Information About Fire Belly Toads

Fire belly toads are relatively easy amphibian pets to care for. These exotic looking creatures are also one of the most popular toads for people to own, and are a good choice for the novice and expert alike. They are a communal species, often found in the wild living in large groups around streams and ponds.

  1. Natural History and Appearance

    • Native to China and parts of Korea and Russia, fire belly toads are usually found in humid, highland and mountainous regions with an adequate water source. They are active in the spring and summer and bury themselves in the moist, soft earth during the winter. When they reach adulthood they are about 2 to 2 ½ inches in length and weigh between 1 and 2 oz. Most fire belly toads are a bright green or lime green color, but sometimes they are more of a yellow-brown, with black splotches throughout. They are appropriately named for their brilliant red underside (occasionally their undersides are a dull orange-red). Their Latin species name is bombina orientalis.

    Lifespan

    • When well cared for, fire belly toads can live between 15 to 30 years. They reach sexual maturity in approximately five years.

    Housing

    • If you plan on keeping just two or three fire belly toads, a 10 gallon tank should be sufficient enough space for them. You will need to add plenty of substrate such as potting soil or bed-a-best. Including live moss or sphagnum moss will help to retain the humidity in their tank as well.
      The easiest setup for cleaning purposes is to simply add a shallow but large enough water dish to fit all your toads in it comfortably. You can also fill your tank with a 50/50 water to land ratio, creating a sloping beach from the water with your substrate and aquarium gravel. Do not use fresh tap water because the chlorine can be deadly to them. Simply leave the tap water in a different container for 48 hours before adding it to the tank to remove the chlorine. Change the water weekly if you do not have an aerator.

    Light Requirements

    • As long as your home stays between 60 and 80 degrees F you shouldn̵7;t need any artificial lighting. However, if temperatures go below 60 degrees you should supply the tank with something such as a fluorescent tube with a low UV output bulb.

    Feeding

    • At feeding time you will witness the fire belly toad̵7;s voracious appetite. It is also important to make sure all your toads are getting some food, as it is expected for one of them to dominate the group and get a larger portion of the food supply. As long as they are all getting something to eat you shouldn̵7;t need to worry. Just be sure to monitor all your toads to ensure they are thriving.
      Fire belly toads enjoy eating a diet of crickets, meal worms, wax worms, earth worms, blood worms and even small guppies. Feed them about every other day and provide them with all they can eat in a few hours time.