Photo of tomato frog?

[Kurt]

OK there are three species within the genus Dyscophus (the tomato frogs). First is antongilii, the northern or true tomato frog. It is the most colorful of the tomato frogs, with females of the species being bright red. Males are on the yellow side. Chances are what you are seeing in ANY pet store is not this species, as antongilii is listed on CITES Appendix I, that basically means trade in this species is forbidden. The only one I have ever seen was at the San Diego Zoo.

The second species is the one you are most likely to come across, guineti, the false or southern tomato frog. Females have a tendency to be more on the orange side than antongilii females. They are also captive bred in large numbers in the reptile trade. Males in this species are also yellow.

The third is rarely seen in the pet trade. Why? Because Dyscophus insularis is on the brown side and not nearly as attractive as the other Dyscophus species. Sorry, I don't know the common name or all that much about it.

That being said, Dyscophus guineti froglets (and most likely antongilii too) start off brown and as they mature turn red. Ripen, if you will. So most likely what you are seeing is juvenile guineti. And maybe the reason why my rubber frogs look sort of like tomato frogs to you is because both tomato frogs and rubber frogs are in the same family, Microhylidae, the narrow-mouth frogs or toads.

[John]

start off brown and as they mature turn red

That is your answer. I was surprised it took so many posts for someone to point that out.