Are you searching for an active and gorgeous exotic companion that is water-loving but is less common than fish? You should look no further than the fire-bellied toad.
Although it is named toads the species actually is one of the frogs.
These vibrant amphibians are extremely popular due to their easy maintenance requirements, vibrant patterns, and their ability to be with small-sized groups. They are an ideal frog for beginners.
Even with the simplest of care the novice should be aware of the fact that they release toxins into their skin. The reason for this is that it is part of the defense system, and could occur during handling when stressed. Although not fatal the toxins could cause skin irritation for those who are sensitive.
Continue reading to find out how to take care of this species, how to create the perfect tank setup, as well as our complete guide for husbandry!
A Guide To Fire-Belly Toads
“Fire Belly” Toads ( Bombina bombina) are small frogs that belong to the Bombinatoridae family. This family also includes bornean flat-headed frog ( Barbourula genus) which are rare and are kept only by experts in keeping. Fire Belly species are named after toads due to the warty bumps covering the bodies of these species are similar the ones present on toads. However, they’re actually a species of frog.
They are only an older species. They are located only in Europe and Asia and not in America. There are six species of known:
- European
- Yellow-bellied
- Yunnan
- Oriental
- Apennine yellow-bellied
- Hubei
The yellow-bellied as well as European varieties of firebellied were first discovered by Swedish Zoologist Carl Linnaeus in the 1700s. They were named the Yunnan as well as the Oriental Fire varieties were identified by Belgian Zoologist George Albert Boulenger in the 19th century. Most recently, the most notable discovery was Hubei Fire-Bellied Toad that was discovered in China in the year 1960.
European fire-bells are the most sought-after animal species for pets. They are colorful and fascinating pets amphibians. They that they are active throughout the daytime – which is different from pet frogs , which are night-time only.
However, due to the increased demand for European individuals , the population is declining in a number of European countries..
The care of the fire belly toads in check is quite easy, and you’ll be rewarded with a long time of fascinating behavior since they live for 20 years. As pets, their primary health concern is fungal infections triggered by injury or stress. Making sure their tank is properly set up and maintaining their tank in a clean state can prevent infection.
Their tank configuration is straightforward because they can thrive in normal temperatures without requiring any additional warmth. However, they require an extensive swimming area. We suggest at minimum, the tank be filled with deep chlorinated water ( more on this in the guide to setting up a tank in the next section).
Adults are tiny and typically expand to just 2 inches in length. Due to this, they are able to be kept in small groups so long as each toad is given enough space to establish their particular territory.
Other than overeating, the frog is extremely resistant to disease. A healthy toad is smooth and round and an individual who is overfed will appear spherical and full of.
Fire-bellied Toads are hunter-opportunistic. They will devour almost every small animal that walks. As pets, they should be fed diverse diets of fruit flies, crickets bloodworms, earthworms and bloodworms.
Appearance
It is also known as the Fire Belly Toad is a small amphibian that has bumpy skin. It is covered with small tubercles (i.e. tiny bumpy tissue). These animals are long-legged and webbed toes, and tiny eyes that sit on the top of their heads.
There are six varieties that belong to the Fire Belly Toad, but only three of them are used as pet animals. Each species is identical in their care, however they differ in appearance.
European fire (Bombina bombina)
This is the biggest of of the fire belly Toads. They are olive or green back with black spots as well as an black and orange belly. They look flat with strong legs on their backs with heart-shaped pupils.
European species can be found in central and eastern Europe in countries such as Germany, Denmark, Austria and Romania.
Oriental fire (Bombina orientalis)
They have backs that are green with black streaks or patches. These frogs have a more vibrant green than European as well as yellow-bellied. Additionally, these frogs have brighter red on their undersides. They also have the yellow tip of their finger, toes, and triangular pupils.
Oriental fire-bellied people are restricted only to Russia, China, Japan and Korea.
Yellow-bellied (Bombina variegata)
This toad is the tiniest members of its family. Contrary to European ones, they don’t feature green markings. They instead have a gray-brown color with a glowing yellow abdomen. They’re slightly larger as compared to the other species. It is based on where they were located, some species do not have black marks on their stomachs, while some are entirely black.
Size
It is believed that the European Fire Belly is the largest species that increases to a height in the range of 2.4 inches. The Oriental variety can reach an average two inches in length. Yellow Bellies are the smallest and range from 1.5 up to two inches. The froglets that have metamorphosed are one-half inches long.
As opposed to other species of pet that are popular like those of Pacman Frog and the Pacman frog, these are classified as being small.
Females tend to be slightly bigger and more round than males, however it isn’t always easy to get a woman to have a sexual relationship with a single. It is much easier to make use of toads in a group as an example of comparison. It will be clear who is male and those that are females.
Can You Handle Fire-Belly Toads?
Fire Belly Toads have a very gentle temperament, however they shouldn’t to be handled. This species releases skin toxin that create mild or moderate discomfort to the eyes, skin and mouth. This is why children should not be holding fire-bellied toads.
Fire-Belly Toads also have extremely sensitive skin. The skin of these animals can absorb tiny quantities of sunscreen or lotion that can be harmful to their skin. Therefore, if a person of a mature age is required to hold their child, they must wash their hands prior to and after.
They are incredibly active and you don’t have to get them outside of their enclosure to entertain them. They will be walking around throughout the day, and will often move into and out of the water. If you have a plant enclosure, there is a chance that your toad could be in leafy lower branches.
Wild Fire Belly Toads live in close proximity to pools in swamps, streams and wetlands, as well as man-made ponds. They typically live in groups, however they aren’t co-operative and can be violent to one another when they are too close.
As pets, they are able to reside on their own and in groups as small as up to five. They’re not hostile, however they may bite one another in a frenzied feeding session. It is possible to stop this from happening with an enormous terrarium as well as separate food dishes.
In the winter, these frogs are able to hibernate. It begins in the early part of October and continues until mid-May , when they begin to breed.
During the breeding season males grow nuptial pads with dark spots on their thumbs. They make calls for females. Males signal their territory by kicks or bouncing on the surface of the sea. This is among the reasons why they have muscled back legs, and warns other males to be cautious.
How Poisonous Is A Fire Belly Toad?
If they feel threatened or stressed, Fire Belly Toads have a unique defense technique called the unkenreflex. If a frog is scared, it will turn on its back, and then inflate its body. It will show the bright red warning coloration on its belly and legs. In addition, it will release toxins from the glands in the skin. These toxins could cause mild discomfort to the skin. If left unattended for a couple of minutes, they’ll flip and begin normal routine.
How Often Should You Feed the Fire Belly Toad?
Fire Belly Toads are fed between two and five items of prey every three days. Prey should not exceed the width of the frog’s mouth. It is recommended to cut earthworms and bloodworms in smaller chunks. They can be fed:
- Bloodworms
- Crickets
- Earthworms
- Flightless Fruit Flies
- Springtails
Many of these species are available in large quantities from pet stores and are simple to raise in the cage. Beware of wild-caught bugs as they are a vector for disease transmission.
To prevent insects from getting to your enclosure put them inside an escape-proof dish. Place this dish into the terrarium. Frogs rapidly learn to associate food with dishes.
Fire-Belly Toads can be considered opportunistic carn. They live in the wild and usually hunt down insects, mosquitoes’ larvae insects beetles, worms, spiders and eggs of tadpoles. However, they will consume the most of any they can find. Contrary to the Pixie Frogs They aren’t ambush predators, and they will instead, hunt prey.
Keep track of how big your pet as it expands. They can overeat if they are allowed to. They must be fed according to an established schedule and should not be allowed to eat at their leisure.
Every week, you can dust the your feeder insects with Vitamin D3 Supplement powder, to boost the calcium content. It is also possible to make sure that your insects are gut loaded with foods high in beta-carotene (e.g. carrots). This can help increase the natural color of your frog.
How Long Does A Fire-Bellied Toad Live?
Fire Belly Toads have the longest life span that is 20 years. They are more likely to live in their lives to last from 10 and 15 years. They are robust amphibians and don’t suffer from numerous health issues. The fungal infection and the deficiency of nutrient will be the sole health problems you should be looking out for.
Fungal infections can result from extreme temperatures, stress, high humidity, and poor management.
The signs of infection usually show in red or white streaks or patches in the skin. If you spot any frogs that have unusual skin lesions, immediately take it to the vet and bring the animal to an exotic vet. It is recommended to use thermometer and hygrometer to make sure that the humidity and temperature of the tank are within a safe range.
The cause of nutritional deficiencies is eating your fire belly toad with a one kind of prey. Sometimes, it is caused by gut-loading your prey inefficiently as well. Toads deficient in nutrient are less lively, weaker and could lose limb strength.
It is essential to provide a mix with hard (e.g. crickets) and soft prey (e.g. bloodworms) to your Frog. This can help provide better nutrition and more nutrients.
The Fire-Bellied Toad Tank
The frogs in this species are small and active, but their nature makes them require tanks that are large. One frog could be comfortable in a 10 gallon tank. Five or four people need to be kept in a 40-gallon tank as each frog requires about 10 Gallons to live in.
All three species of pets like to dwell in grassy, shallow marshes as well as temporarily stagnant pools.
The enclosure they choose should include the land portion (i.e. terrestrial habitat) and an aquatic area to swim in. This is referred to as paludarium.
The paludarium should be filled to the half with 3 inches of dechlorinated water. You can then construct an area for a ramp by using gravel and rocks. This will give the frogs access to the two areas. It is essential to clean all feces every day, and then do an entire water change each week.
The land part of the terrarium could be constructed of organic soil that is free of fertilizers. Some gardeners choose not to utilize substrate since it is easier to clean. However, using soil, that you can add living plants and moss. This mimics habitat in nature and gives them areas for hiding as well. This is particularly important when you decide to keep several toads in your tank.
If you observe your frogs are becoming aggressive toward one another, then you can add décor to keep them from seeing each other. If this doesn’t work, then consider buying a larger enclosure. Usually , more room and more hides can solve any territorial problems.
In contrast to tropical frogs like that of the tomato frog, Fire Belly Toads prefer temperatures between 70 and 75 degF during the daytime. At night , this could be as low as 60-65degF. These temperatures are within the normal range of normal rooms. You shouldn’t need to have an external heater unless indoor temperatures fall below 55degF.
They require moderate humidity between 50 to 70% that must be kept naturally in the tank by water that is in the tank.
Additionally, they do not require additional heating equipment In addition, Fire Belly Toads don’t require particular lighting. Installing your tank into a space that has a window will allow them a steady day/night cycle. If they don’t have natural light , they can make use of an 5.0 UVB bulb on an automated timer for 12 hours.
What Do U Need For A Fire Belly Toad?
A 10 gallon glass tank is the perfect size for an person. It will take less than 50 dollars, and is a good tank to begin with. There is no need to install any lighting or heating if the space that the tank is placed in is between 70 and 75 degrees in the daytime, and has a windows.
- Tank type glass.
- Tank Size: 10-gallon tank.
- Lighting is only natural.
- Substrate Three inches of soil for potting.
Summary
| Common Name (s) | Fire Belly Toad, Fire Frog |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Bombina Bombina, Bombina Orientalis, Bombina Variega/td> |
| Family Name | Bombinatoridae |
| Genus Name | Bombina |
| Range | Central Europe to southern Russia and East Asia |
| Adult Size | 1.5 or 2.4 inches |
| Lifespan | Between 10 and 20 Years |
| Similar Species/Popular Alternatives | Poison Dart Frog, White’s Tree Frog, Gray Tree Frog, American Toad |
Fire Belly Toads are among the top pets for owners of all levels. No matter if you’re an experienced pet keeper or brand just starting out, they are a bright and appealing addition to any pet collection.
They’re an excellent option for anyone who is looking to get to have their first pet frog. But, they aren’t ideal for kids due to their tiny bodies and the skin-irritating toxin that they release. If handled, they may release an irritant through their skin. It could cause pain or redness when it’s rubbed onto the eyes or the skin.
These tiny toads are among of the easiest animals to take care of. They do well in warm temperatures and don’t require particular heating or lighting. They are also immune to most illnesses and can last for up to 20 years.
You are thinking of buying the Fire-Bellied Toad? Or do you already have 1 that you love? Tell us about it by leaving a comment!
