Rhacophorus reinwardtii (Schlegal, 1840) Asian Gliding Treefrog
(Rhacophorus reinwardtii gallery)
Physical Description
 R. reinwardtii adults can reach up to 3.5 inches in length for females, and
slightly smaller for male specimens. The body is light green to dark green
with tiny dark spots around the back and head. The green coloration varies
from light to dark. The eyes are light yellow, light greenish, or
light gray, with a black horizontal pupil. R. reinwardtii have large,
colorful webs between each toe on both the front and hind extremities. These
webs are used to glide from tree tops to the ground, and aid in catapulting
from leaf to leaf. The feet also possess adhesive discs. Males are more elaborately colored, with orange, green,
purple, black, and yellow coloration on the sides of the abdomen and on the webs
of the feet. Females are slightly more understated, with reduced webs and less-brilliant
coloration. Males will also develop nuptial pads on the front feet during
breeding season.
Natural Habitat &
Distribution
R. reinwardtii are found in Indonesia, East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak - Borneo), Peninsular Malaysia, Vietnam, China, and Laos. Their
natural habitat includes humid, tropical rainforests, where they spend the
majority of time in tall trees.
Sexing & Breeding
 Rhacophorus reinwardtii breed during the rainy season in their
natural habitat. Amlexus is axillary (consists of the male grasping the
female behind the front limbs). The pair, usually accompanied by several
other mating pairs, will construct a foam nest during axplexus, where the female will deposit up to 800 eggs. The foam nest is
strategically built over a body of water so that the eggs or hatched larvae
fall into the water to further develop. In the wild, a foam nest may be a
compilation of several pairs' efforts, making the nest rather large.
In Captivity
R. reinwardtii are arboreal frogs, and should be housed in a large enclosure with many live plants, and ample territory. Because of their great
leaping ability, they should be provided with a large tank that is both tall
and wide. R. reinwardtii are
especially susceptible to unsanitary conditions and overcrowding, and require more tank
maintenance than many other species.
A tropical arboreal terrarium type setup is ideal for housing R. reinwardtii.
The substrate should
be a nutrient-rich mixture, with a healthy colony of beneficial bacteria (see
article
0021 - Substrates for the Vivarium for
more information on substrate mixtures). Dried and/or color-died mosses should not be used as substrate
because they rot easily, and create and ideal
environment for bacterial colonies. Live sheet mosses or pillow mosses make
excellent and natural additions to the ground floor. Large pieces of
moisture-tolerant wood, such as ghost wood or cypress, can be added to the
ground floor, as well. Small ground plants, including tropical
ferns and peperomias, also add an aesthetically pleasing, natural touch. A basic
setup would consist of 4-6 inches of damp soil, tall and short live plants with large
leaves (Epipremnum and Philodendron work well), and a
clean, shallow water area. The water area will be used for soaking at night,
and possibly breeding (if big enough). The water area should be 3-5 inches deep, with
shallower areas where the frogs can soak with their heads above water. If the bowl is simply for soaking purposes, the water
ares only needs to be around 1/2 inch deep (or just deep enough that the
frogs can hold their heads above water). Water bowls should be buried to the rim in soil to
allow easier entrance / exit, and should be refreshed with de-chlorinated
water every day or every other day to ensure proper water chemistry. An alternative to a water bowl is to section off a corner or side of the tank with
a piece of plexiglass to serve as the water area. The enclosure must always be kept
moist, but not
soggy. More elaborate setups can include several different species of plant life,
mosses, caves, burrows, sloping hillsides, rocks, driftwood, small logs,
natural-looking water bodies, waterfalls, etc. The tank should be sprayed with de-chlorinated water once or twice
a day to ensure proper moisture levels. Some may opt for the convenience of
a misting system and timer. These are excellent devices for breeding
purposes, as they can be set to simulate seasonal changes by increasing or
decreasing the number of sprayings per day. R. reinwardtii require ample
ventilation, so a screen lid is a requirement with this species. If
retaining humidity is an issue, as it is in many dry areas, a 2/3 screen and
1/3 glass lid may be necessary. See
article
0020 - Captive Habitats: Ideas, Instructions, and Examples and the
Captive
& Wild Habitats section of the
Photo
Gallery. For those with experience keeping treefrogs in captivity,
R. reinwardtii can be kept in the same manner as Agalychnis
callidryas (Red-Eyed Treefrog).
If kept properly, this species will readily breed in captivity. If eggs are produced, they should be relocated into a suitable aquarium
with an ample supply of clean, de-chlorinated water to further develop.
As with all amphibians, tap water should be treated with a water
conditioner or primer prior to the introduction of inhabitants. Never used plain
tap water, de-ionized, distilled, or reverse osmosis water with amphibians. See
article
0006 - Water Quality and Amphibians for more information about
water quality.
Feeding
R. reinwardtii, and all other amphibians, are carnivorous, and
require a moderate supply of live foods (R. reinwardtii should eat
every other day or so; 3-4 times per week). The following is a list of
store-bought foods that are commonly available at many pet stores.
|
Table 1.1 - Commonly Available Food Items
acceptable for amphibians |
| Aquatic Larvae: |
Terrestrial Adolescents: |
Semi-Aquatic Adult: |
» Black Worms
» Blood Worms (finely chopped)
» Brine Shrimp (newly hatched)
» Copepods
» Daphnia
» Earthworms (finely chopped)
» Grindal Worms
» Microworms
» Tubifex Worms (finely chopped)
» Paramecium
» Scuds (Amphipods)
» White worms
|
» Crickets (gut-loaded pinheads - 2 week)
» Earthworms/night crawlers (chopped)
» Flour Beetles & Larvae
» Fruit Flies & Larvae
» Grindal Worms
» Grubs
» Rice Beetles & Larvae
» Springtails
» White Worms |
» Small Crickets
» Flour Beetles
» Large Fruit Flies
» Rice Beetles
» Small Winged Insects
» Sow Bugs
|
Amphibians should be given a variety of different live foods to ensure proper
nourishment and health. See
article
0002 - Amphibian Foods and Feeding Tips for more information on commonly
available food items.
References
Hofrichter, Robert. Amphibians: The World of Frogs, Toads, Salamanders and Newts.
Firefly Books, 2000.
Badger, David, John Netherton. Frogs.
Voyageur Press, Inc., 1995.
Obst, Fritz Jugen, Udo Jacob, K. Richter. Completely Illustrated Atlas of Reptiles and Amphibians for the Terrarium.
Neptune City, NY: T.F.H. Publications, Inc., 1989.
Other Resources:
Mascarino
|
