How many in a 55?

[Lupe]

My boyfriend has a 55 gallon tank he has laying around and was talking about putting something in. I couldn't think of anything to put in until I say a post about fire belly toads. A few weeks ago we were at a pet store and he was in awe of them. So I'm thinking we could set it up for some :] What would be a good number of toads to get for this size of tank? And can you keep some small fish with them? (Plattys maybe?)
I have a basic idea of what we could do but any input would be nice.

[bshmerlie]

You could have 8-10 firebellies in a tank that size but also take note they are very messy frogs and they do eat alot. The more you have the more mouths you have to feed. They also love the water. With a lot of firebellies in one tank I woulld use a filter to keep the water clean. In my FB tank I have the entire bottom water and use turtle docks at either end for land. The water only needs to be a couple of inches deep because they don't dive down. Think of them as teaenagers sitting in a Jacuzzi. If you do half land half water just remember they go in and out of the water multiple times a day so they'll bring in a lot of dirt with them. Avoid small aquarium gravel as a substrate as they can swallow it while eatting and die from impaction. Take a look at some pictures in the photo gallery for different types of setups for them. They also wont use the vertical space in the tank but that doesn't mean you can't have fun decorating it. I made an elaborate background for my tank with plants and a waterfall running down from the top just because I wanted to have a natural looking tank. Occasionally I find them up the hillside probably chasing after a cricket. They are also very good at climbing up the glass so make sure you have a very secure lid that locks into place. They may look like they can't climb but they're just trying to fool you. They are some of the best escape artists out there. Don't leave any holes at the top. A screen lid works best. You don't really have to worry about humidity as they are always sitting in the water. Good luck with your setup and post some pictures when you are done.

[Jace]

Cheri pretty much nailed it on the head. However, I would like to add that fish should not be kept with FBTs. For one, the water should not be very deep with these frogs, and even with a filter, there will be frog poop floating, creating a less than ideal environment for any tropical fish. As well, these toads are toxic. While the toxicity may not affect us that much, it will be fatal for anything else in the tank with these guys sooner or later. However, these guys are energetic, klutzy and comical all by themselves-they will keep you amused for hours! Have fun.