Toad Wikipedia
• Majorcan Midwife Toad Citizen Conservation
• Majorcan Midwife Toad Amphibiaweb

Still not sure if Majorcan Midwife Toads from Josh's Frogs are the right pet frog for you? Read the reviews below and see what other customers are saying!