Gravel? Do I need to buy aquarium gravel?

[Kurt]

With aquatic frogs like African clawed frogs, dwarf clawed frogs, and Suriname toads gravel is fine. These are the only frogs one can keep with gravel as a substrate. Anything that is terreatrial, arboreal or semi-aquatic and eats live prey such as insects should never have gravel as a substrate. The risk of impaction is just to great, but in the aquatic enviroment gravel will not stick to food and thus will not be swallowed accidently.

[Jace]

With aquatic frogs like African clawed frogs, dwarf clawed frogs, and Suriname toads gravel is fine. These are the only frogs one can keep with gravel as a substrate. Anything that is terreatrial, arboreal or semi-aquatic and eats live prey such as insects should never have gravel as a substrate. The risk of impaction is just to great, but in the aquatic enviroment gravel will not stick to food and thus will not be swallowed accidently.

Sorry, Kurt, but I have to disagree on this, speaking from personal experience. My female African clawed frog did choke on aquarium gravel during feeding. She was so excited and just started shoveling it in with her front legs. I had to fish her out and remove the gravel from her throat with blunted tweezers. She survived, but the gravel was tossed. I would be very leery of using such gravel with these guys, but I have had no problems with it and Dwarf frogs.

[Kurt]

I just have never seen any Pipid frog swallow gravel or even come close to swallowing it.

[Jace]

My other two never had a problem with it. Maybe it was a female thing???

[into]

My other two never had a problem with it. Maybe it was a female thing???

I'm not thinking in the right frame of mind

[Ribbet]

So what do I use as a substrate for fire bellied toads? I need something that works as dry land and wont ruin the water area at the "beach" meeting between the two.

[SludgeMunkey]

Hybridize. You will be hard pressed to find an all in one substrate that will meet your needs.

Since fire bellies only need around an inch or so of water, a standard terrestrial substrate with a large water dish will work fine. If you prefer a more involved set up, there is at least two threads on here involving firebelly enclosures with pictures and tons of information.