I thought I would get this section started.
I have been keeping fire-bellied toads, Bombina orientalis for several years now. They are really cool, they sing just about all the time. They even sing in my hands. My other frogs shut up even if I just look at them. The current trio I have are doing wonderfully. I can handle them and I think they have made the connection on where the food comes from. When I open the top of the enclosure, they look up at me and let me pick them up to put them in the "critter keeper" I feed them in (crickets drown in their watery home.)
I love falling asleep to their calls, and I can't see my collection without them the are the coolest.
Kurt
I'm a big fan of Bombina toads but it amazes me how few keepers actually breed them in captivity (everything in the pet trade is wild-caught). Have you succeeded in breeding any? Do you have any of the other Bombina species?
No, I have never attempted to breed them. Though they seem to try all the time to. Maybe I have all males. Maybe I should get some more, but I find it hard to get fire-bellies that will survive. Being wild caught, they are loaded with paracites and I find most don't survive. My current trio are paracite free and I want to keep it that way.
I have never seen any other Bombina for sale.
Kurt
I have had mine a year. they seem happy. I expected them to grow, as I had them when I was a kid, and they were bigger. like twice the size. are their more than one variety, where one kind is larger than another?
There are eight species in the genus Bombina. They are found mostly in Europe. The one we are most familiar with is B. orientalis, it can be bright green to brown dorsally and fiery red ventrally. The bright green ones are said to be from Korea and the brown ones from Russia. I have noticed in my collection that the brown ones don't seem to get as big.
Some of the other species we occasionally see are Bombina bombina - the European fire-bellied toad, Bombina variegatus - the yellow-bellied toad, and Bombina maxima - the giant fire-bellied toad. My understanding is maxima gets twice the size of the other Bombinatoridids. With the exception of B. orientalis, most of these toad are drab dorsally.
Here is a link to a picture of Bombina maxima
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/im...0000+0803+0280
Bombina bombina
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/im...1111+1111+4938
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/im...1111+1111+7579
Bombina orientalis "Russian"
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/im...0000+0708+0066
Bombina orientalis "Korean"
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/im...0000+0407+1263
Bombina variegatus
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/im...1111+1111+0023
mine seem to be the korean variety. thanks for the info on the other types.
You're welcome. It looks from the picture that you have one Korean and one Russian. Not to worry, they are both Bombina orientalis.
Like Kurt said, the Russian and Korean variations are the same species and can therefore breed. I personally am not a fan of those monikers because I suspect that you can probably find the two variations together throughout their range, although I really don't know. I haven't seen other species in the hobby for many years although I know that they are present in the hobby in Europe. When I had them they were always in amplexus although I never got any eggs, I suspect they were all males. I do know people know people who have bred them and I don't think its that difficult. The trick, it appears, is getting males and females. Hahaha
Alex
I have read that breading is a lot breeding temperate Colubrids. You have to over winter them. I know I have at least 3 males. I am hoping the remaining two are female. I would over winter them, but winter is almost over (thank God!) Will have to wait till next year. By then I am hoping to acquire some more "females".
I don't think Bombinids have to be cooled too much. As for cooling. I personally like the idea of cooling during the summer, at least or caudates. That way its easier to keep them cool during the winter by just not providing too much supplemental heat and during the hottest parts of summer they will be in hibernation in a fridge or the like and cooling is much easier that way. I'm not sure it that ramble made sense, but thats my opinion on it.
Alex
I know that somewhere at home I have an article on breeding Bombinids. I won't be able to post it until after I get back from Costa Rica, but i'll try to remember to then.
I thought the russian toads had a different pattern on their bellys. my korean relatives, though not frog experts, have written back that both green and brown toads live there. though brown is not as common as the green. are their any other differences between the korean and russian toads besides color? thanks for the info by the way.
From what I understand there is an actual "Russian" form, an all brown "subspecies" with golden orange bellies that is found in a particular location in Russia. I strongly doubt however that this is what is sold in the U.S., rather, they are just different morphs from the same source.
Alex
nice fire belly never seen one like that
Quick question on this species:
I have managed to get a small colony of these for very, very cheap. I studied up on the care and breeding of them quite a bit.
My questions pertain to feeding.
Most every site and book I have read so far on them implies that dusting crickets is mandatory.
Is this true or is this a case of necessity due to a limited variety diet?
If dusting is necessary, what supplement do you experienced keepers recommend?
I was using a calcium/vitamim D3 but it lacked vitamin A, so I got a supplement that has all three. I don't remember what the brand name is. Anyway, the fire-bellies did fine on the previous sumplement, just other frogs weren't, like my darts. I do dust everytime I feed. Some might this too much, but they way I see it most of the crickets will not be eaten right away and with Bombina orientalis being a semi-aquatic species, a lot of the dust will wash off.
I've had my FBTs for about 1.5 years now, and I've never dusted my crix. I keep them (the crickets) in a cricket keeper cage and feed them baby carrots, Cricket Quencher, and T-Rex "Calcium Plus" GutLoad pellets. The gutload pellets have all the vitamins you find in dusting, without the mess of actually dusting. Also it's like $9.00USD for a bottle and one bottle lasts me over a year.
Excellent. I have been researching different products for about 10 hours now. I just got more and more frustrated the more I read. It is good to see that gutloading is working well for you. We will give it a try here.
After succesful treatment for parasites, and a few months of feeding the heck out of these little guys (and gals) I have decided to try my hand at breeding them.
I am having trouble finding a set range of temperatures for brumation.
Some sites and books say 50F, others as low as 40F! Ido not want to kill them by accident. What should I set my converted wine cooler to?
Watching FrogTV because it is better when someone else has to maintain the enclosure!
I was wondering at the different colours, as I have 4 green and 2 browns, and now I know. My two browns are definately male and very insistent in their behaviour!! I love listening to their calls, and when all my males get going, I can hear them over the air conditioning, fans and television. I have absolutely no interest in breeding mine, but I wish Johnny all the best and I hope that you keep us informed of your success!
I would try 50F and see hw that goes.
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