3 Great Tank Mates for Fire-Bellied Toads (Vet Approved)
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If you have a fire-bellied toad, you might be interested to know if you can add other creatures into their enclosure. Luckily, fire-bellied toads are relatively peaceful, which means there are a few tank mates you can select.
That being said, the toad produces toxins that can be dangerous for super-sensitive creatures. For this reason, you want to select hardy reptiles or amphibians if you’re looking for a community setup.
Here, we are going to learn about the three best tank mates for fire-bellied toads. Keep reading for more.
The 3 Tank Mates for Fire-Bellied Toads:
1. Madagascar Giant Day Gecko (Phelsuma grandis)
| Size: | 9–11 inches (23–28 cm), females smaller than males |
| Diet: | Omnivore |
| Minimum tank size: | 40 gallons |
| Care Level: | Intermediate |
| Temperament: | Males aggressive toward conspecifics |
This gecko is sometimes called the giant day gecko. They are from Madagascar and have a bright green body with an orange stripe on their head. These geckos are active during the day and make good companions for fire-bellied toads.
As with just about every other gecko, this creature requires intermediate care. Like most gecko species, the males can be quite quarrelsome and territorial and will not accept other males in their neighborhood. They will only allow females to enter their territory. In captivity, where the females cannot escape, a male can also sometimes seriously wound a female. Therefore, it is best to only house one with your fire-bellied toad.
2. Tree Frogs (Hylidae)
| Size: | 2–5 inches |
| Diet: | Insectivore |
| Minimum tank size: | 30 gallons |
| Care Level: | Intermediate |
| Temperament: | Peaceful but inquisitive |
One of the most fun tank mates for a fire-bellied toad is a tree frog. Tree frogs require the exact same care and setup as the fire-bellied toad, but they are very inquisitive, making them a fun tank mate to watch.
Like most amphibians, tree frogs are a bit difficult to care for because many species of tree frogs prefer to stay on high plants (as their name suggests).
3. Green Anoles (Anolis carolinensis)
| Size: | 5–8 inches (12.5–20.3 cm), including tail |
| Diet: | Carnivore |
| Minimum tank size: | 40 gallons |
| Care Level: | Expert |
| Temperament: | Males aggressive toward conspecifics |
The last tank mate on our list is the green anole. Green anoles make fantastic tank mates for fire-bellied toads because they don’t see them as threats. Often, green anoles and fire-bellied toads even make good friends.
Male anoles should not be housed with other males and should not be able to view their reflection, as they will attack it out of territorial aggression. They also have unique care requirements that make them best left to experienced keepers.
What Makes a Good Tank Mate for Fire-Bellied Toads?
If you have a fire-bellied toad, you want to select a creature that is peaceful and hardy. Like any other toad, fire-bellied toads release toxins that can kill other animals that are not well adjusted. Consequently, you want to pick hardy animals that resist the toxins.
More so, you want the tank mate to be peaceful and get along fine with the fire-bellied toad. Most amphibians get along with the toad fine, but many fish and reptiles get along with the toad as well.
Although toads need access to water, they aren’t good tank mates for fish. Fire-bellied toads are weak swimmers and only enjoy sitting in shallow water (for hydration, as they drink by absorbing water through specialized areas in their skin). They should only be in water that is about 1–2 inches deep at most. This is usually not enough to house fish.
Where Do Fire-Bellied Toads Prefer to Live in the Tank?
Fire-bellied toads like to hang out at the bottom of their tank. This allows them to hide underneath substrate, leaves, and other items in the tank. Plus, the bottom of the enclosure holds the most moisture, which is essential for the toad’s health.
When it comes time to eat, fire-bellied toads may change their location. Many fire-bellied toads are known to go into the middle of the enclosure whenever they are eating, but this depends on the individual personality of the toad.
Water Parameters
Fire-bellied toads are semi-aquatic, which means they live on both land and in water. Whenever the toad is a tadpole, they live exclusively in the water but adapt to living on land. Still, a full-grown toad would like to hang out in pools of water.
The water needs to be healthy so the toad can remain healthy. Ammonia and nitrate levels should be ideally 0 PPM, but they might be as high as 0.25 PPM. The nitrate levels should be below 30 PPM.
Before placing your fire-bellied toad in the enclosure, make sure to dechlorinate the water. Additionally, clean the water out frequently so the toad and tank mates are healthy.
Size
The fire-bellied toad can grow to be 2 inches long, making them quite small. At the very minimum, get the fire-bellied toad a 20-gallon enclosure. If you add tank mates, increase the size so all creatures have adequate space.
A Note About Aggressive Behaviors
Despite their name, fire-bellied toads are not very aggressive, though they can be feisty when it’s time to eat. Also, males can at times show aggression toward other males.
Most of the time, though, these toads sit around and enjoy relaxing in shallow, stagnant water. When it comes time to eat, the toad will hop up fast to get the food, but this is only a problem if the tank mate is aggressive and tries to steal food.
Since the fire-bellied toad is not aggressive, you want to pair them with non-aggressive tank mates that won’t be too aggressive about food. If both creatures are non-aggressive, you likely won’t have any issues.
Conclusion
Since fire-bellied toads are relatively peaceful, finding a good tank mate for these creatures is not very difficult. The most important thing to consider is that these toads produce toxins, which require hardy tank mates and thorough cleaning on your part.
After selecting the tank mate species, just make sure to properly care for the animals and keep the enclosure clean. If you notice that either of the animals seem to be sickly, consult your veterinarian for more information and input.
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