Defining Characteristics:

• Great beginner frog
• Cryptic coloration
• Unique body shape
• Bold
• Easy to breed
• Loud call
• Large
• Does well in groups
• Eats crickets

Name: Described in 1884, Solomon Island Leaf Frogs (Cornufer guentheri formerly Ceratobatrachus) are also known as Solomon Isle Leaf Frogs, Triangle Frogs or Leaf Litter Frogs in the hobby. Their common name references their unusual appearance (angular and leaf-like), as well as their native range, the Solomon Isles. Frog hobbyists in the United States sometimes refer to them as SILFs, an acronym for Solomon Island Leaf Frogs.

Recommended Vivarium Size: A 10 gallon aquarium or similarly sized plastic enclosure is suitable for young Solomon Island Leaf Frogs, but Josh's Frogs recommends a 40B or 24x18x18 Vivarium for 1-3 leaf litter frogs. Please read our how-to guides on setting up enclosures for Adult and Juvenile SILFS for more information. Also, make sure to watch our video on Housing Solomon Island Leaf Frogs!

Temperature: They can tolerate a temperature range of 70 F to 85 F, but prefer temperatures in the upper 70s. Temperatures over 90F are dangerous, and can quickly prove fatal for Solomon Island Leaf Frogs.

Humidity: Like many tropical frogs, Solomon Isle Leaf Frogs prefer a humidity range of 50 – 70%, but can tolerate humidity down to 30% for short periods of time if the frogs have access to water. Very low humidity levels, especially without access to water, can quickly be fatal.

Size: Adult female SILFs are larger, measuring in at up to approximately 3.5 inches. Male Ceratobatrachus guentheri are a bit smaller, averaging about 2.5 inches at maturity. All of the Solomon Island Leaf Frog froglets Josh's Frogs sells are well started juveniles, and measure approximately 3/4” long. Check out our Article on Solomon Island Leaf Frog Size to see pictures of SILFs at different ages.

Age: This frog is capable of living well over 5 years in captivity under ideal conditions. Maximum potential lifespan of Solomon Island Leaf Frogs is unknown, as there are not that many hobbyists working with them in captivity. All SILFs for sale at Josh's Frogs are well started juveniles, and are 2-3 months old.

Feeding: Solomon Island Leaf Frogs can take surprisingly large foods. All of the SILFs Josh's Frogs sells will readily eat small (~1/4") crickets. All feeder insects should be dusted with a vitamin/mineral supplement. Want to know more about feeding SILFs? Check out our video on Feeding Solomon Island Leaf Frogs! For a wide selection of feeder insects for sale, please visit our Feeder Insects for Sale page.

Sexing: Ceratobatrachus guentheri are never easily sexable. Both sexes may call, although males will call more often. Males may call as young as 4-5 months. Visually, SILFs are not sexable until 10-12 months of age. Male Solomon Island Leaf Frogs tend to be smaller than females, which often appear both longer and wider. Males may have 2 visible white lines running parallel on their body - some literature suggests this may be the frog's ureters. Breeding conditioned females may have visible eggs when their belly is examined. For more information, watch our video on Sexing Solomon Island Leaf Frogs. Josh's Frogs sells 2-3 month old juveniles that are not sexable unless otherwise noted. 

Color/Pattern: A very variable leaf litter frog, Ceratobatrachus guentheri are born in a multitude of colors. Even siblings can look completely different from each other! The base color can range from tan to yellow, orange, and even lime green in some individuals. Spots can be visible in some individual SILFS, but generally are not present in any significant numbers, if at all. Some frog breeders have attempted to line breed SILFs by color, in an attempt to create more consistently colored offspring. Josh's Frogs does not recommend, support, or endorse line breeding as we believe this leads to weaker captive animals and nature has done a wonderful job of creating an amazing variation in color and pattern already.

Social Behavior: Solomon Island Leaf Frogs do fine raised together in groups when young, as long as enough space is provided. Josh's Frogs recommends approximately 5 gallons per frog. As they reach sexual maturity at 10-12 months of age, the social dynamic in a group of Ceratobatrachus guentheri may change, and the frogs are best housed in pairs, and providing with about 20 gallons of space per frog. Female SILFS may fight with each other over a mate. For that reason, many breeders recommend keeping Solomon Island Leaf Frogs in pairs as adults. Josh's Frogs strongly recommends against housing different species/morphs of frogs - for the health of your pets, please avoid mixing! Josh's Frogs recommends purchasing multiple frogs if you are interested in breeding them – this greatly increases the chances of getting a pair.

Breeding: These frogs are relatively easy to breed, as long as you have both sexes. Some believe that SILFs skew female heavy - more offspring are born female than male. While this was certainly true in our case (out of 10 SILFs we raised up, only 1 was a male!), many other hobbyists have experienced the opposite problem (all males), or have gotten a more even sex ratio. Male SILFs will produce a loud, barking/quacking call in an attempt to attract a mate. If successful, the female will deposit a clutch of 10-30 eggs in a 1-2" deep depression in the soil, which will be buried. Solomon Island Leaf Frogs eggs are about the size of a pea. Several egg clutches may be laid in a year. After 6-8 weeks, small, fully formed Solomon Island Leaf Frogs will hatch. Josh's Frogs strongly recommends removing the eggs after they are laid, in order to avoid potential cannibalism. No tadpole stage with these guys!

For more information, we recommend reading our care articles on Breeding Solomon Island Leaf Frogs, Incubating Solomon Island Leaf Frog Eggs, and Rearing Solomon Island Leaf Frog Froglets. Don't forget to watch our video on Breeding Solomon Island Leaf Frogs, Incubating Solomon Island Leaf Frog Eggs and caring for Froglets.

Natural Range: Solomon Island Leaf Frogs are found on Bougainville and Buka Island in Paupa New Guinea, as well as the Solomon Islands. Ceratobatrachus guentheri prefer lowland forests and disturbed habitats where it is warm, humid, and plenty of leaf litter (dead and decaying leaves) are present.

History in the Hobby: The past history of Solomon Island Leaf Frogs in the United States hobby is a bit foggy. Wild caught animals from Paupa New Guinea were imported on occasion. New blood animals from Europe were infrequently brought over, as well. There is some evidence that at least a few frogs were introduced from the hobby directly from zoological institutions. Ceratobatrachus guentheri has never been a common animal in the pet industry, and that remains true today.

Links of Interest:
IUCN Redlist listing for Solomon Island Leaf Frogs

Wikipedia article on Ceratobatrachus guentheri

Solomon Isle Leaf Frogs at the Lincoln Park Zoo

Toronto Zoo's brief article on their SILFs

Triange Frog information from the American Museum of Natural History

LiveScience Article on Solomon Island Leaf Frogs

Still not sure if Solomon Island Leaf Frogs from Josh's Frogs are the right frogs for you? Check out our How-To Guides on Solomon Island Leaf Frogs, and read the reviews below and see what other customers are saying!