Fire Bellied Toads and Caudates

[Tom Highum]

Can you put both FTBs and some type of aquatic Caudate in the same tank?

[JeffX]

Mixing is never a good idea. The toxins that are on a Firebelly will be in the water and can do harm to the other animals.

[Tom Highum]

hmm does anyone have any other info on this?

[Kurt]

Well, the most likely Caudate you can get your hands on will most likely be a newt, all of which are toxic. And as previously mentioned fire-bellied toads are themselves toxic. So to put them all together would mean they would be poisoning each other.

[Tom Highum]

hmm thanks

[Kurt]

You're welcome.

[John]

There are hundreds of threads about this on caudata.org. There are also some articles on Caudata Culture.

[Tom Highum]

So john whats your opinion on it?
Also i cant find any on Caudata

[Azhael]

There are plenty of reasons why mixing is a very bad idea. Toxins is only one of the issues. Patogens, agression, differences in housing requirements, etc....are all good reasons to avoid it.
Specially agression in this case, i think is important. Bombina will jump and try to it anything that moves, and if a newt was to venture on land, it will sure get a bite (or get eaten if small enough), which will then cause stress to the newt, or even small wounds that might get infected.

[scribbles]

I know someone who has been sucessfully keeping Fire-Bellied Toads with an Oriental Fire-Bellied Newt for quite some time now. Both seem to be doing great. (I keep my Fire-Bellied Newt seperate from my toads). I'm not reccommending this, just thought I'd share.

[Tom Highum]

Hmm they seem like they would be native to similar areas. Anyone elses thought on this?

[John]

Just because nothing has gone wrong yet, it doesn't mean it's the right thing to do. There are many descriptions of this or similar mixtures in the species mixing article at Caudata Culture and the tragedies that resulted.

[scribbles]

I hope nothing happens. They haven't been together for a full year. I wouldn't try it.

[india7]

My fire bellied newt and frog were together for 3 days. The frog lunged at the newt, and I separated them.

[Mattiez]

These animals have relatively long lifespans. Just because they appear to be fine after a year does not mean that their poisons are not wrecking havoc inside each other animal's body. Since they live awhile, this may not be evident yet.

To me, one of the reasons I enjoy keeping frogs is knowing I'm able to give them long (and hopefully relatively healthy) lives. Mixing species like that will surely take a few years off of their lifespans, and therefore makes no sense to me.

[SludgeMunkey]

[Ribbet]

So basically what I am learning is that mixing is always bad. It comes down to Value of life. For instance a dog can live on a leash in the back yard never given attention or walked, but it will be unhappy, which will be apparent. Unfortunately frogs don't have as visible emotional responses. Normally these toads have a very large environment where they can get away from the toxins they emit and live a normal life span including early death within the larger context of the survival of the entire eco system. So, when these creatures are taken out of there natural environment and put into a micro environment you have to make special attention to give them a "optimal life" in what is essentially a glorified prison life. Does that sound right? If I had a 50' square vivarium maybe I could mix species and the various critters would live together, but in a small tank it is impossible.