False tomato frog (Dyscophus guineti)

Short answers

False tomato frog: How big does the enclosure need to be?

60×40×40 cm.

False tomato frog: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 22–27 °C, basking spot No basking spot needed, at night 18–21 °C.

False tomato frog: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Not essential.

False tomato frog: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 8–12 years.

False tomato frog: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

22–27 °C

Night temperature

18–21 °C

Basking spot

No basking spot needed

Humidity

70–85 %

UVB

Not essential

Enclosure

Minimum size

60×40×40 cm

Substrate

Deep coco humus they can dig in, with leaf litter and a shallow water dish

Feeding

Food

Insects (house crickets, earthworms)

Feeding interval

adults 2–3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

6–10 cm (females larger)

Life expectancy

8–12 years

Origin

Eastern Madagascar – rainforest

Protection status

CITES II

Brumation

A cooler dry spell of 6–8 weeks

Cohabitation

A group of several similarly sized animals is possible. Only combine animals of the same species and roughly equal size - smaller ones otherwise get treated as prey. Offer enough hiding spots so each animal can retreat, and feed separately if sizes differ.

Notes

It buries itself by day – deep, loose ground matters more than floor area. When threatened it releases a sticky secretion. Markedly easier to obtain, and legally, than the true tomato frog.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

Look for False tomato frog (Dyscophus guineti) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Antsouhy tomato frog (Dyscophus insularis) – Intermediate
• Tomato frog (Dyscophus antongilii) – Intermediate
• Flat-headed bullfrog (Kaloula baleata) – Beginner
• Asian painted frog (Kaloula pulchra) – Beginner
• Banded rubber frog (Phrynomantis bifasciatus) – Intermediate
• Italian crested newt (Triturus carnifex) – Intermediate
• Yellow-bellied poison frog (Ameerega hahneli) – Intermediate
• Amazonian horned frog (Ceratophrys cornuta) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep False tomato frog (Dyscophus guineti) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (60×40×40 cm), substrate (Deep coco humus they can dig in, with leaf litter and a shallow water dish), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.