Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've bought my first fire-bellied toad 5 months ago. I'm totally new to this, but have read a lot. I have a 10 gal. tank, sloping, with 1/3 dry and 2/3 water (about 2 inches deep), an air stone for some water circulation, about 10 rocks and a nice cave for hiding out. The house stays around 70 - 78 degrees. He's been doing great until about a month ago. He hasn't eaten in three weeks and only ate maybe one cricket the previous week before that. He moves around fine (no physically obvious problems and his coloring is still great - on top and bottom). He used to jump up near the top of the tank when I would feed him - no jumping any more. I keep the tank clean and use chlor-out drops when adding water. It has stayed really clean since he hasn't been eating. He does stay in the cave quite a bit lately. I've always fed small crickets in the past. Lately I've also offered tiny earthworms, house flies, and a mealworm - all to no avail. Please help. I'm afraid I will lose him soon if I can't get him to eat.

usually these species are very hardy all i can think of is maybe its getting ready to hibernate. if a change in temp has occured it may think its becoming winter time. The water temperature during the active period should not be below 58°F. and preferably be nearer (64°F. for B.maxima, 72°F for B.bombina, 75°F. for B.variegata and 78°F. for B.orientalis) while a 25 - 40W spot lamp located 10 inches above the basking area will provide temperatures in the region of 74 - 85°F. which is essential for rapid and proper digestion . other than that i dunno. good luck

Thanks for your response! The coolest it's been is 70, at night. I was worried that maybe 70 was too cool for him, so I put a 40W bulb on top of the wire tank cover. It didn't seem to alter the temp much, so I changed it to a 60W. Even now, the water temp seems to rise and decrease based on the total house temp, rising and decreasing from 70 - 78 (today 80). I wondered about hibernation, but I couldn't find anything indicating that fire-bellies hibernated. From what you're saying, he shouldn't be trying to hibernate in these temps. I think he is getting out of his house at night, now that it's lit up, but still not eating a single bite.

i dont know if i read you right, but i think you are saying you leave the light on all night for warmth. this will also cause feeding problems since all animals need a photo period of 12 hours light and 12 dark. also what are you trying to feed it?

I'm still feeding him small crickets. Earlier this week, I also tried a tiny earthworm and later, a house fly. I just started using the light earlier this week to try something else. It doesn't seem to be heating the tank at night, but he does come out of the cave and move around if it's on at night. He wasn't coming out at all - day or night, before I started using the light. If I ever take him out in the daytime, he just goes right back in. From what you said, I don't really need to worry about heating the tank because the temp range we have should be fine. Should I just give up and assume he's trying to hibernate? I don't know if I would need to provide him with anything else if that's the case (like moss to bury himself in, or something like that). Thanks again, for your help!

From your description of his habitat, temps, and feeding you sound like your doing a very good job with him.

It could very well be a "brumating thing". Two years ago, in winter my lil guy seemed to stop eating altogether for over three months(Winter)!And like you, I was extremely nervous he'd croak, but throughout the winter he always seemed plump, content, and healthy.

Finally 3-4 months later I saw hiom pounce on a cricket and started up being a pig again!

Goodluck with him,
Steven
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Steven ,

and flock;
-1.1 Cockatiels(Buddy and Jake)
-1.1 Budgies(Chipy and Peaches)
-1.0 Orange cheeked waxbill

And slime/scales;
-1.0 Firebellied toad
-1.0 Japanese firebellied newt
-1.0 Leopard gecko
-4 leopard frog tadpoles

Fish, feeders and other wriggly things!

I've never heard of FBT's hibernating. I do know in the warmer (especially humid) temps, they are hoppier and more vocal, but in 4 years I never noticed a habitual change - especially eating-wise. I know room temp never went below 70, and in winter I had a softglow lamp that added maybe a few degrees warmth. Never noticed a change tho.