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Thread: pacman newbie heating question

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    Default pacman newbie heating question

    Hey all! I'm going to Dallas Repticon for the first time next month, and I'm pretty excited. I'm hoping to find a strawberry or apricot pacman there, and I'm doing some extra last minute research on care. I have critter keeper, a ten gallon and then a twenty long for when it hits adult size. Pretty diverse foodstuff is easy, as is bedding and treated water. My only major concern is heating.

    It stays consistently 74F or higher in my house during the warm months, but I'm not sure if this is warm enough to keep a pacman happy? I should be able to save up for a heating lamp before winter gets here, and I have a couple spare heating pads just in case it's needed. But even on this site alone I'm seeing a lot of different things when it comes to whether a heating lamp is necessary. Is there a consensus on this?

    Also in the event I do need a heating lamp, what's the best way to calculate wattage per gallon? This is the first time I've had to set up a reptile tank on my own, so I'm a bit nervous about frying the poor little guy.

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    Default Re: pacman newbie heating question

    Hi horned frogs should be kept in the upper 70s to low 80s during the day so you'll need some heat for during the day but not at night, aslong as your room doesn't fall below 70F. I would put the frog into the 10gallon tank as they're easier to heat than critter keepers and use a 25-40w incandescent bulb in a dome for heat, use a thermometer to access temps and select the bulb wattage as needed.
    Last edited by jasonm96; May 25th, 2016 at 04:07 AM.

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    Default Re: pacman newbie heating question

    Oh, thanks! But how to I "access"? Is there an accepted formula for how high a certain wattage will raise the temperature?

    Edit: I was thinking a 100w ceramic heat emitter?

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    Default Re: pacman newbie heating question

    If you put a digital thermometer's probe under the light and leave it, you'll be able to monitor the temps. If too cool go for a higher wattage lamp and if too hot go lower. I think either a 25-40w bulb will do you, as you don't need that much extra heat. There not as far as I'm aware but when you use heat lamps for a while and in many vivs you'll get an idea of what you'll roughly need

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    Default Re: pacman newbie heating question

    A 100w ceramic would be overkill unless the tank was really tall, a 40w would probably be enough, you might even need to dim it down
    Last edited by jasonm96; May 25th, 2016 at 10:10 AM. Reason: Edit

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    Default Re: pacman newbie heating question

    I found a 25w on ebay, would that be enough you think?

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    Default Re: pacman newbie heating question

    I think it should be but to be safe I'd order two bulbs, the 25 and a 40w. Make sure the bulb is not a spot light one as they produce more heat. I use the zoomed daylight blue bulbs and find they last long. Normal household bulbs could be used though providing they are screw in ones

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    Default Re: pacman newbie heating question

    I was looking at the flat topped black ones.

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    Default Re: pacman newbie heating question

    Aw I didn't know you could get them in those wattage, must be fairly new. I'm not sure on if that'll be enough or not but Exo terra do ceramics with an estimated temperatures, 40w and up http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products/ceramic_heater.php

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    Default Re: pacman newbie heating question

    I like these black ones! But you need a dimmer and try different things until you find what works, or find a controller ( hydroterm is my fav). You will need to suspend whatever lamp you have above the kritter keeper or it will melt the plastic.

    good job in doing your reseach, setting up everything and only then getting a frog! Very happy for you!
    Save one animal and it doesn't change the world, but it surely changes the world for that one animal!

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    Default Re: pacman newbie heating question

    I'm probably gonna keep the little guy in the 10 instead, it'll probably be easier to prevent overheating that way.

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    Default Re: pacman newbie heating question

    It is easier, but it also be more stressful for a frog to be in a big tank. You can put smaller plastic cage inside bigger tank too. Or you can put lots of stuff in 10 gal to minimize the space for now
    Save one animal and it doesn't change the world, but it surely changes the world for that one animal!

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    Default Re: pacman newbie heating question

    I finally got my frog!


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