Habitat for for fire bellied toads

[Joeiscool]

Can some one tell me how much it will be

[Duriel]

It can be as simple and ugly (a plastic storage tote with styrofoam "island" supposedly worked for someone...) or as brutally extravagant and expensive as you like. I personally rock a 10G ($10 during Petco's $1/gallon sale) for 2 females and a male. Just some cheap fake plants (Walmart.. think I paid about $10 for 4), a secure lid (forget cost, you can make one... just make sure it either has locking tabs or put something heavy (for a frog, not you) on top, as they can stick to the glass and climb out through any opening they can get their head through), a small intank water filter (was about $10), and smooth aquarium gravel (don't recall the price). Some say not to use gravel as they may eat it and die (from impaction, or not being able to poop), but I have a small stainless steel bowl ($1) that I put their food in (Dubia roaches and occasionally wax worms. Crickets will jump out of the bowl). You can skip the water filter, but you'll end up having to change the water more frequently. I change mine about 75% every Friday (that's about when it starts to smell a little if I put my face over the tank). Your highest cost will be food (over time, as they don't eat anywhere near as much as say... my bullfrogs or bearded dragon). Many people recommend vet checkups, but it's unlikely your local corner vet will be of any use. You need a vet that specializes in reptiles/amphibians/other exotic pets and they mostly stay near large cities (not only is it unusual to own these types of pets, but most people don't see a vet). Personally, there isn't an exotic vet anywhere near me, so I took care to select the plumpest, most active specimens (doesn't apply to my American toads or bullfrogs, as they showed up at my backdoor). Generally speaking, unless it's already sick when you first get it AND you feed them properly AND keep their home clean, most juvenile-adult frogs will live for quite some time (I'd shy away from babies, as frogs will lay a LOT of eggs. They do this because many of the hatchlings don't survive).

This is not a complete list of what you may want and others may disagree with what they NEED, but it's worked great for me. Aside from some sickly specimens I foolishly took in (a pacman frog from Petsmart that lasted about 8 hours and a juvenile bullfrog about 1/3 the size of a normal tadpole, etc), I've really never had any die on me (gave them away before they got old). Of course that will change now, as I am self-sustaining and not going to live places where they aren't allowed. I suggest you check out the firebelly subforum and google care sheets for a more well-rounded analysis.

[deranged chipmunk]

+1 there's absolutely no way to say an enclosure will cost this many $$$ (sorry, don't know how to get the pound symbol on my keyboard..lol) it is all about how much you want to spend. my suggestion is to spend the most amount of your budget on life support (filter, heating,and a very secure lid). and any extra cash to buy healthy animals. yes, the chain store down the street may be a few pence cheaper, but are they more healthy? most importantly, read the care sheet, then read it again. remember, just because you start them in one tank, doesn't mean they have to spend their entire lives in it. your enclosure can always grow as your skills and knowledge grows

[Duriel]

That's the weird thing. I've found chain stores to be MORE expensive, while providing sick/underfed/stressed animals. Case in point: Petco had gnarly, skinny bearded dragons living on sand (they like to put everything in their mouths as kids, kind of like humans... and sand can = impaction), with no veggies offered, dead meal worms all over (again impaction, and also how can you ignore something so long that ****ING WORMS die?) and no UVB light for 69.99. 30 miles down the road was a small pet store with proper care (as in, costs them more) with 2 healthy beardies for $39.99. I mean greed is greed, but you'd think the big "Walmarty" stores dealing with pets would charge less. I've seen websites with firebellied toads for 4-5$ (cheapest I've seen) that were captive bred from reputable breeders, but when you order frogs online, the only reasonable (typically the only AVAILABLE) option is overnight shipping, so you don't really save. That's why, when I almost lost my mind over how awesome red and black walking frogs were, I had to order a fair quantity (in my case 6). The shipping was $40. Yes, other sites had $20-30 shipping, but my site charged $10 per frog and all the others wanted $20+... so I think I did well. Thankfully (in my experience), firebellied toads can take petchain(tm) store abuse pretty well (another reason they make a great first frog... some species you can't even leave them alone for the weekend).

[deranged chipmunk]

Ya know, come to think of it, i do believe you are right on the money. Although around here, the chains are a bit cheaper than the independents sometimes. Although that wasn't really my point. My point was just to buy healthy animals, cost not being a factor on what animals to buy. I always try to get my animals at mom and pop pet stores. But i have been known to hit the petsmart fish sales.....lol