Oriental firebellied toad: Lifespan, Picture, Care Sheet & More

Content

• Quick facts about the Oriental Firebellied Toad
• Overview of the Oriental Firebellied Toad
• Toad vs. Frog: What's the Difference?
• How Much Does an Oriental Firebellied Toad Cost?
• General attitude and temperament
• Appearance and types
• How to Care for an Oriental Firebellied Toad
• Habitat, tank conditions and setup
• Tank
• temperature
• humidity
• Substrate/bed
• Lighting
• Do Oriental Firebellied Toads Get Along With Other Pets?
• What to Feed Your Eastern Firebellied Toad
• Keeping Your Oriental Firebellied Toad Healthy
• Breeding
• Is the Oriental Firebellied Toad right for you?

Remember that little frog you loved chasing in your backyard ponds when you were a kid? Well, forget it, because today we present to you a very original and very shiny amphibian: the Eastern Firebellied Toad! Also known as its subspecies, Bombina orientalis . The best part about this attractive little toad is that, if you take good care of it, it can be your loyal companion for up to 20 years!

So, here's everything you need to know about care, tank setup, temperament, health, and the Eastern Firebellied Toad.

Quick facts about the Oriental Firebellied Toad

• Species Name: Bombina East
• Family: Bombinatoridae
• Level of care: Beginner/Easy
• Temperature: Daytime: 70°F to 75°F
• Nighttime: 60°F to 68°F
• Mood: Green, tough, daily
• Color Form:Green or grayish brown with dark spots, bright red-orange belly
• Lifetime: For 20 years
• Size: 1.5 to 2 inches
• Food: vegetarian
• Minimum tank size: 15 gallons for 2-3 frogs
• Tank Setup: A terrarium with half soil and half water
• Compatibility: Get along well with other toads made of fire

Overview of the Oriental Firebellied Toad

The eastern fire-bellied toad is found in China, Korea and southern Russia and Japan. Unlike other toads, this species prefers water.In its natural habitat, it is mainly found in ponds and other water bodies. The Oriental firebellied toad also likes to cling to conifer leaves when it wants to rest on top of the water. However, it is primarily an aquatic species.

They are popular in the pet trade, but do not have special conservation status because they are not considered endangered. You can learn more about the organization and the list of endangered species here.

Toad vs. Frog: What's the Difference?

Before moving on to the rest of the article, let's distinguish a frog from a frog for a moment:

Frog. It has long legs, good for jumping, smooth, moist skin and special toe pads for climbing.

Toad. They are heavy with short legs, and have dry skin, often with scaly looking patches. They may also have bulging bumps under their eyes, which are venom-secreting glands: the parotid gland.

But why do biologists say this?

Because toads are a subclassification of frogs. Both are amphibians and belong to the order Anura (meaning "breathless"), but only members of the Buffonidae family are considered "true toads".

We usually use the generic name "frog" to refer to species with smooth, moist skins. The generic term "toads" refers to the violent species that are the skinniest.

But there are exceptions to every rule, and our eastern fire-bellied toad is one of them: it has slimy spines like most toads but prefers water to land like most frogs.

How Much Does an Oriental Firebellied Toad Cost?

From. $10 to $25. . So no, they are not expensive exotic animals. You can keep several Oriental Firebellied Toads in the same tank without spending a lot of money.

But before you head to your favorite pet store, you should try rescuing one from your local rescue center. In fact, due to the impressive lifespan of these eastern frogs, they can sometimes be abandoned by their first owner.

This is because, sadly, some people don't realize that these amphibians will live longer than a "normal" pet (eg, dogs, cats, hamsters, etc.). So, if their life situation changes and they can no longer keep them (or they just get bored of having a frog as a pet) they decide to get rid of them. So, this may be your chance to give these beautiful and attractive animals a second chance in a new home.

If you want to buy one (or more), search for species-specific breeds or ask your vet about the best options in your area.

General attitude and temperament

Oriental firebilled toads are gregarious: they enjoy the company of their congeners of the same species. It is advisable to put more than one pattern in the same wall to keep them fun, active and happy. They are also diurnal, so you can see them doing their "frog activities" during the day (e.g. eating, climbing plants, wading in water).

These species also have another fascinating behavior that you may be lucky enough to witness: the Incan reflex. The toad displays this defensive behavior when disturbed or attacked: it rises on its front legs and arches its back to present its bright belly to its attacker. This is a big warning that the hunter will regret painfully if he tries to eat the toad.

And that's exactly what happens if the predator goes further: the toad produces a milky toxin that tastes sharp and nasty. Needless to say, a dog or snake that has tried to bite a toad learns to avoid them.

But don't worry about your safety: In captivity, once accustomed to its owner, the eastern firebellied toad does not usually exhibit this type of behavior.

Appearance and types

Oriental firebellied toads are small in size, measuring about 2 inches in length. Their backs, covered with scaly warts (also called grooves ), can be bright green to brownish-gray, but their belly skin is smooth. Females are generally larger than males.

So, so far, they seem like perfectly normal pet frogs, maybe a little boring. But make no mistake: their unusual feature is on their bellies. As mentioned earlier, their bellies are a fiery, red-orange color, and usually with black spots, to warn any potential predators that they are about to be in big trouble.

How to Care for an Oriental Firebellied Toad

Habitat, tank conditions and setup

Tank

A 10-gallon tank is the minimum for an oriental firebellied toad enclosure. On the other hand, there is a risk of your pet frog getting bored: therefore, it is advisable to keep more than one specimen in the same tank. Allow 15 to 20 gallons to accommodate 2 to 3 toads. A secure, ventilated cover is essential, as these bouncy little ones will survive if given the chance.

A semi-aquatic terrarium is ideal: half water (about four inches deep) and half soil. There may be rocks in the land area that can serve as hiding places. However, be careful of sharp stones, which can injure your toads' delicate skin. Add aquatic plants, wet moss, and perhaps a small floating island.

Water should be filtered, and frequent water changes are essential. These frogs produce a lot of waste, so you will need to change the water often. Smooth gravel can be used for dry land, and live or artificial plants can be used.

Temperature

Fire toads are cold-tolerant amphibians, During their most active period, terrarium temperatures should be kept between 70 and 75°F. At night, it can drop to 60 to 68°F.

You don't need to buy a fancy thermometer to help monitor your terrarium temperature unless you're worried about your toads getting scalded in the summer. In this case, you can buy a zoo digital thermometer, which is cheap and easy to install and will help you monitor the temperature during the heat of summer.

humidity

If you've set up the tank correctly (eg, half water, half soil, a few plants, rocks for hiding, etc.), humidity shouldn't be a problem. It should stay in the correct range of 50-70.

Adding a waterfall will also help increase habitat humidity. However, if you notice that the humidity drops below 50 percent, use a bottle to spray the tank. You can also use false systems, but they are not required.

Substrate/bed

While you can use gravel as a substrate, a water layer with cork bark or small rocks is fine. The bottom may be bare, but you can use rocks or gravel to fill it in. Coir-like substrates are also great, but not an absolute necessity.

Because a fire toad's habitat contains a lot of water, you have a good chance of keeping the moss alive. Applying a quality drainage layer will help the soil stay moist for longer.

Lighting

On the other hand, good lighting is essential to encourage the daytime behavior of eastern firebellied toads. Use fluorescent bulbs to avoid overheating the residence.

Note : If you keep your frogs in a planted habitat, you will need a low-intensity UVB lamp to meet the plants' daily light needs.

Do Oriental Firebellied Toads Get Along With Other Pets?

In short, no. The toxin of the eastern firebellied toad is very active: scientific studies show that 1 mg injected into a rat can kill it in less than 15 minutes.

However, you can (and should) keep more than one firefly toad in a reasonably sized terrarium. They'll be happier, more active, and you'll also enjoy more entertaining interactions between your little batrachians.

What to Feed Your Eastern Firebellied Toad

Oriental firebellied toads are omnivorous but are primarily insectivores. You will need to feed the adults a wide variety of different animals, such as mealworms, crickets and molluscs, to help them grow and keep them healthy.

Here is a list of edibles to feed your toads:

• Cricket
• Food bugs
• Silkworms
• Hornworms
• Waxworms
• Earthworms
• Collembola
• Dubia roaches

Note : If you feed your toads crickets a few times a week, sprinkle them with a vitamin or mineral supplement beforehand to make sure you meet all their nutritional needs.

Also, don't forget that fire-bellied toads are known to be voracious eaters. So, you need to keep a close eye on their size. However, it can be difficult to decide how much to feed them at first. A good rule of thumb is, if they gain weight, reduce the amount you give them.

Finally, depending on the size of the insects, the feeding frequency should be 2-3 times a week.

Keeping Your Oriental Firebellied Toad Healthy

Red foot disease is a common disease of eastern fire frogs in captivity. Parasitic infection causes frogs or toads with this disease to develop red legs as an early symptom. People suffering from this disease will be listless and lazy. Redfoot disease requires a visit to a veterinarian experienced with reptiles and amphibians. However, this condition is easily diagnosed and treated if it is detected early.

Also, like most frogs, they are prone to fungal infections. If your eastern firebellied toad has swelling on its face or a cottony discharge on its skin, it's time to get to the vet. The good news is that this is another disease that can be easily controlled if caught early.

It would be a good idea to keep a "food diary" of the food you feed your toads. That way, your doctor can identify any illnesses that may be related to their diet. An educated and knowledgeable owner is the key to keeping these wonderful, charming and exotic pets healthy for many years to come.

Breeding

Firefly toads can be difficult to breed. In the wild, these breed toads in the spring. In captivity, they are less likely to mate because they are less exposed to the climatic changes that occur in the wild. But, if you are successful, it will be a rewarding experience. I mean, who wouldn't want the chance to pick up tiny tadpoles?

First, having more than one breeding pair will increase your chances of success. Having two to three men per woman will further increase these difficulties. Females are usually larger, and males are more vocal.

If you're lucky, your male toads should eventually attract the females, utter their catchy "crooks" and eventually mate.

Note : Females can lay up to 100 eggs at a time.

As soon as you see eggs in the terrarium, usually around submerged plants, remove them from the wall and place them in another container of water at room temperature. Feed children the right food for tadpoles, which you can find in pet stores, or with algae, cookies and plants.

It will take about three months to fully transform into a fiery young man. When they make their paws and their tails disappear, provide them with a ramp or floating platform they can climb on so

Is the Oriental Firebellied Toad right for you?

If you want to adopt an Oriental Firebellied Toad to play with, handle and pet all day long, then no, this is not the right pet for you. This is stressful for the toad and potentially dangerous for you as these animals hide as a defense mechanism against their predators.

Therefore, it is better to limit the time you spend handling them. Wash your hands thoroughly after each handling, use gloves if your hands have minor cuts, and do not rub your eyes. These beautiful exotic specimens are a sight to behold and will be a part of your family for up to 20 years if you take good care of them.