If there is one reptile that I find incredibly entertaining, it is the fire-bellied toad. Not only do they have a bright shade of red on their bellies, they are just goofballs. They have the most unique personalities that I have seen.
They are not warm towards humans, but they are not mean. They merely accept your presence near them and hope you drop a pile of crickets for them to eat. I have spent so many days trying to keep their water dishes as pristine as they can be, but these toads love the water and their enclosures are filled with dirt. So you can only imagine what that water looks like within a couple minutes!
Needless to say, these toads are so fun to watch and when they start croaking, it is an experience for the ear to hear! But what is required to take one of these little guys home? What do they need and what do they eat? Can they just sit in a shoebox with some dirt and that can suffice? Well, let’s find out!
These guys, however, do enjoy crickets and mostly munch on these insects. It is best to feed them three to four crickets per day, depending on their size. But, they also eat waxworms, mealworms, earthworms – you get the point – basically they will try to pounce on any insect that moves.
Tip: It is way more fun to have more than one toad (both the same size), so they can socialize and keep each other company!
As for their size, they get no larger than three inches – and that is even pushing it. The fact that they stay small is always a plus, especially if you want to add more than one within the tank. They also eat less because of their size, which allows the owner to spend more money on the décor if preferred.
If you want egg-laying females to have young, it is best to place live plants around the enclosure. That helps to offer more hiding and add intrigue to the area. As for the water dish mentioned above, it is best to not completely fill it as these toads, upon observation, like to sit in the water with their heads poking out instead of submerging inside the water.
Heating is not needed if the room is kept at a fair 73º F. The moss will allow humidity to stay within the tank and let the toads, which are very tolerate to temperature drops, the option to get under the moss for some humidity. As for lighting, a simple fluorescent bulb is adequate.
Tip: Make sure you use water conditioner to remove any heavy metals and chlorine from tap water when you are changing their water!
It has been noted that these toads can live up to 10 years and are very easy to take care of, so these reptiles are perfect for a first time reptile enthusiast! Remember, it is always best to do research on your own before buying any animal. I hope you have fun with these little toads and enjoy listening to them croak, jump for crickets and dive into the water.
Previous Article
Student honors special teacher with toy collection