Hi all

This is a thread I thought I would never have the opportunity to post under, but I just was given a fire bellied toad. This is a huge thing for me because exotic amphibs are extremely rare and illegal in South Africa. I am going to collect these 2 (hopefully 2) in the next few hours as the guy who owned them feels he does not have time for them and wants me to take them and look after them. I have only ever kept South African frog species so I am defecating bricks for a choice of better words.

I really think they are not in great shape and will need a lot of nursing. I am thinking of keeping them in an Addis style tub with sphagnum moss and a water bowl till I can see some improvement and feeding from them, then I will move them to a properly equipped viv. Will they easily take pin crickets and flightless fruit flies - from what I saw they really small, smaller than a US Quarter coin.

I just need some help and advice of what I should do from here, I know they should have a basking light (30w and lower) and cool water, but keeping them in a tub to monitor them is going to make that almost impossible so I would really appreciate any help i can get from the guys who have had first hand experience with working with this species. Should I place a heating mat under one section so that there can be some warmth or should I just rely on room temperature (which is dropping in the low 20's C at the moment in South Africa)?

I do not know the sub species but I can take a photo tonight and post it so that you guys can help me ID the exact locality to set up a viv to suit the temps.