Amphibians
Tomato frog care guide
Dyscophus guineti
A bright red-orange Madagascan burrowing frog; secretes a sticky skin toxin when stressed.
Fossorial — deep substrate for burrowing
New to reptiles? Check your keeper level first →Tomato frog enclosure size
Fossorial — deep substrate for burrowing. An adult tomato frog should live in at least 18" L × 12" W × 12" H; we build toward 24" L × 18" W × 12" H (2 × 1.5 × 1 ft, roughly 3 sq ft of floor and about a 22-gallon glass equivalent).
- Hatchling / baby
- 12" L × 12" W × 12" H recommended · min 12" L × 12" W × 12" H
- Juvenile
- 18" L × 12" W × 12" H recommended · min 12" L × 12" W × 12" H
- Adult
- 24" L × 18" W × 12" H recommended · min 18" L × 12" W × 12" H
Temperature and heating
Most amphibians need no added heat in a normal room; avoid heat lamps that dry the enclosure. Use a thermostat on any heat source.
- Basking / warm surface
- No basking spot
- Warm side (ambient)
- 75–80°F
- Cool side (ambient)
- 70–75°F
- Night
- 65–72°F
Lighting and UVB
UVB: Not required; low-level UVB beneficial. Run lights on a 12 hours on, 12 hours off photoperiod, on a timer, and replace UVB bulbs on the manufacturer's schedule even while they still emit visible light.
Humidity
Target 60–80%. Damp, deep substrate and a shallow water dish.
Substrate and depth
Coco fiber or soil mix. Depth: 3–4 in.
Diet and feeding
Gut-loaded insects (crickets, dubia, worms) dusted with calcium; vitamins weekly.
Enclosure tips and furnishing
- Hides on both the warm and cool sides
- Clean water available at all times
- Clutter — cork, leaf litter, plants — for cover
Build list
- Enclosure at adult size — Buy for the adult footprint to avoid repeated upgrades.
- Digital thermostat — Every heat source must run through a thermostat — unregulated heat burns animals.
- Two digital probe thermometers + hygrometer — Read the warm side, cool side and humidity directly.
Tomato frog FAQ
How big should an adult Tomato frog enclosure be?
At least 18" L × 12" W × 12" H, and we recommend building to 24" L × 18" W × 12" H — about 2 × 1.5 × 1 ft, or a 22-gallon glass equivalent. Fossorial — deep substrate for burrowing.
What temperatures does a Tomato frog need?
Basking or warm surface No basking spot, warm side 75–80°F, cool side 70–75°F, night 65–72°F. Most amphibians need no added heat in a normal room; avoid heat lamps that dry the enclosure. Use a thermostat on any heat source.
Does a Tomato frog need UVB?
Not required; low-level UVB beneficial. Photoperiod: 12 hours on, 12 hours off.
What humidity does a Tomato frog need?
60–80%. Damp, deep substrate and a shallow water dish.
What substrate is best for a Tomato frog?
Coco fiber or soil mix, at a depth of 3–4 in.
How big does a Tomato frog enclosure need to be for a hatchling?
Hatchling / baby: 12" L × 12" W × 12" H recommended, minimum 12" L × 12" W × 12" H. Scale up to the adult footprint as the animal grows.
Sources
Put this guide to work
Apply these targets to your own tomato frog record, then log feedings, sheds and weights against them.