Care Sheet for ToadsAverage Rating Given To This Care Sheet Is 3.75 (1=lowest, 5=highest) Last Updated: 01/09/2006 |
Main Category: | Aquatic/Land |
Sub Category: | Toads |
Care Sheet Submitted By: | The toad girl12026 |
Years Experience: | Under 1 Year |
Species: | European Fire-Bellied Toads |
Other Species or Phases this Care Sheet May Cover: | None.
This is the only species I have experience with. I do believe, though, the Oriental Fire-Bellied Toad has similar needs. |
Sexing and Characteristics: | The females have longer legs than the males, and are usually larger. The males are usually more active and have bumpy forearms. Many people have different methods of sexing their toads, but this is my preferred technique. The females usually have pointed heads while the males have square ones. |
Mostly Active During: | Day |
Substrate and Water Needs: | I have a gravel/sand mixture. But just be careful that your toads don’t mistake the gravel for food. The water is tap water (dechlorinated, obviously) and it’s around 68-75 degrees Fahrenheit. My tank is 1/3 land and 1/3 water. My toads are kind of on the small side, so I have about 1 1/2 inches of water there. |
Lighting and UVB: | I don’t use any, but make sure you have plenty of natural sunlight. Mine like to sun themselves sometimes. My tank is near a window, and when I leave the house I open the blinds so it heats up the water and the toads. |
Temperatures and Humidity: | My air temperature is between 68-78 degrees. The humidity in the room is about 45%. To keep the tank humid, I spray the toads with a bottle filled with dechlorinated water at a fairly warm temperature. This helps. As I mentioned before, the water temperature is kept between 68 and 75 degrees. I have a small thermometer in the tank and the bottom part is in the water, so I can make sure the water doesn’t get too cold. |
Heating and Equipment: | I don’t use any fancy equipment. Partly because my parents don’t want me using too much electricity. Just one comment: do NOT use any type of heated rocks. Those are fine for lizards and what not. But these are amphibians, and they need to be kept moist. That kind of thing will dry them out, and probably fry them to death. |
Caging Provided: | I have two toads in a 5 1/2 gallon glass tank. I call my toads "midgets". Only because they are! They’re tiny! Many people would say "Get a bigger tank! They need space." True this may be, it’s just that my toads are tiny and don’t need acres of space. They are quite happy to share space with each other. |
Diet: | Carnivorous |
Description of Diet: | Technically, they are insectivores, meaning they eat bugs and all those other wonderful creepy-crawlies your mother just loves. My toads like to eat live mealworms. Some say you have to cut the heads off, but I don’t. If mealworms gross you out, use a spoon. I’m not a big fan of crickets. They make noise at night, and they need their own separate enclosure with food and water and everything. They are more work than the toads themselves. Mealworms eat stuff like oats and bran, which you can find around the house.If you do use live crickets, make sure you remove the drowned ones. Otherwise they get all soggy and moldy, and toads won’t eat them. My toads enjoy commercial fish food as a treat about once a week. |
Supplements, Nutrition and Usage: | I don’t use any at the moment, though I probably should start using them... |
Maintenance: | If the cage smells, clean it. It’s not rocket science you know.
I use a spoon to remove the droppings and food from the water. When you change the water, you may want to remove your toads from the premises temporarily so all the excitement doesn’t stress them out. I change about half of the water each time. I make sure to replace it with warm water, and I add a bit of dechlorinator each time. Don’t use any kitchen cleaners, such as dish soap. This will kill your toads. I change the water about once a week. This is only because my toads step in their mealworms and then go swimming. Not fun. (for me) |
Some Words on this Species: | A wonderful first pet. if you raise them well, they are hardy and playful. I have no experience with breeding at all, by the way. Another helpful hint: don’t handle them unless you are sexing them, they are injured, or you are rescuing an escapee. Oh, and wash your hands after every time you wash the tank or handle the toads. These toads, however adorable and playful they might be, can excrete a toxin from their skin. And don’t put your hands in your mouth, obviously. I hope this helped, and I hope you have fun with your Fire-Bellied Toads!! |
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