My new addiction ...

[Chris Guffey]

Hey I'm Chris & my gf was nice enough to pass on her addiction of reptiles to me when she got me a FBT for Xmas that we named Spike & now I already want more.. Lol.

Well After reading up a lil on them on google I went to the pet store & bought a exo terra UVB bulb to use with a dome light on a timer 12/12, moss, h20 conditioner drops to treat my tap water, reptocal powered nutritional supplement to dust the crickets every other week or so( this stuff was suggested by the guy at the pet store).... oh and I ended up buying another FBT so Spike wasn't lonely that my gf named Karai

For a temporary tank I'm using the tank she gave me with spike until I can decide on which tank would be best for me cuz of my disability & the FBT's. To make it simple I'm a dwarf so the regular tank maintenance is difficult on me with a standard tank like I'm using now having to access from the top only. But Right now I'm liking the exo terra rainforest kit 12x12x18 which would make my life a lot easier with the front doors & give them some height since they seem to like to scale up on everything I put in there current tank.. Lol. I was going to do a removable water area for ease of changing it regular, was also going to get the waterfall with fogger to help keep the humidity up

Right now there current tank setup is prob 75/25 water, there's thin layer of aquarium gravel along the bottom then moss, 2 rocks that was boiled b4 using & tupaware container for there water area ... They seem to be happy tho wit it there both climb on anything I put in & enjoy the hiding area I gave them. Feeding time sucks with the moss since the crickets crawl down in the moss & I like to watch to make sure both FBT are getting the same amount & that Karai isn't being a hog like I noticed she will do .. Lol... but I feed them each about 4-7 crickets a week & dusting the crickets every other week a day b4 feeding time. The tank temp stays at a 65-70 & the humidity varies from 45-80... If I don't mist at all it stays at 70 degrees 50 humidity... But I try to mist them twice a day which keeps the tank at 70 degrees 70ish humidity... I have the dome light sitting on top of the screen and a towel covering the remainder with the light on a timer

I'd appreciate any tips or ideas tank setups that would benefit Spike & Karai & make regular maintence easier on me

I added some pics of my current tank setup & a couple of Spike (he's darker color) & Karai

chris

[Mentat]

Hello and welcome to FF Chris! This is an excellent article about FBTs: Frog Forum - Fire-Bellied Toad Care and Breeding - Bombina orientalis and relatives. The ExoTerra and similar front opening enclosures are more expensive than a similar sized aquarium; but they are way more convenient. That is due to the front opening doors, front to back ventilation, and no need to remove lights and top mounted equipment during maintenance. Myself would go with a 18x18x18 cube for the FBTs since they will have lot's more area to play with.

See that you are using moss as substrate, so want to warn you that if frogs feed on it; it's an impaction hazard. Good luck !

[deranged chipmunk]

Welcome Chris! Carlos has you pretty well covered. I'd definitely agree with his tank recommendation. Fbt's prefer water and land more so than climbing trees. Lol most of the terrarium manufacturers make tanks which are wider than tall, so you may want to look into those as well.

Enjoy your frogs, they're awesome!!

[Chris Guffey]

Hello and welcome to FF Chris! This is an excellent article about FBTs: Frog Forum - Fire-Bellied Toad Care and Breeding - Bombina orientalis and relatives. The ExoTerra and similar front opening enclosures are more expensive than a similar sized aquarium; but they are way more convenient. That is due to the front opening doors, front to back ventilation, and no need to remove lights and top mounted equipment during maintenance. Myself would go with a 18x18x18 cube for the FBTs since they will have lot's more area to play with.

See that you are using moss as substrate, so want to warn you that if frogs feed on it; it's an impaction hazard. Good luck !

I actually already did read that article & took notes from it ... I wasn't sure if I should go with 18x18x18 or the 12x12x18.... Yes I know they are more expensive but with my disability accessing from the top is a pain in the ***.

ya im not a fan of the moss now that I've used it, I went off of what I googled & the guy at the pet store but I don't plan on using it again once I decide on the new tank to get

[Chris Guffey]

Welcome Chris! Carlos has you pretty well covered. I'd definitely agree with his tank recommendation. Fbt's prefer water and land more so than climbing trees. Lol most of the terrarium manufacturers make tanks which are wider than tall, so you may want to look into those as well.

Enjoy your frogs, they're awesome!!

Thats y I came here to get advice & pointers from the more experienced .. Lol

thanks I do enjoy them ! It's great seeing how different there personalities are & there habits. My gf defiantly got me addicted now & want to setup up room & get more pets lol

[ravensgirl]

hello and welcome!

[Tongue Flicker]

Hey chris welcome aboard! Nice to see guys picking up on their gf's addiction coz usually it's the other way around haha

[Chris Guffey]

Hey chris welcome aboard! Nice to see guys picking up on their gf's addiction coz usually it's the other way around haha

Lol ya I know

funny thing is I started her addiction by catching a orb spider on the porch & keeping it alive for a month or 2 by feeding it stink bugs .. she now has 2 bearded dragons, crested gecko, 24 tarantulas & a FBT at her place now .. LOL

[Tongue Flicker]

Lol ya I know

funny thing is I started her addiction by catching a orb spider on the porch & keeping it alive for a month or 2 by feeding it stink bugs .. she now has 2 bearded dragons, crested gecko, 24 tarantulas & a FBT at her place now .. LOL

24 Ts?! Even i just have 7 lol

[Chris Guffey]

24 Ts?! Even i just have 7 lol

Lol.. ya it's alil absord... At least a doz of them r baby's the size of a dime

[Chris Guffey]

So I was looking around on joshsfogs site & they have a frog kit that's a 18x18x12 tank...

Fire-Bellied Toad Complete Kit (18x18x12) - Fire-Bellied Toad Kits | Josh's Frogs

Anything I shouldnt get that comes with it or anything else I need to purchase that isn't included ? & Would that be a good size for 3-4 FBTs ?

[Chris Guffey]

Ok after adding some stuff & switching tanks I think I put together a ok setup & decide on a bigger tank yet.. Lol

But I wanted opinions on my list & setup b4 I purchase it. I did a screenshot of the list

i got 2 Small turtle pebbles & 2 small mandarins. And was going to do as much water as possible & use the turtle cliff

[Mentat]

Hello Chris! Your last list is fine, myself do not like the ExoTerra low tanks too much because once you set-up a false bottom or a nice layer of substrate you end up with around 9 in. of height. Depending of the number of frogs you want to keep; either the 18x18x18 or the 24x18x18 should be OK. If going with artificial plants try to get silk ones because they are softer. Also, I prefer Seachem's Prime or ExoTerra's Aquatize to treat tap water. Recommend contact Josh if buying all items in there; might still get a package deal price if you do so .

[Chris Guffey]

Hello Chris! Your last list is fine, myself do not like the ExoTerra low tanks too much because once you set-up a false bottom or a nice layer of substrate you end up with around 9 in. of height. Depending of the number of frogs you want to keep; either the 18x18x18 or the 24x18x18 should be OK. If going with artificial plants try to get silk ones because they are softer. Also, I prefer Seachem's Prime or ExoTerra's Aquatize to treat tap water. Recommend contact Josh if buying all items in there; might still get a package deal price if you do so .

I actually edited the list again... It just doesn't stop.. Lol

gonna go with the 24x18x12 tank & I didn't get the conditioner cuz I have a full bottle from the pet store & reptocal

those were the plants that he had in the FBT kit on his site ... So I went with them.. Lol but I'm up whatever everyone suggests since I'm a noob & I figured artificial would be good for me

Sweet ill message him my list & go from there, thanks for the heads up !

[Chris Guffey]

Hey chris welcome aboard! Nice to see guys picking up on their gf's addiction coz usually it's the other way around haha

& it continues ... Lol

meet Lily .. My new rose hair tarantula

[deranged chipmunk]

Sweet!!

[AKFROG]

My hat's off to you folks that keep Tarantulas. Snakes yes, spiders nope.

[DigitalPunk]

Love love love Josh's Frogs! Just wish their shipping rates were cheaper

I ended up buying my tank from Amazon to get the free 2 day shipping on it.

Looks like the fever has sat in nice and good on you lol. I am feverish myself! Need to get a 2nd or 2rd job so I can afford to feed the addiction!