Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, my husband and I have been keeping and breeding tropical fish for years but recently decided to branch out to amphibians.

About a month ago we bought four fire-bellies (the great store near us managed to persuade us to start with something relatively simple first - I always like places that are more interested in the animals than the sale) and are keeping them in a converted 18"x8"x8" aquarium. We put a perspex divider in and have half water with Elodea and half land with bogwood, bamboo tubes and moss for them to hide in.

So far they seem to be doing great and even the skinny one is filling out. We are feeding them on crickets (fed cricketdiet plus - is this o.k.?) and earthworms.

We only had them a couple of days before one started calling. He is very randy and keeps jumping on anything remotely toad-like. So far none of the others have responded. Another has started calling as well now and I think we ended up with three males and one female but it is so difficult to tell. Do females call at all or can they make a burbling noise (different to the squeeking the males make)? Or is that just a "I am male get off me" call?

We would like to breed them and we have a spare pond out back (empty plastic pond not in ground). Would that work during summer to try and breed them in or is it better to stick to the aquarium/vivarium set-up?

They do change their colours and go from light to dark green, I assume this is a mood/camouflage thing.

Do the females always wait until spring before mating or can you induce it a bit earlier if the males are ready?

I think I may have to get some more if it turns out I only have one female as it is very unfair on her but then we need a bigger aquarium!

I have read up as much as possible on them but would like to know any personal experiences anyone has had with breeding them.

Here is a pic of two of them.

Cheers

Caz

Hey I also have four Fire Bellied toads and i know exactly what u mean about trying to find out if there male or female. One way you can tell if there male or female is during breeding season or if there barking on there front legs they have little pads on there front legs underneath the front part of the leg the pads look like a clear dry rubbery spot. I resently found out all my toads are male unfortinatly! ow yea i do not belive the females bark and like u said the males give a warning bark and say get off me if another male gets on him. and you said u had a pond out back and if u had it I would just be careful and make sure they couldent get out and no preditors could get in also make sure some of the pond is land. Ow yea u said u felt sry for ue one female and i read that if u want to breed you need to have more males than females. also it is perfectly normal for them to change colors. Good luck and have fun!

Two of mine have started to get those pads theur hands and their first thumbs are thickening but they aren't the one that has been calling all the time (Randy)! I have just confirmed I have 4 males - they all call when Randy gets on them! Darn it - now I will have to get some more.

Caz

hey before u buy new ones look down on the forum to this "Photoshoot! Aren't they cute?" it gives a really good example of how the females are not as bumppy as the males. good luck

I went out and got the least wartiest, skinniest armed one I could and it still turned out to be male (the Randy test - it croaked) - aaaargh!

So now I have five males.

Anyone got any females in the Reading/Basingstoke UK area they would like to do swaps on?

Caz

You may have picked up another species of firebelly toads. I think there are two different kinds(european and oriental). And im not sure if the male and female differences are the same within all species of firebellys.

As far as I am aware they are all oriental fire-bellies (not dark brown like their european cousins).

Although I was sorely tempted when I was in the shop at the weekend by some yellow-bellied as they were easier to sex but I wasn't sure if I could keep them with the others as I don't know if they can survive each others toxins (how vastly seperate are the species?).

I am waiting for my local shop to get some more in - hopefully there will be some more obvious females there.

Caz