Tomato Frog

Overview

Tomato frogs are named for their color. Females are bright red-orange and males yellow-orange, both with off-white bellies, and some individuals have black spots on the back ¹. They grow to 2.5 to 3.5 inches, and females are slightly larger ¹. This guide covers Dyscophus guineti, the tomato frog profiled by the Smithsonian's National Zoo ¹. Its close relative, D. antongilii, is also called the tomato frog ².

D. antongilii is known to live more than 12 years in captivity ², and the two species are similar in size and habits ¹². When threatened, tomato frogs inflate and release a toxic secretion through the skin ¹. In D. antongilii, the whitish secretion is not toxic to people but can irritate skin and cause allergic reactions ².

A note on our sources. No veterinary care sheet covers tomato frogs specifically. The husbandry below follows Merck's veterinary guidance for tropical amphibians ³⁴ and zoo natural history ¹².

Natural history

D. guineti lives only in Madagascar, along the eastern rainforest belt. It lives in rainforests and swamp forests near slow-moving or almost stagnant water and ponds ¹. Tomato frogs spend much of their time burrowed under leaves and mud, and they move around the forest floor at night ¹. Their calls are heard in the evening and through the night ¹. They eat insects, insect larvae and worms ¹.

Enclosure

• Terrestrial, with burrowing room. These frogs live on the ground and burrow under leaves and mud ¹, so floor space and soft, deep substrate matter more than height.
• Water area. Even terrestrial species need a shallow water dish ³. Use water free of chlorine, chloramine and ammonia, and never use distilled water ³.
• Ventilation. Use a secure, ventilated top, aiming for about 1 to 2 air changes per hour ³⁴.
• Plants. Live plants help with air quality, humidity and cover ³.

Temperature & lighting

Merck notes that tropical amphibians may need 75 to 80°F. Frogs kept outside their preferred range can become immunosuppressed and develop secondary infections ³. Keep at least one thermometer in the enclosure, and ask an amphibian vet about exact targets ³.

Merck's owner guide says UVB lighting is required to prevent metabolic bone disease in amphibians. Replace bulbs every 6 to 8 months or as the manufacturer directs ³.

Humidity

Merck's general guidance is 75–80% humidity for most amphibians and up to 85–90% for tropical species ³. Use a humidity gauge, and keep humidity up by misting or with a humidifier ³.

Substrate

• Materials. Additive-free soil, sphagnum moss, untreated hardwood mulch or leaf litter. Avoid cedar and pine ³.
• Cleaning. Spot-clean daily to weekly ³.
• Replacing. Replace the substrate every few weeks to months, keeping some established material ³. Moss, mulch and soil hold helpful microbes ³.

Diet & supplementation

• Diet. In captivity, tomato frogs are normally fed insects and worms ².
• Supplements. Unsupplemented insect diets cause metabolic bone disease and vitamin A deficiency. Ask your vet about a calcium and vitamin schedule ⁶.
• Don't overfeed. Overfeeding causes obesity ⁶.
• Hygiene. Remove uneaten food daily ³.

Handling & temperament

Most frogs should be left in their enclosure, because handling damages their delicate skin ⁵. Move a tomato frog with a container or net rather than your hands ⁵. Avoid stressing it, because it inflates and secretes a sticky substance that can irritate skin ¹². Wash your hands afterward, because amphibians can carry Salmonella ⁸.

Health

Common issues

• Metabolic bone disease and vitamin A deficiency ⁶.
• Obesity ⁶.
• Bacterial diseases, such as red-leg syndrome, triggered by changes in temperature, diet, crowding or cleanliness ⁷.
• Chytrid fungus, the most notable disease affecting frog populations in Madagascar ¹.

When to see a vet

See an amphibian vet for weakness, loss of balance, skin color changes, red spots, swelling or redness of the legs ⁷.

Breeding overview

Tomato frogs breed in freshwater pools ¹. In captive programs for D. antongilii, males called and mated under simulated heavy rainstorms like Madagascar's wet season ². Sexual maturity comes at 2 to 4 years ¹.

Legal & ethics

• CITES. Dyscophus guineti is listed on CITES Appendix II ⁹. So is its relative D. antongilii ¹⁰.
• Wild threats. Habitat destruction, introduced disease and pet-trade collection threaten tomato frogs and other Malagasy species ¹.
• Captive-bred only. Pet-trade collection is one of the threats to wild frogs ¹, so choose captive-bred animals.

Sources

1. Tomato frog · Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
2. Dyscophus antongilii · Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan
3. Housing for Amphibians · Merck Veterinary Manual
4. Environment and Husbandry for Amphibians · Merck Veterinary Manual
5. Frogs as Pets · VCA Animal Hospitals
6. Nutritional Diseases of Amphibians · Merck Veterinary Manual
7. Common Infectious Diseases of Amphibians · Merck Veterinary Manual
8. Salmonella, Feeder Rodents, and Pet Reptiles and Amphibians · U.S. Food and Drug Administration
9. CITES listing: Dyscophus guineti · Species+ (UNEP-WCMC and CITES Secretariat)
10. CITES listing: Dyscophus antongilii · Species+ (UNEP-WCMC and CITES Secretariat)

Last reviewed 2026-10-24 by Novel Fauna. This guide is general husbandry information, not veterinary advice. When an animal is sick, see a veterinarian experienced with exotic animals.

Revision history

1. 2026-10-24 Library complete: 20 more cited guides (70 total), Invertebrates group, care targets migration 0020, source title fixes 5cf06a2

Evidence grades: Novel Fauna editorial: source classification, not yet expert-reviewed, 2026-10-25. What the grades mean.

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