Fattening FBTs?

[firebellied zach]

I was just wondering whether their was a safe way or a specific way to fatten fbts. Right now I'm am using wax worms and mealworms every other day (one worm per toad per day). Any advice?

[John]

I think that's a good way to go, just don't use those foods in the long term. Remember that fire-bellied toads are all wild caught, and they invariably carry parasites, which could inhibit their ability to put on and hold weight.

[ApxWingman]

Why would you want to fatten them up? Correct me if I am wrong, but would that not make them less active, and be bad on their health?

[firebellied zach]

One of them is actually quite skinny. One of them is s healthy weight and i'm not doing much about him, but he is still quite active.

[tearsmith]

Hi. I just wanted to give my two cents....

If you have one frog that is abnormally skinny, you should deworm him. If he is eating just like the other and active and seems otherwise healthy, he most likely have parasites. There are cricket dusters that you can use. I don't want to recommend a brand because I am honestly not an expert on that and don't want to tell you wrong, but I imagine John or another moderator probably knows best. Anyway, no need to go to the vet right away, it's most likely parasites. Depending on where you got him, if it was just a regular petstore, they are not dewormed or fed good or anything. Just bred and sold, sadly. Anyway, I would deworm according to instructions and wait about a month. He should gain weight without the worms eating his nutrition. If this doesn't make any difference after about 3 or 4 weeks, I would consult an amphibiun veternariun.

Good luck!

[firebellied zach]

Thanks for the advice. I do have some vitamin dust so I may try to use that.

[bobrez]

I found some earthworms in the yard and cut them up, they were definately fatter after these were eatin.

[crazkt]

I think that's a good way to go, just don't use those foods in the long term. Remember that fire-bellied toads are all wild caught, and they invariably carry parasites, which could inhibit their ability to put on and hold weight.

They're all wild caught? I didn't know that... I thought that since they seem to breed easily, it'd be more likely they'd be captive-bred.

[John]

They're all wild caught? I didn't know that... I thought that since they seem to breed easily, it'd be more likely they'd be captive-bred.

They're wild caught because they're easy to find and very cheap. Captive bred ones only come from a few hobbyists, and most frog people who aren't new to the hobby are not interested in fire-bellied toads because they're everywhere. So not many are captive bred.