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Vietnamese Mossy Frog
Theloderma corticale
Admire the Vietnamese Mossy Frog, an arboreal master of camouflage that perfectly mimics wet moss. This nocturnal wonder thrives in cool, tall paludariums with abundant water and cork bark hides.
Class:Amphibia
Order:Anura
Family:Rhacophoridae
Subfamily:Rhacophorinae
Genus:Theloderma
Species:Theloderma corticale
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
70 - 90 %
Day temperature
18 - 24 °C
Night temperature
15 - 18 °C
Ambient temperature
18 - 24 °C
Minimum enclosure
>= 80 L
UVB
Low
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Native to northern Vietnam, and possibly neighboring areas of China and Laos. They inhabit wet, submontane evergreen forests and karst limestone cliffs, living in moss-covered caves and water-filled rock cavities.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Belonging to the family Pixicephalidae or Rhacophoridae (subfamily Rhacophorinae). Highly prized in captivity for its unique appearance.
Behavior and Habits: Strictly nocturnal and semi-arboreal. They spend the day motionless on mossy rocks or floating at the water's surface. When threatened, they roll into a tight ball and play dead (thanatosis) to blend in.
Morphology: Reaches 7–9 cm in length. Females are significantly larger and bulkier than males. Males develop nuptial pads on their thumbs and produce soft, melodic calls at night.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: A tall, vertical paludarium (minimum 45x45x60 cm) is required, featuring a shallow water section (5–10 cm deep) at the bottom. Decorate with moss-covered cork bark backgrounds, rough climbing branches, and live tropical plants.
Lighting and Heating: Keep temperatures cool, ideally between 20 and 24°C during the day, dropping to 16–18°C at night. Temperatures above 26°C are hazardous. Provide low-intensity, indirect lighting and a 2–5% UVB source.
Humidity and Hydration: Maintain high humidity levels of 80–95%. Mist the enclosure daily with dechlorinated water. The water section must be kept clean with a filter or frequent water changes.
Feeding and Supplementation: Insectivorous. Feed on crickets, roaches, and locusts. Dust all prey with a high-quality calcium and D3 supplement twice a week.
Compatibility: Highly peaceful and social. Can be housed in small groups of similarly sized individuals in a spacious paludarium.
Health and Common Diseases: Very sensitive to heat stress. Poor water quality leads to rapid bacterial skin infections. Handle only when strictly necessary, using wet, powder-free gloves.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Native to northern Vietnam, and possibly neighboring areas of China and Laos. They inhabit wet, submontane evergreen forests and karst limestone cliffs, living in moss-covered caves and water-filled rock cavities.
Origin
South and Southeast AsiaEast Asia
Amphibian profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- No verified data available
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Toxicity
- No verified data available
- Life stage
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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