Q: You will need to purchase a ten gallon tank for one or two toads. You should generally not put more than three toads together in a tank, as many toads can become aggressive. Do not house different kinds of toads together. Substrate is ground covering that is specifically made for terrariums. Putting at least three inches of substrate down on the floor of your terrarium will allow your toad to burrow when he feels like hiding. The type of substrate will depend on your specific type of toad. In general ‘frog moss’, which is sold at pet stores, makes for good covering, as does additive-free potting or topsoil purchased at a garden store. Pulverized coconut fiber is also an excellent form of substrate.  If in doubt about which type of substrate you should buy, ask an amphibian specialist at a reptile or pet store. Do not use artificial turf or gravel, as these ground coverings are too harsh for your toad’s delicate skin. You can choose which sort of hiding spots you would like to give your toad. You could put a stone, tree bark, or piece of slate down that your toad could burrow under. Other toad owners prefer to buy a store-made hiding places or to provide their toad with an empty coconut shell to climb into. The pool should be roughly half the toad’s height and four times as long as your toad. It is very important that the water you use to fill the pool is dechlorinated--toads can die if given chlorinated water. Make sure that there is a ramp of some kind that the toad can walk up when he is done frolicking in the water, as toads are relatively poor swimmers. An easy way to make a water bath for your toad is to buy a shallow plastic bowl. Make a hole in the substrate so that the bowl’s mouth is level with the rest of the substrate on the floor of the terrarium. Put a sturdy plank of some kind into the bowl so that your toad can get in and out of the water easily. Again, the temperature you keep your toad’s tank at will depend on the type of toad you are housing. A toad’s preferred temperature can range from 65°F to 82°F (18°C to 27°C), depending on the type of toad you have. It is advisable to place a reptile heating pad under one end of the tank if your variety of toad needs heat. Putting the pad under one end of the tank allows the toad to choose to be either on the heated side or the cooler side. For your toad’s specific temperature needs, check with your local reptile and amphibian store. Toads should have roughly 12 hours of ‘sunlight’ each day. Use a daylight lamp or a low UV level lamp, but only you have provided your toad with hiding places (so he can get away from the light if he feels like it.) If you want to be able to see your toad at night, you can install a red lamp to light up his home at night. Toads are most active at night. Toads can’t see red light, so they will think they are moving around in the dark but you will still be able to see them. While toads do not enjoy the water as much as true frogs do, they still need a relatively moist habitat. Use a mist bottle daily to mist one side of the tank (the side with the water bowl) so that the toad can choose whether he wants to be on wet or dry terrain. Only use water that you are positive is chlorine free!
A: Get a properly sized container. Buy substrate that your toad will enjoy. Give your toad some hiding spots. Give your toad a swimming pool. Keep your toad’s home at the right temperature. Use the right sort of lights to keep your toad happy. Make sure the terrarium has enough moisture.

Q: One of the major causes of morning back pain is a poor sleeping position during the night. Like sitting with poor posture in a chair all day, sleeping in a poor position all night will cause your back to become stiff and tense, leading to back pain in the morning (think about it: that's eight hours in a position that strains your back). Though it may be difficult to train your body to embrace a different sleep position than customary, it is worth doing as a way to prevent morning back pain.  Try to sleep on one side with your legs bent and tucked towards your chest. You can also place your hands by your head or under your pillow. This fetal sleeping position will put very little stress on your back and help to prevent stiffness and discomfort in the morning. You may also want to place a pillow between your legs while you lay on your side to help release tension in your lower back. Tuck the pillow between your knees and let your legs relax. If you tend to get the best sleep when sleep on your back, slide a pillow or a rolled towel under your knees before going to bed. This will help to relieve any stress or tension on your back as you sleep. If you are a light sleeper and tend to wake up throughout the night, make an effort to shift your sleep position so your back is better supported. This could mean moving from sleeping on your back to sleeping on one side in the fetal position. Or, you may place a pillow on either end of the bed to prevent you from rolling around onto your stomach or your back during the night. Over time, your body may adapt on its own to a sleep position that is better for your back. You should make sure you are sleeping on a good quality mattress that is not sagging in certain areas or lumpy. A good mattress can help to provide good support for your back as you sleep, especially if you tend to sleep on your back. You may want to invest in a mattress pad that you can place over your mattress to make it more comfortable and smooth, or consider getting a new mattress if your mattress is getting old and starting to sag. Sometimes, the wrong temperature can have effects on back pain and tightness. For example, workers in cold environments are at greater risk of developing low back pain. Pay attention to room temperature and make sure you sleep in a comfortable setting. If your room is cold, try to increase the size of the comforter or blanket. Cold temperature at night can tighten up the muscles and lead to muscle aches in the morning.  You may also want to see if your room is damp or too hot also. Not everyone will react to the same temperature the same way.
A:
Try to sleep on one side in the fetal position. Put a pillow or a rolled towel under your knees if you tend to sleep on your back. Adjust your sleep position if you wake up during the night. Check that your mattress does not sag or have lumps. Pay attention to the temperature in the room.