Encyclopaedia
AmphibianFreshwaterSemi-aquaticEasy
©AI Generated·Proprietary
European Fire-bellied Toad
Bombina bombina
The European Fire-bellied Toad (Bombina bombina) is a small, semi-aquatic primitive toad native to central and eastern Europe. It features a dark olive back with flat warts and a striking, red-and-black warning pattern on its belly.
Class:Amphibia
Order:Anura
Family:Bombinatoridae
Genus:Bombina
Species:Bombina bombina
Share
Check out European Fire-bellied Toad on Atlarium
Water Temperature
15 - 24 °C
pH Value
6.5 - 7.5
Environment
Freshwater / Semi-aquatic
Humidity
60 - 80 %
Day temperature
20 - 25 °C
Night temperature
16 - 18 °C
Ambient temperature
20 - 25 °C
Minimum enclosure
>= 45 L
UVB
Low
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Native to the plains, river valleys, and floodplains of Central and Eastern Europe, extending into western Asia. They inhabit slow-flowing streams, marshy wetlands, and sunny, vegetated ponds, spending most of their time floating or hiding in shallow waters.
Taxonomy and Genetics: A member of the family Bombinatoridae. It has a flattened, warty body (4.5-5.5 cm) with slightly webbed feet. The dorsal skin is olive-green or dark gray, camouflaging it in mud, while the ventral skin features a brilliant, aposematic warning coloration of orange-red and black.
Behavior and Habits: Diurnal and semi-aquatic. They spend much of their time floating in shallow water among duckweed. If threatened on land, they perform the "Unkenreflex," arching their back and limbs upward to expose their bright red bellies as a toxic warning. Males make a soft, melodic, repetitive "poop. poop" call during spring.
Morphology: Sexual dimorphism is subtle. Females are slightly larger and rounder. During the breeding season, males develop black nuptial pads on their forelimbs and inner fingers.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: Requires a horizontal aquaterrarium or paludarium (minimum 60x45x30 cm) with a ratio of 70-80% water and 20-30% land. The water depth should be 10-15 cm, filled with aquatic plants (duckweed, Elodea) and floating cork bark islands. Use gentle filtration to avoid strong water currents.
Lighting and Heating: Prefers temperate conditions. Maintain temperatures between 20 and 25°C. They are sensitive to high heat; temperatures above 28°C can cause fatal heat stress. Provide low-intensity lighting with a 5% UVB source to assist with calcium synthesis.
Humidity and Hydration: High humidity levels (80-90%) are required. Stagnant water and waste can lead to lethal bacterial infections like red leg syndrome. Regular partial water changes and proper filtration are necessary to keep the water clean.
Feeding and Supplementation: Voracious insectivores. Feed on crickets, earthworms, small roaches, and insect larvae. Food should be dusted with a calcium and vitamin D3 supplement twice a week for adults.
Compatibility: Peaceful and social with members of their own species, and can be kept in small groups. Do not house them with significantly smaller frogs, which they will eat, or different species to prevent toxic skin secretions from causing harm.
Health and Common Diseases: Their skin secretes a defense chemical (bombesin) that is highly irritating to human eyes and mucous membranes. Wash hands thoroughly after maintenance. Prone to red leg syndrome and fungal infections in unhygienic conditions.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Native to the plains, river valleys, and floodplains of Central and Eastern Europe, extending into western Asia. They inhabit slow-flowing streams, marshy wetlands, and sunny, vegetated ponds, spending most of their time floating or hiding in shallow waters.
Origin
Europe, Mediterranean, and West Asia
Amphibian profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 5 cm
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Toxicity
- No verified data available
- Life stage
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
The catalog's scalar value is 5 cm. The AmphiBIO v1 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 5 cm for this species, recorded as snout–vent length (SVL). These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
Related species
Recommendations grouped by close relatives, companion choices, and similar care.
