FIRE BELLY TOAD
- Hardy and great for beginners!
- Bright green and black coloration on their backs, and brilliant orange and black on their underside.
- Grow to be around 2 inches in length and can live for 10 – 15 years with proper care.
Diet
Fire belly toads do not have extendable tongues and will use their mouths to grab food and then stuff it into their mouths using their forelegs. Crickets, waxworms and earthworms should make up a majority of their diet, though they may occasionally be fed small fish such as guppies.
Prey items should be gut loaded and dusted with a calcium powder prior to feeding. Juveniles should be fed five or six times a week and adults should be fed three to four times; take care that your fire belly toad does not become overweight.
Housing
A minimum 10 gallon tank is recommended, although 3-5 frogs can be housed in a tank of this size. A larger number of frogs will happily live together in a larger tank (allow about 4 gallons of tank space per frog, and the long style aquariums provide more floor space for their size). A secure lid is a necessity, as these active little frogs will escape given the chance. A semi aquatic tank is the ideal set up, with 1/3 - 1/2 of the tank as a land area and the remainder as water about 2-4 inches deep. The land area could have rocks (which should be smooth to prevent injury to delicate frog skin), damp moss, plants and some areas to hide. The water should have a filter, and frequent water changes are necessary. These frogs produce quite a bit of waste so weekly or bi-weekly partial water changes should be done. Smooth gravel can be used to line the water side, and live or artificial plants can be used. A heater is not usually necessary as these frogs can handle room temperature, although warmer temperatures are considered more ideal by some (76-78 F). A basking area can be set up with a low wattage lamp (use a thermometer and aim for about 78 F). 25w halogen bulbs are usually good options. Handling
Fire belly toads are easily startled and will squirm while being held. They are quite jumpy, and can be hard to hold. It is recommended that any handling be kept to a minimum as these frogs release a toxin that can be irritating to the skin, avoid handling if you have open cuts.
Always be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with anti-bacterial soap after handling.
Health
Red leg is a common disease in frogs caused by bad husbandry. It causes small ulcers, hemorrhages, and reddening of the skin around the belly and underside of the thighs.
Metabolic Bone Disease is also common, but easily prevented by dusting the food with a calcium and vitamin D3 supplement at least three times a week.
