TOMATO FROG  

• Ranges along the northeastern coast of Madagascar from Antongil Bay south to Andevoranto, they near shallow pools, swamps, drainage ditches, and slow moving bodies of water.
• Females are orange to bright red in coloration and can grow to be up to 4 inches, males are a duller yellow-orange and typically do not exceed 2½ inches.
• A toxic, whitish skin secretion is used as a defense against predators, and can occasionally produce allergic reactions in humans.

Diet

Tomato frogs are insectivores. They eat primarily crickets, mealworms, and waxworms. A high quality vitamin and mineral supplement should be used to coat their food before feeding. This supplement should be used every day for young frogs and every 2 to 4 feedings for juveniles and older frogs.

Tomato frogs are a mostly nocturnal, burrowing, inactive species. They are an ambush predator, which means they wait for their prey and lunge at it rather than chasing food items around their enclosure.

A dish of fresh water should be available at all times, and a water conditioner to remove chlorine should be used.

Housing  

Tomato frogs should be kept singly as they can be cannibalistic. A single tomato frog will be happy in a 10-15 gallon aquarium with a secure screen cover, a deep layer of soft substrate to burrow in, moss, shallow water dish, and fake plants and driftwood as decor. Mist them daily, their substrate and moss should be kept moist.

Temperatures should be between 75 - 82º F during the day and 68 - 60ºF at night. Heat only one end of the tank to provide a thermal gradient for your tomato frog.

Handling

Frogs and toads absorb things through their skin, so it is best not to handle them because the salt from our hands can draw moisture from their bodies. Also because of this, it is important not to spray any cleaners or fragrances near them or their cage, and to condition their water to remove any chlorine.

Health

Red leg is a common disease in frogs caused by bad husbandry. It causes small ulcers, hemorrhages, and reddening of the skin around the belly and underside of the thighs.

Metabolic Bone Disease is also common, but easily prevented by dusting the food with a calcium and vitamin D3 supplement at least three times a week.