Compatible creatures for FBTs

[HomicidalHippie]

My Step Dad just got three fire belly toads. Their tank is looking a bit empty. I've heard that you shouldn't house anything else with them because of their toxicity, but I want to make sure. Are there any newts or frogs or toads that are compatible with them?

[Froggiefressh]

Most if not all the people on here will tell you the same, its not a good idea. Ultimately you'll stress whatever species you try to put together and it could/will lead to death.
If your tank is empty you could always build them a nice planted tank they're a lot of good pictures and threads on the topic in the forum. I hope this helps you out! Good luck

[tgampper]

My Step Dad just got three fire belly toads. Their tank is looking a bit empty. I've heard that you shouldn't house anything else with them because of their toxicity, but I want to make sure. Are there any newts or frogs or toads that are compatible with them?

It's a good idea not to mix species. FBTs do secrete a toxin from their skin that maybe harmful to other animals. These frogs are very colorful when you first get them, but after a while they will become dull. To keep up the bright colors, you can gut load your crickets with carrots or paprika.

[HomicidalHippie]

Thankyou very much. the tank is already planted and gorgeous. I'll let him know about the gut loading.

[rivkah]

Hi, Steph,

What you did not say is how big is the enclosure?

Although, I agree with Greg, generally it is not a good idea to mix frog and toad speices. To achieve a "mixed environment" is much more that simply putting two speicies together, even if they share similar requirements regardless of how large the enclosure.

I had sucess combining fire belly toads with anoles. Each had similar environmental requirements, but inhabited different niches within that environment. I kept 3 firbelly toads with 2 anoles in a well planted 38 gallon tank (30"x12"x18"H), that was also well designed land/water areas. The toads, of course, stayed low and horizontal, while the anoles stayed higher in the plantings. There was no interaction between the two speices. I did this because I wanted/needed something to eat the crickets that escaped the fire bellies. I personally kept this enclosure for more than 6 years, eventually donating it to a local nursing home. The toads are now at least 14 years old, but the original anoles are no longer around, replaced with another twosome (both females so that there would be not "accidental" breeding). I still "visit" the terrarium and do routine maitenance (water changes and prunning).

Again, it is not easy to combine species and rarely does it work out.