First Fire belly vivarium, few questions.

[Erwin]

I'm planning on setting up my first ever vivarium housing a couple of Fire belly toads and although most caresheets for this species are quite elaborate i still i have some questions.

I have an Exo Terro viv thats 60cm wide, 45cm deep and 60cm high (think thats 24*18*24 inches) with doors at the front.
From what i've seen most fire belly's are housed in aquariums but i got this tank for close to nothing so i'd like to use this one if it's suitable.

The room i'm putting the viv in has a temperature usually fluctuating between 17-21 celcius (64-70 fahrenheit) during the day and although it's mentioned that they are quite comfortable with whatever temperature u have in the room i'd like to put a aquarium heater with thermostat in the water and have it at a steady temp of about 22-23 degrees celcius and turn it off during the night so it can cool down a wee bit like temps would do in nature.
Would the cute lill buggers be ok with a setup like this ?

The caresheet on this site also mentions a basking spot but i haven't seen that being mentioned anywhere else... is that needed ?

U ever have that when u are walking in a room and u forgot what u wanted to do in there ? ..... pretty sure i had some more questions i wanted to ask before i started typing.... so annoying

Anyway.... yeah i think this where the most important questions i had.

[bshmerlie]

Fire Belly toads are very easy to take care of. The Exo Terra is a perfect tank for your frogs. Just make sure that the doors are always locked and the screen lid snaps into place and is secure. They are great escape artists. If would be good to have half the tank land and half the tank water. Tetra Fauna makes a pretty cool water filter and tank divider (see pic below). The water side should be about 2 -3 inches deep with boulders in it that they can stop and rest while still having their heads above water. The land side should not include any pebbles or gravel that could be swolled while they eat. On the other hand you dont want a soil that is going to constently going to be dragged into the water with them. They will go in and out of the water multiple times a day. I've used sheet moss and leaf litter. That will help keep the water clean. If you have a permanent water structure than using a filter to clean the water clean is helpful. Or if you use a water bowl change the water everyday. You do not need a basking light. Just lights that will help promote plant growth in your terrarium. Tetra sells turtle heaters that you can put in the water to keep it an even temp and it has a plastic sleeve that prevents the frogs from burning themselves if they touch it or rest onto of it(see picture on the right).

[keith123toad]

Hi
I keep fire bellied toads in an aquarium like most people! As long as they have access to a good amount of water either half and half or one third they are quite happy.
I use a turtle filter (from a certain auction site) that runs in three inches of water as the pump section is located at the base.The water rises up the filter body and out the top.I change the water once a week.The ideal temperature for FBT orientals is about 75f give or take a few degrees.
If you want to keep the european FBT they will tolerate a lower temperature.I use 10mm(3/16th inch) gravel purchased from a building supplier,its way to big for my Fbt,s to swallow.I sink plants in pots into the gravel and it looks ok.The water flows across the whole of the gravel substrate. I have a 11watt flourescent light that is on for twelve hours
and no other lighting.
Keith