Defining Characteristics:

• Small
• Monotonous rasping call
• Light brown to burnt orange coloration
• Can be housed in groups

Name: Ingerophrynus parvus or the Malaysian Dwarf Toad is a small toad from Peninsular Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand. The genus name translates to “a toad to carry” and the species name parvus means “small.” 

Recommended Enclosure Size & Setup: Minimum tank enclosure should be a 20 gallon aquarium or an 18x18x12 front-opening enclosure. Substrate should be one consisting mostly of coco fiber or peat. Josh’s Frogs Tropical BioBedding can be provided if bioactive is desired. 

A shallow water dish should be provided for hydration purposes. Leaf litter can provide adequate spaces to hide along with cork tubes or flats. Due to these toads being mostly restricted to the ground, plants that provide ground cover such as Pilea, Pellionia, and Calathea should be used rather than plants that grow taller than a foot. 

Temperature (°F): Malaysian dwarf toads can tolerate temperatures from 70 to over 80 degrees, but ideally are kept at about room temperature, from the mid to high 70s. A low wattage basking spot may be utilized, especially by gravid females. Temperature should be monitored with a reliable thermometer.

Humidity: In the wild, precipitation and humidity fluctuates based on season, with a heavy rainy season in the early part of the year. Malaysian dwarf toads can handle a wide range of humidity levels, but prefer humidity levels around 50-70% with plenty of ventilation/air movement. Moist, stagnant air is a big no-no when keeping older Ingerophrynus parvus, while very young animals dry out easily. 

Routine misting and a full screen top will aid in providing proper humidity levels. Toads, in general, handle short periods of low humidity much better than most tree frogs. A reliable hygrometer should be used to monitor humidity levels in your terrarium.

Size: As the name implies, Malaysian dwarf toads are on the smaller end of the size spectrum. Adult females will reach a size of 1.5-2 inches and males will cap out at around 1.25 inches. At the time of sale, these toads will be at least 3/4 of an inch long.

Age: Very little is known about the captive longevity of the Malaysian dwarf toad, but based on related species they can likely live for over 10 years. At the time of sale all toadlets will be at least 8 weeks out of the water. 

Feeding: Due to their small size, these toads can eat 1/8 inch banded crickets with the occasional hydei fruit fly feeding thrown in. These frogs will also eat large springtails and dwarf white isopods if they are present in the tank. Don’t forget the supplements!

Sexing: Malaysian dwarf toads are most easily sexed by their size. If you’re willing to go the extra mile in being sure you can gently pinch adult toads right behind the armpits and males will release call or chirp. Males will also develop a discoloration on their throats from calling. 

Color/Pattern: Malaysian dwarf toads can range from dark brown to light orange brown. They generally have a pair of symmetrical black spots on the mid back. Males will usually have a darker coloration on the throat.

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.

Social Behavior: This is a nocturnal species. These toads tend to group together under hides, but this is generally a water preservation tactic more so than social behavior. They are ambush predators with an aggressive feeding response. Malaysian dwarf toads can secrete toxins through their skin to deter predators.

Breeding: Like many other species of toad these will breed along slow moving streams or in stagnant pools along streams. Females lay several hundred eggs at a time. 

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: The native range of these toads is Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand.

History in the Hobby: These toads are more commonly bred and available in Europe than they are in the United States. 

Links of Interest: 

• Malaysian dwarf toads on Amphibiaweb
• Malaysian dwarf toads on Wikipedia
• iNaturalist link

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