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Fire-bellied Toad
(Bombina orientalis)
Habitat:
Semi Aquatic or An Aquarium
Diet: Carnivorous
Adult Size: 1-2 inches
Lifespan: 14-20 years
Native To: Asia |
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Did
You Know:
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Unlike most frogs,
Fire-bellied Toads make
sounds by inhaling rather
than
exhaling. Its croak has a
pleasant sound, evocative of
a small bell.
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The Fire-bellied Toad’s
tongue is attached
completely to the floor of
its mouth.
So, it cannot flick out its
tongue to catch prey the way
other frogs do. Instead, it
must leap forward and snare
its meals in its mouth.
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Living up to its name, the
Fire-bellied Toad will arch
its back to expose its red
and black belly when it
feels threatened. This warns
would-be predators of its
foul
taste. If this is not a
sufficient deterrent, the
toad will lie on its back
and release its
toxic secretions. By
contrast, the toad’s back is
a dull brown and bright
green,
which allows it to
camouflage itself by
blending into the background
colors of its
natural environment.
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What
You Should Know About
Fire-bellied Toads |
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The Basics: |
This is an attractive
and long-lived terrarium
pet that is popular in
the pet trade. Although
its care requirements
are relatively
straightforward, it does
require work and
attention, particularly
in the area of enclosure
cleaning and
maintenance. Males are
usually smaller and more
streamlined than
females, and are also
able to make loud
vocalizations. A hearty
and adaptive species, it
does well in a wide
variety of environments
in nature, even being
found in southeastern
Siberia and north
eastern China at 10,000
feet above sea level.
They are one of the few
communal toads, and will
do well when kept in
groups. |
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Enclosure:
They Need a
Semi-Aquatic Tank
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Although small,
Fire-bellied Toads are
active,
so they need room. A
20-gallon aquarium can
house three toads, and 5
gallons should be added
to the tank size for
each new specimen. The
tank should be longer
than it is high,
and it should have a
secure lid, since these
active frogs will
escape, if given the
chance. Unlike many
other frogs and toads,
the Fire-bellied Toad
must have a true
semi-aquatic
tank. Between 25 and 30
percent of the tank
should be “dry,” while
the remainder is covered
by water 2-4 inches
deep. The land side
should have smooth
rocks, with commercially
available driftwood and
plants (live or
artificial) for hiding
and basking spots.
Floating plants (real or
artificial) and smooth
rocks should also be
placed in the water side
to provide hiding and
resting spots. The
bottom of the water side
can be lined
with smooth rocks that
gradually slope upward,
making it easier for the
frog to exit the
water. Fire-bellied
Toads will spend most of
their time floating in
the water; they seldom
submerge themselves.
Water must be inspected
daily to remove waste
and feeder animal
debris. (Fire-bellied
Toads produce a large
volume of waste for
their size.) A partial
water change (25%)
should be done weekly,
along with having a
small aquarium filter in
use. |
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Substrate:
Gravel
Covered By Other
Material Works For Them: |
Gravel can be used to
build
up the foundation of the
dry area of the
Fire-bellied Toad’s
enclosure, but it must
be covered by another
substrate, since the
toad can easily ingest
small pieces of gravel
when
taking food. The gravel
should be covered with
any combination of
larger rocks, moss, or
non-aromatic wood fiber.
Aromatic wood substrates
like cedar must be
avoided, since
they can cause serious
and even fatal health
risks. Substrates must
be inspected daily, so
soiled material can be
removed. |
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Temperature:
They Will
Handle Room Temperature: |
If kept in a reasonably
warm room, Fire-bellied
Toads require no extra
heating. The temperature
in their enclosure
should be
around 75 degrees
Fahrenheit during the
day, and slightly cooler
at night. A low wattage
bulb can be used during
the day to create a
warm, but not too hot
basking area – avoid
temperatures over 85
degrees. Fire-bellied
Toads are one of the few
toads or frogs that
enjoy basking in the sun
like a lizard. However,
temperatures that are
too high can harm
this toad. The
temperature must be
monitored carefully by
using a thermometer. |
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Lighting:
Limited UVB
Exposure Is Essential: |
Fire-bellied Toads
should be exposed to a
limited amount of UVB
light daily. This should
be provided by a
fluorescent reptile lamp
designed specifically
for frog terrarium use that
emits UVB (3-6%) rays.
The fluorescent bulb
should be replaced every
six months. Glass blocks
out UVB light, so
overhead light sources
should be kept behind a
wire mesh cover, not a
glass or acrylic tank
top. The tank should be
dark for 12 hours a day. |
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Diet:
Feeding Them On “Dry
Land” Is Preferred: |
Gut loaded crickets
dusted with a supplement
should form the staple
of the Fire-bellied
toad’s diet. Like all
feeder insects, they
should be offered to the
toad on the dry section
of its enclosure. Small
silkworms and earthworms
can be offered as a
substitute for crickets
on occasion. Wax worms
and mealworms should be
given only as an
occasional treat. Offer
adults as much food as
they can consume in one
sitting (generally 2-6
feeder insects) three
times a week. Juveniles
should be fed smaller
insects more often.
Important -- It is
necessary to provide
calcium and vitamin
supplements as part of
the diet. Please read
the supplement section
below: |
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Supplements: |
Dust insects with calcium supplement and vitamin supplement. As a rule, a
growing juvenile's food
should be dusted more
often than an adult's.
Consult product labels
and outside literature
for specific
instructions on
supplementing.
Avoid over
supplementing.
The following is a
possible supplementing
schedule for this
reptile.
Dust food with a
calcium/vitamin
supplement once a week
for adults, twice a week
for juveniles. Be
careful not to “over
supplement” a frog’s
food, since too much
calcium can cause gout
and calcification.
However, this
is only a general
suggestion -- the best
specific schedule may
vary depending on the
supplement products used
and other factors.
Please consult product
package directions,
outside literature and a
veterinarian to
determine the optimal
supplementing program.
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A NOTE ABOUT
WATER: |
All water given to this
pet for drinking, as
well as water used for
swimming or misting must
be free of chlorine and
heavy metals. We
recommend that you
use bottled drinking
water or bottled natural
spring water and never
untreated tap water.
If tap water
is used, you should
treat it with a dechlorinating treatment
or allow
it to stand for at
least 24 hours
before being introduced
to the pet's enclosure
to allow the chlorine to
escape. Do not use
distilled water, which
can cause severe medical
problems, since it lacks
minerals that are
essential to important
body functions. |
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Water
& Humidity: |
Relatively high humidity
levels should be
maintained in the
Fire-bellied Toad's
enclosure with a daily
misting. However, the
enclosure must also be
well ventilated to
prevent it from becoming
overly humid. The water
used in misting as well
as in the “wet area” of
the tank must always be
clean, fresh and free of
chlorine and heavy
metals. Do not use
distilled water. |
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How to Handle a Fire-bellied
Toad:
Like
all amphibians, Fire-bellied
Toads are meant to be observed
and appreciated, rather
than handled and petted. This
toad's skin contains toxins,
which do not pose a serious
threat to people but can cause
burning. Anyone with open cuts
or wounds should not
come into contact with a
Fire-bellied Toad. When it is
necessary to move a Fire-bellied
Toad, try guiding it to a fine
mesh net or plastic cup, rather
than lifting it. If you must
lift
the toad, wear moistened plastic
gloves and lift with great care,
grasping the animal
firmly but gently around the
waist, joining your thumb and
forefinger around its chest.
Always wash your hands, and
rinse them thoroughly before
touching a Fire-bellied Toad.
The skin of these toads will
absorb residual traces of soap
or perfume left on a hand. You
should also wash your hands
thoroughly after handling any
toad.
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Look Out For This:
The skin of a Fire-bellied Toad
is toxic. Although not really
poisonous to humans, it can
cause irritation. Anyone with
open
cuts or sores should not come
into contact with this toad.
Dogs,
cats and other pets should also
be kept away.
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Recommended
Fire-bellied Toad Supplies:
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A secure water-tight
enclosure
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Smooth rocks, driftwood,
and other furnishing
that can be used for
basking and climbing
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Foliage in the form of
life or artificial
plants
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Floating plants for the
wet area of the
enclosure
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Rocks to create
"islands" in the wet
area
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Gravel to build up the
dry sport of the
enclosure
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A suitable substrate to
cover the gravel
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A UVB Reptile
fluorescent light source
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A low wattage
incandescent bulb to
create a basking spot
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A thermometer
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A hygrometer
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A misting bottle
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Aquarium Filter

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