Hi from NC

[purplewiggles86]

I just received 15 fire bellied toads. I've always been an avid frog lover but never thought I would ever own any.
The people who gave the toads to me said I should only have to feed them crickets once a week, but I've been reading up a little on them and it says they should be fed every other day. I've come to really love them and I've already had one die (it wasn't a toad it was a tree frog one of their children put in the tank) and I really don't want anymore to.

I changed their tank from the huge 50 gallon to a smaller 20. (I couldn't lift it up and down to clean the tank). I do however have plenty of area for them to climb, hide, swim and just bask in light. They are mating, which kinda scares me (I don't really need as many as I have and am afraid i'll end up with even more).

I am hardly home due to work and don't want them to die when I'm not home.

Is the feeding once a week ok or do I really need to feed every other day? And do I only have to clean the tank once a month or is that cleaned more?

[snoopfroggyfrog]

hi purple, im pretty new to frog keeping and dont know alot about toads but i feed my frogs every other day, im sure they need food more than once a week... i saw a care site on fire belly toads and it said feed 2-3 times per week, and i think that cleaning them out once a month is a no go.... they build up toxins in the tank and that can make them sick. And definatly dont house any other species with them cause of the different toxins each species have thats probally why your frog died.... you need partial water changes frequently to keep the water clean.
I hope this helps for now but someone who knows alot more will probally answer your question with more accuracy soon..... good luck!

[1beataway]

The treefrog likely died from mixing the two species. I have a friend who has 10 in a 20 gallon, I believe. She does water changes about once a month. She feeds them three times a week. I wouldn't feed them just once a week. And, they mate -all- the time. Little frisky frogs. But she hasn't had babies, so I think you're safe.

They're fun and playful frogs. And very easy to take care of.

Do you have a filter for the water?

[Ebony]

Hi purplewiggles86 , You must be into The Wiggles then and Geoff . Welcome to the forum.
I think snoopfroggyfrog has given you great advise.Never mix species. It is important that your enclosure has been properly cleaned especially because you have lost a frog. What ever your Frog died from could effect the rest of your frog family. It would also be a good idea to check out the care sheet. Feeding was as much as they can eat in 15min every second or third day I think. Care sheet will tell you. Good luck

[Kurt]

Well the care sheet for Bombina orientalis has been written, just waiting for John to put it up.

A twenty does seem a bit small, especially if its a twenty-high. The fifty (which I suspect actually may be a fifty-five) is a good choice. If can be maintained like a fish tank, with filtration and partial water changes once a month, more if needed.

For what its worth, I feed my fire-bellies once a week.

[Tom Highum]

Yes these guys are very frisky but they will not breed unless you let them hibernate.

[purplewiggles86]

Thanks, I got home today and one of the toads had gotten caught under one of the figurines and died, again it wasn't one of the fire bellied. I have a filter but it's acting up, getting very loud and making a slight revving noise. I'm having my boyfriend buy me a new one tomorrow while I'm at work. I hope that will help. The toads all seem to be very happy. I'm also going to call a pet shop in the morning and see if they will take a few. I recounted them and counting the tree frogs there is a total of 15. Two I'm giving to a friend I'd like to get rid of at least 6. I think that would help their environment. Thanks for the information.

[1beataway]

That sounds like a good idea. Just make sure you have only fire-belly toads in there, and don't mix any other species. But cutting the number of toads in that 20 gallon by half sounds good.