The Oriental Fire-bellied Toad (Bombina orientalis) isn’t actually a toad at all – it’s a frog! It just gets the monicker from the fact that its skin is quite bumpy and warty (like most toads). I’m sure you recognize these frogs if you live in the United States as they are quite commonly kept as pets.
In the wild, the frog survives by alerting predators to its toxic self. To do this, the Fire-bellied Toad will roll over onto its back, exposing its bright red belly which effectively says, “STAY THE HELL AWAY IF YOU KNOW WHAT’S GOOD FOR YOU!” The frog secretes a milky-white toxin mostly on its hind legs and sometimes belly when disturbed or frightened. If a predator were to eat the frog then they would be the ones with a fire in their belly (and not in a good way!). So, if you do have this as a pet you should refrain from handling them as much as possible and definitely be sure to wash your hands afterwards if you do come in contact with them.
These hardy frogs can live for over a dozen years in captivity if their enclosure is properly built. They should be kept in enclosures with some kind of land or island which allows them to periodically climb out of the water. Be careful though, these frogs aren’t strong swimmers and may drown in water that is too deep. An ideal enclosure has plenty of land and water-based hiding places, as well as a land-based location suitable for depositing live food.
