The Tomato Frog (Dyscophus) is recognized for its vibrant, round body and is native to the rainforests of Madagascar. These amphibians spend much of their time burrowing in the leaf litter. Maintaining a species-appropriate diet is paramount for ensuring their health and longevity in a captive environment, providing the necessary nutrients for robust coloration and natural behaviors.
Primary Prey Items for Captive Frogs
Tomato frogs are insectivores, requiring a diet consisting exclusively of live, appropriately sized invertebrates. The staple should be a diverse rotation of commercially available feeder insects. Appropriately sized crickets and dubia roaches are excellent choices and should form the foundation of their meals. Variety is important, so earthworms and black soldier fly larvae can be introduced regularly. Less frequently, keepers can offer treat items such as waxworms or mealworms, which are higher in fat and should be fed only sparingly. A foundational rule for prey size is that the insect should be no wider than the distance between the frog’s eyes, preventing choking or intestinal impaction.
Prey Preparation
Feeder insects are often nutritionally incomplete on their own. Therefore, all prey items must be “gut-loaded” before being offered to the frog. Gut-loading involves feeding the insects a nutritious diet for at least 24 hours, transferring beneficial nutrients to the frog. This preparation is important, but it does not replace the necessity of external mineral and vitamin dusting.
Feeding Frequency and Delivery Methods
Feeding Frequency
The feeding schedule changes significantly as the animal grows from a juvenile to an adult. Young, fast-growing frogs require more frequent access to food, offered daily or every other day. Adult frogs are less active and prone to obesity, thriving on a reduced schedule of two to three times per week. A typical adult meal consists of three to six appropriately sized prey items, best offered in the evening when these nocturnal animals are active.
Delivery Methods
The method of delivery requires attention to prevent substrate impaction, a serious health issue. Since Tomato Frogs are burrowers and hunt on the ground, they can accidentally ingest substrate if the prey touches it. Keepers can mitigate this risk by using long feeding tongs to present the prey item directly to the frog. Other effective methods include using a shallow, clean feeding dish inside the enclosure or temporarily moving the frog to a separate container lined with a damp paper towel for the meal. If a frog consistently refuses food, it often signals an issue with the environmental conditions or underlying illness.
Essential Nutritional Supplements
Even with proper gut-loading, captive insects lack the necessary balance of calcium and vitamins required for long-term amphibian health. Dusting prey items with specialized powders is a necessary step to complete the frog’s nutritional intake. Calcium is a primary concern, as a deficiency can lead to Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD), causing skeletal deformities and weakness.
Supplement Rotation
A pure calcium carbonate powder should be used frequently: on every feed for juveniles and three to four times per week for adults. This calcium must be paired with Vitamin D3, which is needed for effective absorption. If the frog is not housed under an appropriate source of ultraviolet B (UVB) light, the calcium supplement must contain D3. A comprehensive multivitamin supplement, providing trace minerals and Vitamin A, should be rotated into the schedule less often, usually once every one to two weeks. This rotational dusting prevents the over-supplementation of fat-soluble vitamins while ensuring all necessary micronutrients are available.