Vietnamese Mossy Frog — Fact Sheet

Theloderma corticale · Vietnamese Mossy Frog

Full care guide and sources

📋 At a glance

🏠 Setup

• Build vertically with cork, branches, plants, shaded rests and clean water access.
• Avoid heat: stagnant 27-28°C conditions can become dangerous.
• Use easy exits from water and guard pump intakes.
• Quarantine new frogs 60-90 days with separate tools; consider parasite and chytrid testing.

🪨 Substrate and furnishings

• A 45 x 45 x 60 cm enclosure is a practical minimum for a small group, but larger vertical setups are easier to stabilize. Provide cork tubes, cork flats, branches, plants, shaded shelves, and a clean water zone. Avoid sharp rock edges and abrasive decor that can damage belly and toe skin.

• If using a bioactive setup, keep the water side serviceable. Bioactive soil does not make dirty water safe, and filters do not remove the need for water changes. Keep electrical equipment guarded and outside frog reach where possible.

• Quarantine new mossy frogs for 60-90 days with separate tools. Track weight, skin, feces, and feeding response. Discuss fecal parasite testing and chytrid screening with an amphibian veterinarian, especially for imported or unknown-history animals. Do not share water, nets, cups, plants or misting equipment between amphibian enclosures during quarantine.

💡 Lighting

• Use a 10-12 hour photoperiod with plant-friendly visible light. This species rests in shade by day, so lighting should support the enclosure without forcing frogs into exposed bright spots.

• Low-level UVB can be useful when installed as Ferguson Zone 1. Aim for around UVI 0.5-1.0 in the upper exposed structure and near-zero in shaded cork, leaves and water retreats. Measure where possible and always provide shade.

🌡 Temperature

• Basking spot: 24-26 °C

• Daytime air: 20-24 °C

• Cool zone: 18-21 °C

• Night: 16-20 °C

• Cool stability is the core requirement. Maintain 20-24°C by day, with a night drop to 16-20°C. A brief warm area around 24-26°C is acceptable only if the rest of the enclosure remains cool and the frogs can avoid it.

• Overheating is a bigger risk than mild coolness. Temperatures near 27-28°C, especially with stagnant air, can cause stress quickly. In warm rooms, plan ventilation, evaporative cooling, seasonal room control, or a cooler location before buying the frogs.

💧 Humidity and water

• Air humidity: 70–90%.

• Keep humidity around 70-90%, but do not seal the enclosure so tightly that air becomes stale. Surfaces can be wet after misting, then dry back to humid. Persistent slime, sour smell, or film on water means the system is too dirty or too stagnant.

• Water must be dechlorinated and kept clean. Use easy exits, gentle access points, and no pump intakes that can trap toes or small frogs. For larger water sections, use regular water changes and monitor basic water quality; for simple bowls, change water daily or when soiled.

🪳 Feeding and supplements

• Feed varied gut-loaded insects every 2-3 days.
• Remove uneaten insects that may bite resting frogs.
• Use calcium regularly, multivitamin every 2-4 weeks, and D3 according to UVB exposure.

🩺 Watch for

• Overheating, constant soaking, lethargy or frantic movement.
• Dirty-water skin problems: redness, sores, cloudy skin or foul smell.
• Weak grip, tremors or poor posture from calcium/D3/UVB problems.
• Weight loss, swelling, abnormal buoyancy or repeated falls: seek veterinary help.