Heating help!

[GrifTheGreat]

I have a heating pad on my tank now because it was getting so cold in my room, but it only raised the temp one degree and the humidity is at 75%. The temp is at a steady 70.5F He hasn't been processing his food and pooped out 4 nearly whole crickets. I think it's the temp. how do i raise his temp? I have the top covered wear the light doesn't sit. Any ideas? should I put him in his holding tub? It's a plastic container that's small 6qt long and short.

You can buy a 50 watt incandescent basking light bulb. A Zoo Med basking spot light bulb used with a lamp that has a dimmer switch works quite well. You can adjust the output of the bulb so its neither to bright nor hot. Or a Daylight Blue bulb. The Zoo Med basking light works a lot better than the Daylight Blue be cause the beam is more concentrated so you don't have to turn the dimmer switch all the way up so it won't be too bright or hot for your frog. You can also buy a second UTH and put it on the same side as your other pad only either on the front or back of the tank. This will also raise the tep. You'll need to act soon as your frog will lose nutrition by not digesting his/her food. Is your UTH on the side of the tank?

[Guenhwyvar]

I had it on the side but it wasn't doing anything, so I put it under the tank and the temp raised one degree. The humidity shot up. He doesn't burrow on the end with the heater, but he does go and sit on the warm soil. His appetite hasn't changed, he still eats everything he can get. His aim hasn't been very good lately.
Should I give him a warm soak in his small tub?

[Ribbits]

a ceramic heater element/bulb will work for you. That way you can control the temp day and night without affecting his sleep cycle.

[GrifTheGreat]

I had it on the side but it wasn't doing anything, so I put it under the tank and the temp raised one degree. The humidity shot up. He doesn't burrow on the end with the heater, but he does go and sit on the warm soil. His appetite hasn't changed, he still eats everything he can get. His aim hasn't been very good lately.
Should I give him a warm soak in his small tub?

If he doesn't get the proper heat soon he will become sluggish and lose his appetite. Its not good for him to not digets his food properly. He isn't gaining what he/she need from the food which could also mean that he/she isn't metabolizing the calcium and multivitamin so your frog is losing nutrition fast. I still say it is too risky placing the heat pad on the bottom not only could the frog over heat itself if it burrows there he/she could also be burnt on the glass. Trust me this is solid advice. Just because your frog hasn't burrowed there yet does not mean that it won't. It is better to be safe than sorry. If you don't want to use a stronger light buy a second UTH and plce it on the same side as the other either on the back or front. Take the other out from under the tank and place it on the side. Putting the pad on the bottom also drops the moisture level in the substrate. Humidity can be from 65 to 80% but the temp is too cold it shouldn't drop below 75. 75 to 85 is an ideal range. It can go as low as 75 at night but should be no lower. I prefer night time temps to stay around 78. 80 to 85 day time. I try and stay in between that range. Trust me this advice benefits you and your frog.

[Guenhwyvar]

Putting it under the tank was my last resort since I couldn't get the temp up. I worry myself sick over him and whether or not he's getting what he needs. I thought putting him in his small tank til the end of winter(maybe) would make it easier for him to stay warm. I'll try to get another coralife bulb, but i can't until the end of the week. I try keeping his temp within a good range and having it this low makes me nervous. The heater in my house isn't working, so it's getting super cold and i can't bring him to bed and cuddle under the blankets with him like my dogs....unfortunately, i don't think he'd be too thrilled with that notion.
The ceramic bulbs cost too much for me right now, i'd have to get a lamp too as i don't think it'd fit my hood.

[Jcal]

A good warm soak is a great idea
Get a clamp light from a department store and a regular light. Start with something in the 40-50 range and work your way up. Even with the white lid on light will go through and cause a greenhouse effect that will warm your frog.....that will work if you put him in his holding containor. The clamp dome is only 7ish

[Guenhwyvar]

thanks, yeah it's a little tub with transparent bottom and white lid. I'll put him in it for the night, he just ate, so hopefully it'll help him digest his food properly. This winter is going to be abnormally cold.

[MeTree]

What is the wattage on your heat pad? I know I am just using a 4W in a 10g tank, which is slightly underated, but in Texas it hardly ever gets colder than 35*F outside during the winter, and we don't let it get that cold inside! An 8W would be more appropriate. I have even heard of people using more than the recomended wattage in conjuction with a Rheostat, although at this point I am not sure that I can recomend that, although it does sound like a neat idea.

I have heard of people not being able to properly heat their Pacman Frog tanks, so they actually put their Pacman Frog into full aevistation for the winter. This is a common practice with breeding, but not very common otherwise. Some people say that there is a little bit of a risk involved, and it needs to be done properly with pretty consitant temperatures (usually somewhere around 40*F, but not alot colder). Only hearing of one non-breeding related instance of Pacman Frog aevistation (I am sure there are many more), I cannot at this point recomend aevistation, but I am also not discouraging it as long as someone else recomends it.