The Theloderma corticale or Vietnamese mossy frog is one of the best-camouflaged species in the world. Their coloration and bumpy dermis give the appearance of a patch of moss, making them a great display pet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Keeping one in captivity, however, is not recommended for beginners<\/strong> unless ample research is conducted before buying. Caring for a Vietnamese mossy frog requires daily attention and the proper cage setup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Their natural habitat is fairly simple to replicate. Filling the bottom of a glass tank or terrarium with a few inches of water and adding some natural cork bark for a land area is common. They require high humidity, weekly cleaning, a day and night cycle, and appropriately sized crickets dusted with vitamins and minerals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the time of writing this care sheet, the lifespan of Vietnamese mossy frogs is largely unknown. You can, however, expect at least 10 years of life or more. The Rosamond Gifford Zoo reports a lifespan of 12 – 15 years<\/strong> in captivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A fully matured Vietnamese mossy frog can grow up to 2.5 – 3.5 inches in length<\/strong>. At the higher end of the scale are the adult female Theloderma corticale. Males are generally smaller overall, having slender legs, body, and head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Vietnamese mossy frog, as their name suggests, hails from Vietnam. To be more specific, they are usually found in the northern regions of Vietnam<\/strong> in evergreen rainforests along limestone cliffs. This species enjoys living in rocky areas surrounded by vegetation and water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since they’re semi-aquatic, you can find Vietnamese mossy frogs inside watery caves, hiding under rocks and around mossy plants. These conditions are the perfect background for mossy frogs to blend in with. Their overall appearance looks like a clump of moss. Theloderma or “mossy frog” translates as “bumpy skin”. Their dermis, or skin, is described as bumpy or “warty” with a green and red coloration. Their amazing camouflage it makes them nearly impossible to see when they are not moving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aside from their camouflage, the Vietnamese mossy frog has another tactic for avoiding unwelcomed predators. When frightened they will fold into a ball and play dead.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n When housing a Vietnamese mossy frog, a general rule-of-thumb is about 10-gallons per frog. Some keeper suggests a 10-gallon minimum with an additional 5 gallon per frog in the enclosure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An aquarium or glass terrarium with a screen lid is recommended and keeping 2 – 4 of them in one tank is not only acceptable but recommended. They are semi-aquatic frog species that require a large bowl of water or full or partial water bottom and moderate to high humidity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both live and fake plants are acceptable and since this species is nocturnal, special lighting is not required. Lighting is, however, required for live plants but, like is said, Vietnamese mossy frogs do not need lighting to remain healthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As for the cage dimensions, a 24″ x 18″ x 18″ terrarium<\/strong> (roughly 30 gallons) is large enough for 2 – 4 frogs while something a little smaller, like 18″ x 18″ x 18″ <\/strong>is good for <\/strong>2 Vietnamese mossy frogs. Similar sized aquariums and tanks are perfectly acceptable. Bigger tanks are also good!<\/p>\n\n\n\nIn the Wild<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Vietnamese Mossy Frog Cage Setup<\/h2>\n\n\n\n