Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am new to keeping firebelly toads. I have kept various species of reptiles and amphibians before just not these little guys. I have two in a 29 gallon aquarium. I have live plants in there, gravel/moss/driftwood as a substrate. there is a small pond with moving water. When I got them from the store they were a nice green color on top, not the brightest but green nonetheless. Since coming home they have been black. Occasionally small green spots will show up and sometimes the whole back will become a dark green. The gravel in the cage is black. Would this induce a color change? I don't have aheat lamp in there, could this be the problem?
Any ideas?

Thnkas in advance
Rich

they tend to darken in color from cool temps or stress. if they are new it may take some time for them to adjust and lighten up in color. if the temps are in the mid 70's you should be good, i keep mine around 68-72 degrees. also, some are just darker and stay that way, even though they are the same species.

if you know its a bombina orientals(i know i spelled that horribly wrong) you may want to keep it at 80 degrees. its color should turn into a much brighter green. the european specie of the firebelly toad always stays a darker green and can be kept at cooler temps. Also wether or not you are dusting its food with vitamins may have an effect on the color.