Blog Comments

I would not base your knowledge what you read on the net, there is a lot of misinformation. However, Marc Staniszewski's Bombina FAQ is good as he has experience in keeping and breeding these frogs. A lot of the authors of "care sheets" online probably do not. Zoo papers and studies are fine.

The dark colouration could be the "bronze morph" some authors think this is not actually Bombina orientalis, but another species. It could also be a faded colouration from B. orientalis kept under improper lighting. All fire-bellied toads need bright lighting that includes UVB and a small basking spot.

Fire-bellied toads are greedy and can become obese or bloated when fed daily, especially if temperatures are not warm enough for activity and digestion. It's best to feed them every other day when they are adults. The only time I would offer food daily is when they are young or if you've cooled them for breeding, they can then be fed daily during summer period.

Although these frogs are very adaptable, the other frogs that are not feeding could be showing less tolerance, so make sure conditions are right by basing them on a reputable source of information. A lot of the Oriental fire-bellied toads are wild-caught (although they are literally the easiest frogs to breed) so they could be diseased or having trouble settling into captivity. Look for runny faeces and weight loss, this could point to parasites.