This nocturnal rat is primarily a tree-dwelling animal that spends most of its time high up in the branches of trees, but can also be seen on the forest floor, moving at a relatively sluggish pace (2) (5). The diet of this cloud rat in the wild is not fully known (5), but may comprise mainly of tender young leaves (2) (4), although they also eat fruit and reportedly raids crops (7).
Information regarding the breeding biology of Phloeomys species also comes from captivity, where births have been recorded in every month of the year except January, March and May (5). In the wild, a pregnant female was found in August. Cloud rats give birth to only one young each year (5), which is born in the hollow of a standing or fallen tree, or in a hole in the ground (6). The mother carries her young firmly attached to a nipple. In captivity, one individual lived for over 13 years (5).