Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recently bought 2 FBT and have set up proper housing as described on this website. I went back to Petco to get 1 more FBT for my 10 gallon tank. A different girl helped me and asked me if they had proper heating? I said what? Yes, the tank needs to be heated for the FBT or they will start to get pale, loss their bright color and possibly die. The FBT are in a very large 65 - 75 gallon tank with tons of river rocks and very large stones. They have one of those reptile heating pads on the bottom. Is this pad really heating through all those layers of rock (over 6 to 8 inches) and do FBT need heat to survive? If not where can I get a complete fact sheet for care of the FBT to take and sent to Petco's headquarters about care of their animals?

Chiacats

they will do fine at room temps

Wow, the things these people think up of.

Room temperature is fine. I've kept my firebellies at room temperature for several years and their doing fantastic.

But florescent lighting may be beneficial.

I have my toads at cool room temperature 70-75 degrees. And my FBTs are beautiful, healthy and happy. From what I've read, their natural habitat are cool water streams, so it makes sense that they shouldn't need a heat source. Good Luck with your new friends!

The firebelly toads at work get dropped down to the low 60s F in the winter.
I'm not sure why anyone would heat them as long as the room didn't get too cold (maybe low 50s).

Ed

no amphibians dont need heating sources to survive.
-----
sincerely,
Jonathan D. de Kluyver
JDDK Reptiles
Quality Reptiles and Amphibians
www.jddkreptiles.com

I prefer overhead light than a heating pad. If you need any at all. Heating pads if they have alot of soil ,etc on them dont do much of anything and zoo med brands can crack tank bottom,
I find that fire belly toads tho in theory dont need heat prefer 75 to 80 degrees. In theory they shouldnnt but when I first got mine I had them in a room which had a night temp of mid 60s.
The water section had a heater with temp of 75 and I allways found them sitting in the water the next am.
When the room was moved to warmer room. I would find them on the land area as much as the water area while before ONLY in the heated water area.
I use incandesent 60 watt plant bulb on one side of my tank which is 48 inches long and they seem to really enjoy the heat(75 to 80 all year long).
They do come from cool areas of asia but I would imagine they would hibernate at cooler temps . I know some say these are cool temp toads but I disagree from my experience they might come from Cool parts of asia but are active in warm temps not in cool temps.
Lia