Fireball, young male frog

[jasonm96]

I've read tomato frogs are crepuscular, so would receive some exposure to UVB in the wild and probably have adapted to use it but in short periods of time. Relying on D3 from the diet is a hit or a miss depending on the species. When relying on D3 from supplements then there's a lot of guesswork in how much to actually provide and I see lots of variations on how often to supplement from care sheets on all animals. Supplements would still need to be used when using UVB lights but you could use a low level D3 one to be safe, like repashy's calcium plus LoD so to provide some D3. With the repashy calcium plus its designed to be used at every feed so you don't have to worry about under supplementing. I provide my american green tree frogs with UVB, my fire bellied toads had UVB, I'll be getting darts soon and they'll have UVB and in fact the only animal I don't give any to is the horned frog, as it would have such a varied diet in the wild it would probably get D3 from whole prey items such as fish, small mammals and other frogs. Most frogs and toads have been said to have no UVB requirement but now as more information and thought it put into it that's no longer the case.

http://www.amphibianark.org/pdf/Husb...tamin%20D3.pdf
http://www.arcadia-reptile.com/wp-co...omato-frog.jpg

[Baloo]

Thanks Jason. The way my cabinet is set up I can provide UVB for all my frogs except the ones on the top shelf. I may have a way around that to though. They can be the ones that has the side light attachment with a clamp to divert the light in from the side instead of over top. At least until I get a new cabinet build in April. For now on all my frogs will get UVB light, I'll not chance this happening to Tang. I lost 3 tomato frogs. The first two; Cali and Fluffy, were old when I adopted them, so that may have been a factor to. But for 2 years when I adopted them they showed a voracious appetite until the last week or so.

[jasonm96]

If you're struggling for a light fixture on the top ones, you could use a tube and install it inside the tank with a waterproof controller such as ones used for aquariums. If you installed the light inside you could use a 2%. I would say old age as well but frogs in captivity can usually live quite long, unless they were really old when you got them.

[Baloo]

I had lost those two tomatos fairly close to one another. Fireball I was told by the vet had a strong chance for recovery. I called up to check up on him and they told me that he died. They said it was due to impaction. I use EcoEarth. They said he ate up some of the soil, probably eating a cricket. They suggested I change substrate. But I lost a frog when I used peat moss. My place can be dry at times so I mist the soil good, but i always wring out most of the moisture when I put in clean soil. Its never soggy just moist.

I don't know if it was a freak incident or if I need to find another kind of substrate.

[jasonm96]

Eco earth pretty much is the safest substrate to use and there are no safer alternatives other than paper towels, which are completely unnatural, need changed every day and don't allow for burrowing. Make sure temps are fine and healthy frogs should pass coir (eco earth) fine

[Cliygh and Mia 2]

Could he have eaten something before you got him? That's what I think is going on

[Baloo]

Could he have eaten something before you got him? That's what I think is going on

Well I've had him for quite a few months. Maybe it was lack of the UVB light. He had it just a few hours a day, shared with fire bellies. Now they have it each till evening. I got 1 tomato frog left, an adult female. She's in the 36"L x 18"D by herself. I don't know if I should get another tomato or wait a so many years till she's gone and get a beginner dart frog. Considering I'd have to have the dart frog shipped (none available where I live), I might go for the first idea.