Other Names (How it Got Its Names)
Common names: Starry Night Reed Frog, Spotted Reed Frog.
Named for its black body covered in small white-to-yellow “star-like” spots, resembling a starry night sky.
Belongs to the Heterixalus genus, often called “reed frogs” due to their habitat in grasses and reeds.
Characteristics
Small, nocturnal, semi-arboreal frog.
Known for its striking appearance and vocal nighttime activity.
Native to Madagascar, often found near ponds, rice paddies, and wetlands.
Recommended Vivarium Size
Minimum: 18” x 18” x 18” for a small group (3–4 frogs).
Vertical setups are preferred, with reeds, live plants, and climbing structures.
Provide both land areas and a shallow water section for soaking and breeding.
Temperature
Daytime: 74–80°F (23–27°C).
Nighttime: 68–72°F (20–22°C).
Avoid temps above 82°F.
Humidity
70–90%, with daily misting.
Requires good ventilation to prevent stagnation.
Size of Frog
Adults reach ~1–1.5 inches (2.5–4 cm).
Life Span
5–8 years in captivity with proper care.
Feeding
Diet: small insects such as crickets, fruit flies, and houseflies.
Feed daily or every other day.
Dust prey with calcium and vitamins 2–3 times per week.
Color/Pattern
Black or dark brown base color with scattered white or yellow star-like spots across the body.
Belly is lighter, often pale or cream-colored.
Contrasting pattern makes it one of the most unique reed frog species.
Social Behavior
Can be housed in small groups.
Males are very vocal, producing trills and chirps during the night, especially in breeding season.
Generally peaceful but should have space and plant cover to avoid stress.
How to Determine Sex
Males: smaller, slimmer, very vocal, and develop darker throats when calling.
Females: larger, fuller-bodied, especially when gravid.
How to Breed
Stimulate breeding with heavy misting and simulated rainy-season conditions.
Males call to attract females, and eggs are laid on aquatic vegetation or near water.
Tadpoles develop in shallow water and can be raised in separate aquatic setups.
Metamorphosis usually takes 6–10 weeks depending on diet and temperature.
✨ The Starry Night Reed Frog is highly sought after for its cosmic, star-like patterning, making it a standout display species for collectors and enthusiasts.
Other Names (How it Got Its Names)
Common names: True Tomato Frog, Antongil Bay Tomato Frog.
Named for its bright red, tomato-like coloration and its native region of Antongil Bay in Madagascar.
Distinguished from closely related species (Dyscophus guineti and Dyscophus insularis) by its more vivid red coloration.
Characteristics
Large, terrestrial frog with a rounded, plump body.
Known for its defensive behavior: when threatened, it can inflate its body and secrete a sticky, irritating substance to deter predators.
Nocturnal and ground-dwelling, preferring leaf litter and humid forest floors.
Recommended Vivarium Size
Minimum: 20-gallon long tank for one adult.
Larger enclosures (36” x 18” or bigger) recommended for multiple frogs.
Provide deep substrate (coco fiber, soil, leaf litter) for burrowing, along with hides and a shallow water dish.
Temperature
Daytime: 72–80°F (22–27°C).
Nighttime: 68–72°F (20–22°C).
Avoid temps above 82°F.
Humidity
60–80%, with daily misting.
Maintain moist substrate but allow slightly drier surface areas.
Size of Frog
Adults: 3.5–4 inches (9–10 cm).
Females are larger and bulkier than males.
Life Span
6–10 years in captivity; occasionally longer with excellent care.
Feeding
Diet: crickets, roaches, earthworms, silkworms, and other appropriately sized insects.
Feed 3–4 times weekly.
Dust prey with calcium and vitamins regularly.
Color/Pattern
Females: bright red to scarlet, the classic “tomato” look.
Males: usually duller orange or rusty red.
Juveniles often brown or tan, developing red coloration with age.
Social Behavior
Can be housed singly or in small groups (1 male with multiple females recommended).
Males call with a deep, resonant croak, especially during rainy conditions.
Some aggression may occur in confined spaces, so provide multiple hides.
How to Determine Sex
Males: smaller, slimmer, duller coloration, with distinct calls.
Females: larger, bulkier, and much brighter red.
How to Breed
Stimulate breeding with a rain chamber setup (increased misting and water depth).
Eggs are laid in large clumps on the water’s surface.
Tadpoles are free-swimming and omnivorous, requiring a separate aquatic rearing setup.
Metamorphosis occurs in 6–8 weeks depending on diet and temperature.
🍅 The True Tomato Frog (D. antongilii) is prized for its vivid red coloration, making it a standout among Madagascan frogs — and is considered a flagship species for amphibian conservation.
