The Cinnamon Tree frog (Nyctixalus pictus, or to be completely correct, Theloderma pictum, as they have recently been re-classified) have been in the hobby for many years now. I started working with them around 2006, although that is just a guess. Over the years, I’ve found them to be very rewarding to work with, they breed easily, and are undemanding- if you can meet their fairly simple needs, they should do great for you!  They have a wonderful call, a melodic, but quiet, peep peep peep call that ends on a rising note.

Color and Appearance-

These frogs vary in color from one time of day to another.  During the day, their background red color tends to be lighter, sometimes fading to a pale tan. At night they tend to intensify in color, displaying their brightest reds.  The contrasting white spots really pop at night when they are red! This species of tree frog is very flattened, most likely to help them disappear when flattened onto a tree trunk or within a tree hollow.

Care and Breeding-

I’ve got a detailed care instructions posted in our Care Sheets section, but briefly, these are super easy to keep. I prefer small terrariums with 3 to 6 frogs.  I generally use a full water floor in the tank, and use a floating food tray to offer food so insects don’t drown. They can be offered hydei fruit flies, but I recommend that they have crickets regularly, around 1/4th inch size.  Cinnamon frogs like a high humidity tank, with temps in the low to mid 70s.  Plants are nice, but Cinnamon frogs may not use them very much.  Wood is their go to surface, they are more at home on a piece of seasoned tree trunk or driftwood than on a leaf. Cinnamon frogs lay eggs that are stuck to wood or other tank furniture, and which are very similar to the eggs of the Vietnamese mossy frogs.

Cinnamon Frog Origins-

Theloderma pictum hail from the rainforests of Malaysia, and are tree hole breeders. Groups of Cinnamon frogs retire to these hides during the day, and venture out at night to feed. Water typically pools in these spots, and the frogs lay their eggs in the tree hollows. When they hatch, the tadpole slides into the water. Tadpoles will eat each other, so bear that in mind!

While in most cases they are found at ground level, its a safe bet that they may breed at higher levels of the forest. A few years ago, I wrote an article for a magazine about these frogs, and I looked for any information on them.  I didn’t find much, but I tracked down a researcher in Malaysia who was studying the native amphibian species.  He told me about their behavior and breeding in the wild. He mentioned that until recently, he was unaware of any researcher or other western scientist who had ever seen one of the frogs in the day time.  Obviously not much is known of the frogs in their native habitat!  For more information, visit their page on the spectacular “Frogs of Borneo” website!

Easy to keep and breed, these small tree frogs are very cool and unusual!! Check out our detailed Care Sheet!

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