The following post is an article from my blog PetCareSheet.com
About Fire Belly Toads
The Fire Belly Toad is one of the easiest amphibians to look after as a pet. In fact, they can be likened to the leopard gecko or corn snake of the amphibian world. They are one of the most commonly kept amphibians due to their hardiness and ease of care. These beautifully coloured green and red toads are native to the highlands and rice paddies of China. Fire belly toads are also found in countries such as Korea and Southern Russia.
They are small and easy to care for and make a very interesting pet to keep. Their red – fiery under belly acts a warning to all would be predators that they are toxic and should not be eaten. Fire belly toads are not particularly toxic to humans. However, handling a fire belly toad should be kept to a minimum and your hands should be thoroughly washed after touching your pet.
How Big do Fire Belly Toads Get?
An adult fire belly toad will reach a size of 1-2 inches in size (2.5-5cm).
How Long do Fire Belly Toads Live?
The average life span in captivity of a fire belly toad is 7-15 years.
How to Care for Fire Belly Toads
Tank
As an amphibian, Fire Belly Toads will do best in a semi-aquatic environment. This means that half of yours pet fire belly toad’s terrarium should be half land and half water. You can keep 2-3 fire belly toads in a 10 – 15 gallon vivarium. However, larger groups of fire belly toads should be kept in a 20 gallon (or larger) tank.
Heating
The day time temperature of your fire belly toad’s terrarium should be 70-75F and the night time temperature should be 60-68F. You do not need to include a basking spot in the vivarium. However, if your house is colder than 70-75F you should use an under tank heat mat to heat up your fire belly toad’s tank.
You should use a thermometer and a hydrometer to monitor the temperature and humidity in your fire belly toad’s tank.
Substrate
The best substrate to use for fire belly toads is eco earth. It is made from coconut husk fibres and retains moisture allowing for a high humidity level in in the tank. A layer of 2 inches (5cm) will allow you pet to burrow in the substrate. In the water section of the vivarium you should use sand as the substrate. I recommend using ReptiSand as it is a good quality sand for keeping reptiles and amphibians. You should try to avoid using gravel in your terrarium as your pet toad might accidently ingest them while eating. This could cause impaction, the blocking up of your toad’s digestive system.
On the eco earth you can spread sphagnum moss such as Terrarium Moss from Zoo Med to help further retain moisture and give your fire belly toad with additional places to burrow and hide. You can also put moss in the wet area lf the vivarium or even some aquatic plants.
Lighting
Fire belly toads do not need UVB or special lightning. However, you might want to add some so your pet can have a proper day and night cycle. The additional lighting will also allow you to see your toads more easily. NatureSun is the light I use for my vivariums.
Feeding Fire Belly Toads
Fire belly toads are insectivores so you will need to offer them insects. You can feed the toads crickets and mealworms. They will even eat small guppies. Dust your feeder insect with a Reptile Calcium and ReptiVite to give your toads important vitamins and minerals. When feeding your pet fire belly toad, give them as much as they will eat in a 15 minute period.
Water
For the health of your pet fire belly toad it is important that you provide it with clean, fresh water. Treating your water with a water conditioner will help to eliminate anything from the water that could potentially harm your pet.
To ensure the water section of the fire belly toad’s terrarium is kept clean, a water filter should be added.
A vivarium fog mister is a great addition to a vivarium. It gives a fogging effect creating a great atmosphere in the tank. More importantly, it also raises the humidity levels in the terrarium.
Handling Fire Belly Toads
Fire belly toads should not be handled and although their skin is toxic it will not affect humans. You should wash your hands thoroughly if you handle you fire belly toad. It is advised not to handle your pet as soap residue or any other chemicals on your skin will be absorbed by its skin and cause irritation. If you ever need to move your fire belly toad, use a box that has been moistened or has moss in it. Wash your hands after working in your pet’s vivarium.
