Scientific Name: Bombina maxima.
Common Names: Giant Fire-bellied Toad, Large-webbed Bell Toad, Yunnan Fire-bellied Toad.
Distribution: China, Northern Vietnam.
Size: 50-65mm.
Sexing: The males of this species can be heard calling, they also have nuptial pads on the inner surface of their notably thicker fore-limbs however these pads can be difficult to spot by the untrained eye.
Colouration: The dorsum is mainly brown but may occasionally show some grey or green. The ventral surface is red-orange with irregular black blotches, some white speckling may be present on the flanks and limbs.
Requirements: These medium sized toads live best as part of a group, the minimum recommended terrarium size for 4 adult toads would be 36x12x12" (l,w,h). These toads are highly aquatic & this must be replicated in the terrarium set-up. The floor of the terrarium should be flooded with a graduated depth to 15cm with clean de-chlorinated or spring water. Rocks, wood and corkbark can be arranged to provide land areas covering 25% of the surface area. The terrarium should not require additional heating as long as it is kept in a frost free area where temperatures drop no lower than 8-12°C during the winter and no higher than 25-26°C during the summer. Humidity levels should be around 60-70% daytime with a slight raise at night. UVB lighting of 2% may be provided for a 12-14hr period during the day.
Maintenance: The water in the terrarium should be filtered with a small submersible power filter with the output diffused. Partial water changes will need carrying out on a weekly basis to avoid the build up of ammonia and bacteria. Whilst changing the water it is a good idea to spot clean the tank and remove, clean, and replace any soiled items. At least once a month the entire terrarium and it's contents should be striped, cleaned, and sterilized using an amphibian friendly disinfectant.
Feeding: For adults a mixture of suitably sized insects including crickets, roaches, mealworms, flies, waxworm, earthworm, caterpillars and moths should be fed every two-three days with a calcium and vitamin supplement used once a week. Young toads will take whiteworm, bloodworm, crickets, aphids and fruitflies, these should be fed every day and a calcium and vitamin supplement used three times a week.
