False Tomato Frog
Dyscophus guineti
The False Tomato Frog is a visually striking, terrestrial amphibian from Madagascar. With care requirements identical to the true Tomato Frog, it is a legally accessible and highly popular alternative.
Umgebung
Terrestrisch
Luftfeuchtigkeit
70 - 90 %
Tagestemperatur
22 - 27 °C
Nachttemperatur
19 - 23 °C
UVB
Ferguson 1
UVI
0 - 0,7 UVI
Artbeschreibung
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Endemic to the humid primary rainforests and swampy regions of eastern Madagascar. They live on the forest floor, spending much of their time buried under damp soil and leaf litter.
Taxonomy and Genetics: A member of the Microhylidae family, commonly known as the False Tomato Frog or Sambava Tomato Frog. It is a close relative of the highly protected Dyscophus antongilii (CITES I), from which it differs by having a slightly lighter or more orange-toned coloration.
Behavior and Habits: Terrarium-dwelling, fossorial, and nocturnal. They spend daylight hours buried in the substrate or hiding under bark. At night, they hunt as ambush predators. When threatened, they inflate their bodies to appear larger.
Morphology: Features a stout, rounded body. Females are significantly larger and heavier, reaching 9-10 cm, while males are smaller, growing to about 6-6.5 cm. Coloration ranges from bright orange to tomato red.
Pflege, Zucht und Mitbewohner
Terrarium Setup: Requires a spacious horizontal terrarium (minimum 60x45x30 cm). Provide a deep (7-10 cm) burrowing substrate of damp coconut fiber or peat moss, along with leaf litter. A shallow water dish is required as they are poor swimmers.
Lighting and Heating: Maintain daytime temperatures between 25 and 28°C, dropping to 21-23°C at night. Avoid excessive heat. Provide low-intensity 5% UVB lighting to support skeletal health and prevent metabolic bone disease.
Humidity and Hydration: Maintain high humidity levels between 75% and 85% with daily misting. Good ventilation is essential to prevent stagnant conditions that can cause bacterial skin infections.
Feeding and Supplementation: Insatiable insectivores. Feed on crickets, roaches, and worms of appropriate size. Dust prey items regularly with calcium and vitamin D3 to prevent nutritional deficiencies.
Compatibility: Can be kept in small groups if the enclosure is large enough. Avoid housing them with smaller frogs that they might consume, or other species with different care requirements.
Health and Common Diseases: When stressed, they secrete a sticky, white skin toxin that can be irritating to human eyes and mucous membranes. Regular substrate cleaning is necessary to prevent Red Leg syndrome caused by waste accumulation.
Geografische Herkunft und Verbreitung
Endemic to the humid primary rainforests and swampy regions of eastern Madagascar. They live on the forest floor, spending much of their time buried under damp soil and leaf litter.
Ursprung
Afrika und Madagaskar
Amphibienprofil
- Diät
- Insectivore
- The False Tomato Frog is a voracious ambush predator that consumes a large amount of terrestrial invertebrates. In the wild, they feed heavily on beetles, crickets, spiders, and earthworms that wander past their hiding spots. In captivity, a balanced diet of gut-loaded crickets, roaches, and waxworms, properly dusted with supplements, is essential.
- Lebenserwartung
- 6-10 years
- Erwachsenengröße
- 10 cm
- Lebensstil/Mikrohabitat
- Terrestrial
- Tomato Frogs are highly terrestrial and somewhat fossorial, requiring environments with soft, diggable substrate. They inhabit the forest floors and scrublands of Madagascar, where leaf litter is abundant. A proper terrarium must provide deep substrate, like coco fiber, to allow them to burrow backward into the soil.
- Aktivitätszyklus
- Nocturnal
- They are strictly nocturnal, emerging from their shallow burrows only at night to hunt for passing prey. During the day, they remain completely hidden to avoid heat and predation. In captivity, their activity is mostly restricted to the nighttime hours or immediately after heavy misting.
- Sozialität
- Solitary
- These frogs are secretive burrowers that prefer to stay hidden under leaf litter or loose soil. If uncovered or threatened, they will dramatically inflate their lungs to appear larger and more intimidating. If inflation fails to deter the predator, they will release their sticky, defensive skin secretions.
- Reproduktion
- Oviparous
- Reproduction occurs during the heavy rainy season, when temporary pools and swamps are full. Males call from the water's edge or while floating, producing a series of low grunts to attract females. Females lay hundreds of small black and white eggs that float on the water surface and hatch rapidly.
- Toxizität
- Toxic
- When threatened, they can exude a thick, white, sticky secretion from their skin that acts to deter predators. This substance can glue shut the mouth of a snake or bird and is an effective chemical defense. It can cause minor irritation or allergic reactions in humans, making hand washing mandatory after any interaction.
- Lebensphase
- Metamorphosis
- The species begins as aquatic eggs that quickly develop into tadpoles in shallow, stagnant water bodies. Upon completing metamorphosis, the small froglets emerge and adopt a fully terrestrial lifestyle. As they grow, they develop their characteristic plump, rounded bodies and striking reddish-orange coloration.
- Handhabungstoleranz
- Display only
- Handling should be infrequent to avoid stressing the frog and triggering its sticky defensive secretions. If handling is necessary, moistened gloves should be used, and the frog should be supported fully from underneath. Their skin is delicate, and the defensive mucus is difficult to wash off if it contacts human skin.
- Brumation
- Nicht erforderlich
- In their native Madagascar, they may enter a period of estivation during the dry season, burying deep into the mud. They do not undergo true cold brumation, as tropical temperatures remain relatively stable. Captive environments usually maintain consistent moisture, eliminating the need for a dormant period unless breeding is desired.
- Häutung
- Periodic
- Like other robust frogs, they shed their skin regularly to accommodate their growth and maintain skin health. The frog will perform a series of contortions, puffing up and rubbing its limbs to loosen the old skin. The shed skin is immediately pushed into the mouth and eaten, recycling its valuable nutrients.
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