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
Toad vs. Frog: What's the Difference?
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?
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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?
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
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
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
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.