When not breeding mature individuals have been observed in limstone fissures and cavities and beneath limstone boulders throughout Guanica Forest. Breeding occurs when sufficient surface water is available at the breeding site. Little is known about the required depth of the water or the time the standing water must remain in order for the reproductive cycle to be completed. Current knowledge of non-captive reproductive habits for the crested toad is limited. Breeding occurs in temporary pools formed during the rainy season and as water evaporates or percolates down through the soil, water temperatures rise and metamorphosis occurs.
Males emerge first and females follow, breed, and leave the ponds during or after the first night.
Eggs hatch within 24 hours and tadpoles metamorphose within 25 days. Current limiting factors include the availability of suitable breeding sites, interspecific competition with Bufo marinus and predation by species such as mongoose, feral dogs and cats. It has been mentioned that predation by B. marinus may occur. Development on the northern coast probably reduced the once more numerous populations. Reproduction appears to rely on climatic events which may occur at irregular intervals.