How to Care for Fire Belly Toads

If you're looking for a small pet that's relatively easy to care for and has some longevity, you might consider a fire belly toad. These small, brightly-colored creatures can live up to 10 years when properly cared for. They're also fun to watch.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• 10-gallon aquarium tank with lid
• Gravel and rocks
• Plants
• Water filter
• Heat lamp
• Live crickets and waxworms
• Calcium or multivitamin powder
• Spray bottle

1. Place your fire belly toad in at least a 10-gallon aquarium tank. Up to three toads can be housed in a tank this size, but you'll need a larger tank for more than three toads.
2. Build up about half to one third of the tank with rocks and gravel. Then place 2 to 4 inches of water in the other half or third of the tank. Use a filter to keep water circulated and clean, and change the water at least once a week.
3. Set up a basking area over the dry part of the tank with a heat lamp. Maintain an ideal temperature of 68 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. You can keep the basking area can be up to 85 degrees Fahrenheit and the water temperature between 75 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Feed fire belly toads live insects, mostly crickets and waxworms. These insects should be well-fed and sprinkled with a calcium or multivitamin powder prior to being placed inside the toad's tank. Feed adult fire belly toads two to three times per week.
5. Clean tank at least once a week. If you're using a water bowl, replace that water daily. Do partial water changes regularly as fire belly toads produce a lot of waste. Replace gravel every six months.

Tips & Warnings

• Follow this rule of thumb when housing fire belly toads: allow for approximately 4 gallons of tank size per toad.
• Keep the tank humid by spraying inside walls daily with a mister and adding peat moss to the rocks and gravel.
• Add floating plants to the tank for the toads to hide in. Make the tank as close to their natural habitat as possible.
• Feed adult fire belly toads guppies as a treat.
• Don't use chlorinated water for inside the toad's tank. Use dechlorinated or bottled spring water.
• Don't feed your fire belly toads mealworms, as the exoskeleton is tough and not suitable for these toads.
• Don't handle fire belly toads excessively, as overexposure to the salts and oils found on human hands can be harmful to these toads. Due to to minor toxicity of the oil on the toad's skin, wash your hands thoroughly after handling and avoid handling if you have open cuts on your hands.
• Don't mix fire belly toads with other species, as toxicity may result.