Are they eating enough?

[FireBellyToad]

I just got my trio of fire belly toads about a week ago now and I noticed that when I feed them, only one of them seems to have a real appetite. Arnold will eat and eat and eat (I'm serious, I don't think he'd ever stop), but the other two will eat about 2 crickets each and then they are done. I figured maybe since I was feeding them every day, they weren't hungry (even though Arnold was still eating). So, I waited 2 days. I just tried feeding them again, and again Arnold was scarfing them down, and the other two ate about 1-2 crickets and then wouldn't eat anymore? I mean, they're eating, but they are just not eating very much? I also don't want to just leave a bunch of crickets in there because I'm afraid Arnold will eat all of them and the other two won't really get any. What should I do? Or does this sound normal?

Thanks!
Brittney

[FireBellyToad]

Anyone?

[s6t6nic6l]

hi. first thing: STOP WORRYING. even eating two crickets a day is fine. i feed mine on alternate days anyhow. what enviroment are you keeping 'em in(and why no pics) temp,lights,etc. that can affect their appetite too. lightly dust the crickets also approx 3 times a week with calcium. waxworms is good food also (sparingly mind) for the toads. happy toad keeping.

[bshmerlie]

The colder they are the less they eat. Two crickets is fine. The other is just a pig. Some are like that...just like people.

[FireBellyToad]

Thanks! I had just read everywhere that FBTs were pigs so I thought it was strange that that's all they were eating. And I posted pics in the thread "My Trio", but I'll try to get some better pics. The temp of the enclosure is always room temperature (75-80 degrees), and I read on several good sites that they didn't need any lighting? They do still get a natural light cycle, I just mean no light on top of the enclosure. I heard the same with additional heating as long as temps didn't drop below 65-70. If they do need light, what lighting do they need? And if it was the enclosure, would the other be eating so much while the others so little?

Thank you so much! I'm glad there's nothing to worry about!

[bshmerlie]

Sounds like your toads are doing well. Just enjoy them. Some will eat more than others but as long as you see them all eat at least one cricket you know they're eating. They'll eat more when they want to.

[Han]

"Several good sites" told you Bombina could do without additional lighting?
Absolute nonsense! They need, in fact a lot of light to stay in good shape, eat well
and breed properly, so there's something to worry about if they now live their sorry-life in dim and dusky surroundings.
You definitely should try to find some other, real good sites.

Han

[FireBellyToad]

"Several good sites" told you Bombina could do without additional lighting?
Absolute nonsense! They need, in fact a lot of light to stay in good shape, eat well
and breed properly, so there's something to worry about if they now live their sorry-life in dim and dusky surroundings.
You definitely should try to find some other, real good sites.

Han

Um, excuse me? Their "sorry lives"??? That's more than a little uncalled for. I did my research before I got them, and yes, all of the sites I saw said they have no specific requirement for lighting. Shoot me? I got them everything I had read that they needed, I clean their enclosure every day. I FEED THEM every 1-3 days. They have plenty of moss to burrow in as well to stay happy. Please tell me how they are living "sorry little lives" when I clearly tried my best to provide for them?? It's not like I purchased them and put them in a freaking bucket. If I missed a lighting requirement, fine. But just kindly tell me that instead of telling me my frogs are living sorry lives because of one thing I missed. I wouldn't be on here asking questions if I didn't give a s***.

[bshmerlie]

I think what Han was trying to say is that they would live Fuller lives with a normal 12 hour photo period. Remember these guys are diurnal so they will also be awake when the sun is out. It is best to try to give our captive pets the closest thing to their original environment. For them that would be a good size pond and both day and night. No reason to jump to conclusions for someone who didn't choose his words more carefully. I'm sure he didn't mean anything by it. No reason to get hostile at this point...unless of course he comes back and does some more slamming. Then I'll help you take him out back and we can rough him up. I'm just kidding...lighten up.

[FireBellyToad]

Sorry about my little outburst last night. I had a TERRIBLE thanksgiving (so was pretty grumpy...) and I was exhausted when I read that and I admit I probably overreacted. Han, I'm still not crazy about your choice of words, but I'm sorry if I misunderstood you. But why not just tell me instead what lighting they need instead of going on about bad info? Send me the "good sites"? I just didn't find your post very productive and it just felt like you were bashing me without actually telling me what I should do to fix it.

Thanks!

[bshmerlie]

Very well said...also, sorry to hear about your Thanksgiving.

[peeka]

Sorry about my little outburst last night. I had a TERRIBLE thanksgiving (so was pretty grumpy...) and I was exhausted when I read that and I admit I probably overreacted. Han, I'm still not crazy about your choice of words, but I'm sorry if I misunderstood you. But why not just tell me instead what lighting they need instead of going on about bad info? Send me the "good sites"? I just didn't find your post very productive and it just felt like you were bashing me without actually telling me what I should do to fix it.

Thanks!

The fact that you are here shows that you care very much for them

Here are some sites that helped me when I was researching.

Amphibian Care >> Fire-bellied Toad (Bombina orientalis)

Bombina Frogs: Housing, Diet and Health Care

Meet my Frogs: Firebellied Toads

Best of luck to you

Ally

[s6t6nic6l]

"Several good sites" told you Bombina could do without additional lighting?
Absolute nonsense! They need, in fact a lot of light to stay in good shape, eat well
and breed properly, so there's something to worry about if they now live their sorry-life in dim and dusky surroundings.
You definitely should try to find some other, real good sites.

Han

lol. you have mis-understood what HAN was stating. the actual criticism was about the other sites/owners wanting to keep their toads without any lighting needs and you would be wise to further your research elsewhere. it was a good point to be honest.

[ScumBum]

My two toads are just like yours . One is very active and eats like crazy !! He'll eat non-stop and hog everything . The other one is calm and doesn't move much , the most I've seen him eat is one cricket and I have to put it right in front of him to get him to go after it . I was worried about him not eating enough but I guess thats just how he is .