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Teratohyla pulverata Care and Breeding
This article covers the care requirements, breeding habits, and interesting facts about T. pulverata, making it a valuable resource for enthusiasts looking to learn more about this unique species.

Teratohyla pulverata, also known as the Powdered Glass Frog, is a small and captivating species of glass frog native to Central America. This frog is known for its translucent abdomen, which makes it stand out among other amphibians. Typically inhabiting humid, tropical forests near streams, they are arboreal and thrive in moist, well-vegetated environments. These frogs are nocturnal and arboreal, often seen perched on leaves during the day.
Care
Terrarium Size
For Teratohyla pulverata, the recommended terrarium size is at least 45x45x60cm for a pair of frogs. It’s crucial to provide ample vertical space for climbing, as they are primarily arboreal. A 60 cm height will allow them to comfortably move along the plants and branches. It should be noted that the frogs will make use of significant taller terrariums, so if you have the space, go for it!
Temperature
The ideal temperature range for T. pulverata is between 22-26°C (71-79°F) during the day and a slightly cooler temperature of 18-22°C (64-72°F) at night. Keep the terrarium temperature steady and avoid extreme fluctuations.
Humidity
This species thrives in high humidity, ideally 70-90%. The humidity is best maintained by regular misting, a humidity tray, or a water feature like a small pond or stream. Be cautious about over-wetting the substrate to avoid mold growth.
Lighting
As an arboreal species, T. pulverata enjoys subdued lighting. A natural light cycle with 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness works well. Since this species is nocturnal, UVB Lighting is not necessary. We have also never observed specimens of this species making use of UVB basking spots. Since this species in nocturnal, we highly recommend introducing a proper day/night transition through LED dimming. This will allow you to see their behavior without having to shine a flashlight at them when it's dark.
Feeding
Teratohyla pulverata primarily feeds on small invertebrates, including fruit flies, small crickets, and pinhead roaches. Their diet should be supplemented with gut-loaded insects to ensure they receive adequate nutrition. Calcium and vitamin supplements should be used with each feeding to promote healthy bone development.
Breeding
Breeding Setup
To breed T. pulverata, a larger, more naturalistic setup is recommended. This species needs the bottom of the Terrarium to be flooded, and will deposit their eggs on leaves overhanging the water. We have observed them laying their clutches on leaves from 2-8 cm in width, so many different plants can be used. It is important that the frogs have more than one option to chose from.
In order to breed T. pulverata, a rain chamber or a terrarium with a rain system that can run for multiple hours, is needed. During the breeding season, we recommend turning on the rain about one hour before the lights turn off, and leaving it on over night. Females will lay around 30-45 eggs every 2-3 weeks.
Breeding Behavior
Males of T. pulverata often call from an exposed area in the terrarium to attract females. Once a female approaches the male, he will start the amplexus, and the female will carry him to an egg deposition site. This species does not show parental care, other than for the first 1-2 hours after the eggs have been laid.
Tadpole Care
Once the eggs hatch, the tadpoles will wiggle until they fall from the leave into the water below. Once that happens, the tadpoles can be raise communally and fed fish flakes. We recommend keeping the water at the same temperature as the parents tank.
Seasonal Cycles
Seasonal cycles are very important for breeding T. pulverata. Their breeding behavior only starts with the rain season, a sole increase in humidity alone will not trigger it. For this we recommend reducing the humidity in the terrarium to 60-70% RH for two to three months, and then raise the humidity gradually during one week. After that, we start running the rain in our terrarium overnight.
Gallery
References:
AmphibiaWeb (2025) - Teratohyla pulverata. Available at: https://amphibiaweb.org/cgi/amphib_query?where-genus=Teratohyla&where-species=pulverata (Accessed: 08.01.2025).
iNaturalist (2025) - Teratohyla pulverata. Available at: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/65192-Teratohyla-pulverata (Accessed: 08.01.2025).
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (2025) - Teratohyla pulverata. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org (Accessed: 08.01.2025).