Bombina orientalis
Oriental Fire-Bellied Toad
Fire-bellied toads are hardy, colourful amphibians that display a bright warning belly when threatened. They are easy to keep in a simple paludarium but should be watched rather than handled often.
BombinatoridaeLifespan 10–15 years in captivityCare complexity 2/5Suitable for beginners
At a glance
- Scientific name
- Bombina orientalis
- Family
- Bombinatoridae
- Origin
- Wetlands of Korea, northeastern China and parts of Russia
- Lifespan
- 10–15 years in captivity
- Adult size
- 4–5 cm
- Weight
- Not typically measured
- Temperament
- Placid and mostly ignores handling stress by staying still, though handling should be minimal
- Activity level
- Moderate; active swimmer and forager, especially at dusk
- Social needs
- Moderate; does well in small same-species groups
- Intelligence
- Simple but recognises feeding cues over time
- Noise
- Soft clicking calls, especially during breeding season
Housing and environment
- Housing
- Paludarium with roughly equal land and water areas, minimum 60 x 30 x 30 cm for a small group
- Space requirement
- Combination of shallow water and planted land area
- Temperature
- 20–24°C
- Humidity
- 70–100% within the enclosure
- Exercise
- Swimming space and land areas to move between
- Grooming
- Not applicable; skin secretions are mildly toxic, so hands should be washed after contact
Diet and feeding
Live insects such as crickets and fruit flies, dusted with calcium and vitamin supplements
Behaviour and compatibility
Floating at the water surface, defensive arching to display its warning-coloured belly, group basking
- With children
- Observation only; the skin toxin makes handling unsuitable for young children
- With other animals
- Keep only with other fire-bellied toads
- Training difficulty
- Not applicable
Health
- Chytrid fungus
- Bacterial 'red-leg' infections
- Skin toxin irritation if hands touch eyes after contact
- Poor shedding in low humidity
Amphibian-experienced vets are uncommon; strict hygiene and water quality prevent most problems
Special care requirements
Always wash hands thoroughly after contact and never touch your face; the skin toxin can irritate eyes and mucous membranes