Best place for a tank heater?

[R3N3G4D3]

I know the best place to place a tank heater is on the sides due to the Pacman Frog's burrowing habits, but where is the best side to place it? The back? The sides? I'm just curious because it's suppose to be cold this weekend here in Jacksonville.

Keep in mind, I am currently housing my little guy/girl in an extra large plastic critter tote and I have the proper heating pad for plastic.

[GrifTheGreat]

I know the best place to place a tank heater is on the sides due to the Pacman Frog's burrowing habits, but where is the best side to place it? The back? The sides? I'm just curious because it's suppose to be cold this weekend here in Jacksonville.

Keep in mind, I am currently housing my little guy/girl in an extra large plastic critter tote and I have the proper heating pad for plastic.

You want the heater on the oposite side of the water dish. Where the water dish is located should be the cool side. If you were to place it on the back it wouldn't allow for a tempreture gradient for your frog. They need to be able to decide whether they want to be warm or cool. So opposite the water dish.

[R3N3G4D3]

You want the heater on the oposite side of the water dish. Where the water dish is located should be the cool side. If you were to place it on the back it wouldn't allow for a tempreture gradient for your frog. They need to be able to decide whether they want to be warm or cool. So opposite the water dish.

Thanks!

I have one more quick questions: Should his water dish be on the same side as the thermometer/hydrometer? Or should the heating pad be?

[GrifTheGreat]

Thanks!

I have one more quick questions: Should his water dish be on the same side as the thermometer/hydrometer? Or should the heating pad be?

The thermometer and hygrometer should be on the back wall in the center of the enclosure about 1 and a half to 2 inches above the substrate.

[R3N3G4D3]

The thermometer and hygrometer should be on the back wall in the center of the enclosure about 1 and a half to 2 inches above the substrate.

Alright, thanks.

This critter tote is difficult to work with. I'ma try to talk my girlfriend into letting me buy his/her 20 long terrarium tomorrow or Sunday. His cool side isn't very big due to the size of the water dish I have. It sucks 'cause I just bought a heater for this tote and don't have the receipt, lol.

On a side note, is it ok for them to be COMPLETELY buried under the fiber? If so, I wonder how they breathe..

[GrifTheGreat]

Alright, thanks.

This critter tote is difficult to work with. I'ma try to talk my girlfriend into letting me buy his/her 20 long terrarium tomorrow or Sunday. His cool side isn't very big due to the size of the water dish I have. It sucks 'cause I just bought a heater for this tote and don't have the receipt, lol.

On a side note, is it ok for them to be COMPLETELY buried under the fiber? If so, I wonder how they breathe..

It is perfectly ok for them to be completely buried. They don't only breath with lungs they also can breathe through their skin. They can breathe easily through the loose moist coco fiber. Considering in the wild thebury themselves in almost mud which I would think would be more difficult to breathe through. How big is your frog? They can spend their whole life in a 10 gallon tank. Plus alil easier to heat.

[BG]

You want the heater on the oposite side of the water dish. Where the water dish is located should be the cool side. If you were to place it on the back it wouldn't allow for a tempreture gradient for your frog. They need to be able to decide whether they want to be warm or cool. So opposite the water dish.

i second that. But what kind of heatpad is that is it . Does it say for plastic use.

[BG]

If you notice there nostrals are on top of there nose facing up. When they are burried there nostrals are facing twarard the surface. Some times you only see there nose.

[R3N3G4D3]

It is perfectly ok for them to be completely buried. They don't only breath with lungs they also can breathe through their skin. They can breathe easily through the loose moist coco fiber. Considering in the wild thebury themselves in almost mud which I would think would be more difficult to breathe through. How big is your frog? They can spend their whole life in a 10 gallon tank. Plus alil easier to heat.

Wow, that's really cool!

He/she is pretty small. I'd say he/she is about two inches or a slightly larger, not exactly sure. I just did a substrate change today, so I don't want to put extra stress on him/her out anymore by trying to measure. I will get back to you on that.

I know about the 10 gallon, but I've read 20 longs are the ideal terrarium for them. Plus, I plan on keeping him/her on my bookshelf because the terrarium I've look at while at PetSmart fits it perfectly! Right now I have to keep him in my TV stand because one of my cats like to play, "Let's paw at the frog's cage until he/she jumps around, so I can watch him and pretend to hunt." Getting a 20L would prevent this because she would be unable to squeeze on the bookshelf to torment him/her.

[R3N3G4D3]

i second that. But what kind of heatpad is that is it . Does it say for plastic use.

It's the Zoo Med Repti-Therm Mini. It said on the instructions it's suitable for large plastic critter totes.

Unfortunately the water bowl on the cool side doesn't give him/her much room to bury. The dish is rather big for the tote he/she is currently, hopefully I'm able to pick up a new terrarium this weekend.

[R3N3G4D3]

I've noticed that, it's pretty funny just seeing a nose pop out from under the fiber. However, he/she is completely buried under the substrate at the moment. I added a bit more than usual when I did a change a couple hours ago, perhaps he/she is taking opportunity of that. I'd say there about 3 inches worth, last time there was only 2.

On a completely different note, how do you go about cleaning your frog's terrarium BG and GrifTheGreat? I've only done a change twice (only have own him/her for a little over two months), and this is how I did it: I let him/her soak in a tupperware container filled with shallow water, dumped out the substrate, hosed off the set up with hot water in my shower, dried it off real well, filled it back up with substrate, and put my little guy/girl back in!

Is that a good method or is there something else you two would suggest?

[BG]

Thats a great method. You kill two birds with one stone.lol I change the water every other day I spot clean poop every day. I change substrate every 60 days. I soak them every week. I feed them (adults every 3 days)(babies everyday).I study them everyday.I take pics when ever.lol I handle them 0 hr. ( only for maintenance,and pic time).thats about done. Spending time on frog forum 24 hours a day lol

[R3N3G4D3]

Thats a great method. You kill two birds with one stone.lol I change the water every other day I spot clean poop every day. I change substrate every 60 days. I soak them every week. I feed them (adults every 3 days)(babies everyday).I study them everyday.I take pics when ever.lol I handle them 0 hr. ( only for maintenance,and pic time).thats about done. Spending time on frog forum 24 hours a day lol

Sweet, lol! You only change their water every other day? Even when it has substrate in it? Didn't know you could do that, lol. I normally wind up changing mine's water 2 or 3 times a day.. Guess I don't have to, lol.

I only handle mine when I'm doing maintenance as well. Haven't tried taking a picture with him/her in my hand - he/she squirms every time I pick him/her up to move him/her during maintenance. I'm guessing that's common though since I've only had him/her for two months.

My little guy/girl normally doesn't poop every day, but I've read on here that's common. As you know, I try to feed every day, he/she doesn't always eat. Lol, but he/she did eat 2 crickets last night. Not touching his/her food tonight, but I'm guessing that's because the stressful bedding change. Also, I read in another thread you said if you can see a Pacman Frog's bones then they are too thin - you can see the tail bone on mine, is that normal? He/she is still an infant (I think about 2 inches, will measure tomorrow), but if there's something wrong - what could I do to plump up him/her?

[GrifTheGreat]

I remove everything from the tank. Let Grif either soak or just sit on moist paper towel in a tupperware container while I clean. I only have two Pacs unlike BG who has several so I don't have as much maintainence. I rinse out the tank with hot water either from the shower or. By pooring it down the walls of the tankm dry with paper towel then spray Wipe Out 1 which is a disinfectant cleaner. Let it stand for 5 minutes then wipe it out. I rinse the tank once more so there is no chemical from the disinfectant left behind. Refill the tank with substrate. Then I wipe down and rinse all. The plastic plants and let them air off so there is no residue left on them and rinse them down again. Them put everything back in and I'm done.

[BG]

I have no maintenance. Its not affecting me yet. Now Jessica is maintenance. But when i start breeding, things are going to be tough.

[R3N3G4D3]

Thanks a lot, guys you have been really helpful! By the way, where's a good place to get terrarium plant decorations? The ones at PetSmart are only so-so where I live.

[BG]

How about Dr foster and smith or LLL reptiles or shows.

[GrifTheGreat]

With regards to weight: first, a picture would be best just because it's hard to tell without seeing the frog (and because we like seeing pictures of pacmans! Lol!) Second, if it is just the tailbone sticking out a little then you probably don't have anything to worry about. Pacmans tailbones usually stick out some, but it can vary by breed. If you aren't sure you could flip through some of the pacman pics on this forum and do a quick comparison. That isn't a gaurentee, but it will give you a general idea of how a healthy pac should look.

For weight gain, you switch up his/her diet and add fattier foods like wax worms, horn worms, or pinkie mice. Pinkies can be dangerous if used too often though. Stick to 1 every month or so.

[R3N3G4D3]

Thanks for all the information, guys! I just got back from the hospital today because I came down appendicitis and had to get my appendix removed, so my little guy/girl hasn't been able to eat the past two days, but he/she is very lively. I will get pictures as soon as I get to feeling better, but I don't think he/she is underweight - only bone I see is the tail bone.

BG, are the places you mentioned online stores?

[MeTree]

BG, are the places you mentioned online stores?

I'm not BG, but yeah. Dr. Foster & Smith and LLL Reptile are both online reptile stores. I recomend buying from site sponsers when possible, so you might try checking the selection at Josh's Frogs before you buy from someone else.