https://www.frogforum.net/blog.php/8134-Louis-Charles-Bruckner Frog Forum - Your Pet Frog Community. Authoritative discussion forum for pet frogs and toads, including dart frogs, tree frogs, bullfrogs, toads, etc en Mon, 22 Jun 2026 04:14:18 GMT vBulletin 30 https://www.frogforum.net/images/misc/rss.jpg https://www.frogforum.net/blog.php/8134-Louis-Charles-Bruckner https://www.frogforum.net/entry.php/478-The-hacker-in-me-wants-to-take-on-another-project Fri, 10 May 2013 22:53:55 GMT Well since the IP cam/ laser cat toy I hacked together last week I have had another brain storm. I know that a lot of keepers would love to keep... Well since the IP cam/ laser cat toy I hacked together last week
I have had another brain storm.

I know that a lot of keepers would love to keep an eye on their pets
when they are away.

I have a few of these cheap IP cameras lying around some of them are broken some are ok.

Well when you actually take one apart there really not all that complicated.
You have the following inside the camera.
A digital CCD board that's actually the sensing element of the camera and the lens.
A LED module that emits infrared light for when the camera is in night vision mode
Two small stepper motors that do the pan and tilt of the camera.
To limit switches to detect where the camera is at the beginning and end of the pan and the beginning end of the tilt.

And one main board that has all the electronics on it.
Everything inside the camera plugs together with small cables and it's not hard to unplug and reengineer the camera.

What I'm thinking of doing is using rods from a scanner and the shuttle of the scanner to move front and back and left and right at the top of the enclosure of the terrarium. kind of like a plotter.
In all actuality parts from an old scanner would be a perfect testbed for this. It would have all the necessary cables and mechanical parts to make the shuttle with the camera on it.
I would just have to set up the little stepper motors to drive the shuttle and the limit switches so the shuttle will stop at the right points so it won't bind up the motors..
Another feature I would love to have is to be able to remotely check the temperature and humidity from remote.
Now since I already have a temperature and humidity controller I could probably just simply put the display of the controller at one corner of the enclosure where the camera can see it. That would be an easy way of doing it but then it will make it kind of hard to see it when I am in front of the tank.

Well I think I have a good concept going.And I think I have all the parts I need so it's time to get cracking.

More to come soon. ]]> Louis Charles Bruckner https://www.frogforum.net/entry.php/478-The-hacker-in-me-wants-to-take-on-another-project https://www.frogforum.net/entry.php/477-This-is-not-the-place-to-ask-for-help Fri, 10 May 2013 22:31:05 GMT Yes I know I am not a moderator but I see this all too often people asking for help or advice in this area. This area does not get looked at by... Yes I know I am not a moderator but I see this all too often
people asking for help or advice in this area.

This area does not get looked at by the vast majority of the people that can help you.
Do your self a favor and click on the forum tab above to the left of the blog tab
or just click HERE
and choose from the list of forum areas that fit best to your needs.

Now if you really want to start a care blog of a frog or a build of a vivairum or terrarium by all means please do. bigapplause

Thanks I had to get that off my chest. :o ]]> Louis Charles Bruckner https://www.frogforum.net/entry.php/477-This-is-not-the-place-to-ask-for-help https://www.frogforum.net/entry.php/394-My-care-blog-for-the-terrible-trio-of-Whites-tree-frogs Mon, 21 Jan 2013 16:40:53 GMT This is the start of a care log of my three whites tree frogs. My first. Bubba. 44g Attachment 45866... This is the start of a care log of my three whites tree frogs.
My first.
Bubba. 44g

He has the deepest voice so far.

I just added two more.
Brownie 57g (big girlfrogsmile) and Buster 45g.


Currently they all have great appetites and will eat until they pop.
All are very active at night and after the housekeeping.
(changing the water and paper towels cleaning any droppings.)

I am kinda wondering if Brownie is really a girl or not.
No nuptial pads or throat sack.
But she will try to croak if she hears one of the boys croak.

I keep the tank at 82F during the day and 76F during the night.
and at least 76%rh Sometimes the wet paper towels drive it up to 80% but not for long.
I have on order a Exo-terra washable mat. Hopefully it will be here soon.

I took Deeishealthy advice and set the timer for the day lights to come on at 08:30 and go off at 17:30 with a Red LED light that is just bright enough for me to see when the room lights are off. So I can watch them without interrupting their nocturnal activities. ]]> Louis Charles Bruckner https://www.frogforum.net/entry.php/394-My-care-blog-for-the-terrible-trio-of-Whites-tree-frogs https://www.frogforum.net/entry.php/369-Review-of-the-Exo-terra-light-cycle-unit Tue, 18 Dec 2012 05:12:42 GMT OK I have the 20 watt unit, Pros Simulates Dawn to dusk lighting for a 10, 12 , 14hr day cycle. Cons Does not have a timer that can be set. ... OK
I have the 20 watt unit,
Pros
Simulates Dawn to dusk lighting for a 10, 12 , 14hr day cycle.

Cons
Does not have a timer that can be set.
If the power is interrupted the cycle will restart from the beginning.
Cords to the tube sockets are not detachable from the control unit.

No mounting hardware for the lights are suppled.

My solution for the timing problem.
A Simple digital timer set for when you want the light to start and stop.
you just have to keep in mind that if you set it shorter than the setting on the controller you will not get the dusk function.

I have a small UPS that can run the entire system for 1 hr. (most power outages only last a few minutes, in my area.) ]]> Louis Charles Bruckner https://www.frogforum.net/entry.php/369-Review-of-the-Exo-terra-light-cycle-unit https://www.frogforum.net/entry.php/361-A-temporary-boarder Sat, 24 Nov 2012 04:58:39 GMT A few weeks ago I noticed that I had a guest living in a upside down christmas tree stand. I turned out to be this little girl. Attachment 42677... A few weeks ago I noticed that I had a guest living in a upside down christmas tree stand.

I turned out to be this little girl.


She is very young and she was pretty thin.
This photo was taken while I was transferring her from
a small 2 gallon tank (what I had on hand.)

The temperatures out doors ware dipping into the mid 30's
And she wouldn't have survived the winter.

So I went to the drawing board and figured to make a 60/40
Terrarium/Aquarium.
Heres the setup so far.

20 gallon long tank with a wire mesh top.
1/4in thick plexi glass for the divider.
Heater and repti-filter
Large gravel substrate
a ramp to get out of the water side. ( Next time I do a build I will mount the divider at a 72 deg angle)
and a water fall from the filter so the water wont make so much noise.
(the tank is located in my bedroom.)

I plan on using a seed culture from my 46gal bow front aquarium that I have set up and running for the
last 4 years. and after a week or so put in some feeder guppies.

I found a repti-fogger and a HT-10 controller for sale and a under tank heater.
Love the ease of setup.
I have it set for 78F and 70%RH

A LED light that I modified to have a day and night mode and a timer.
She is very timid and jumps and hides when ever some one walks into the room.
So today I bought some reflective window film and put it on the sides and the front of the tank.

I have a little log hideaway for her.
and tomorrow I will add some repti-carpet to keep her from accidentally eating any of the
gravel when she feeds. (thanks Heather for that tip. and many others.)

I added a plexi glass cover(with a few holes) in addition to the screen mesh top to keep in the
moisture and heat.

I will post picts later.
Caio ]]> Louis Charles Bruckner https://www.frogforum.net/entry.php/361-A-temporary-boarder