Calling All Red Eye Tree Frog experts

[G3rm]

Hows everyone doing. I am new to this Forum and maybe recently the owner of some red eye tree frogs. I have read articles and books these couple weeks but i rather have the expert advice of some experts to these frogs. I will be going to eastern reptile expo in pennsylvania and might buy some Red-Eyed Leaf Frog if they are available. I have an 18x18x24 terrarium and this week i plan to buy the necessary items for the frogs. I have the monsoon mister i got cheap of amazon and a stand. What i am a bit confused about is the required light source for this species. Some tell me just a heat lamp some say just a terrarium uvb hood. But what do you guys think is the best? i certainly would like to go with quality instead of cheapness on this situation. i have some looked at the terrarium hoods and thats where i am leaning more to and would like to buy a quality one. But would really like some expert opinions on that. Also what kind of bedding do u guys have. I plan on planting some live plants and moss im not sure wat is some good bedding for them. sorry for all the questions. just finally feel that i can get the right advice.

this is one of the hoods i was looking at.

Exo-Terra Dual Top Metal Terrarium Canopy at PETCO

[DonLisk]

Hi G3rn.
Your new frogs will love that viv if you give them enough stuff up high to live, travel, and perch on.

Here is a little list of things I suggest for new RTFs.
1. Place the tank in a quiet room and not in direct sunlight. No special lighting is needed for your frog.
2. Cover three sides of the tank and remove any night lighting. They usually become inactive at night and shy away if night lighting is used.
3. Ensure their environmental needs are met such as temperature and humidity. 68- 70 degrees night is fine and 75-78 day temps are good.
A basic 20 to 26 watt Reveal 6500K color temp Daylight compact florescent bulb should be enough to support daytime temps and live plants in your tank. I use two on that size tank.
3. Ensure water is either chlorine free (bottled spring) or treated tap water.
4. Limit the times you enter the tank to only when changing water and adding or removing crickets.
5. Monitor humidity and temperature and mist once to twice daily.
6. Provide enough natural accents to allow for hiding, climbing, and perching above the substrate. Since your frog lives in trees, they are rarely found on the substrate and prefer to move from leaf to vine to branch to explore the tank. I use Plantation Soil or Zilla Jungle Mix and both can be found at most good pet stores. Either also works great with supporting plants. Also, have a drainage layer below the substrate. If you don't you'll be going back to add it later when you find your soil is always soaked and rotting.
7. Slowly remove covered sides over a few weeks to let them become accustomed to their surroundings.
8. Ensure the crickets provided are no longer than the width of the frogs head. Dust crickets with calcium every other feeding or at least three times a week. Check out the cricket bowl feeding method which saves on a tank full of loose crickets and helps with monitoring how your frog is eating.
9. And last but not least: Monitor the frogs activity and weight. If your frog moves around at night in the dark and soaks or sits at the water dish edge, then he/she is doing fine.

Hope this helps.

[DonLisk]

As for the lighting fixture, buy 18 fixture that holds two compact florescent bulbs instead of the tubes. You'll save some money and have much better lighting for the plants.

The Reveal bulbs I mentioned are available at Walmart for about 5 bucks each and really work well with live plants.

[G3rm]

Thanks alot for all the info, you think this would be a better option?
Reptile Terrarium Lighting: Zoo Med Laboratories Naturalistic Terrarium Hood at Drs. Foster & Smith

and I am concerned about the temperature of the tank through the night since my room tends to get really cold at nights. I was thinking of using the recommended setup of this fixture of Zoo Med's Nightlight Red Reptile Bulb for 24 hour heat (up to 60 watts) and the other bulb that u suggested for the plants. Would this be a good setup. I will be posting my setup next week also, is the least i can do lol. Also wat plants would u recommend. I have some ivy that i think should be fine. Any plants i should be avoiding?

[DonLisk]

The hood you have the link to is perfect.
The red light will help with heat but may cause the frogs to retreat and stay inactive. This is especially true with RETFs. I use only daylight lighting and no lighting for nights.

A heat pad on the side or sides of the tank will work fine for adding some nighttime heat and can be operated with a thermostat to adjust heat levels.

As for plants, ivy and ferns are ok, but mine love to sleep on snake plant. Bromeliads (smaller ones) are good as are many airplants, and pothos.
You can also use lucky bamboo which give great climbing features and is easy to grow too. You really want stuff that can support their weight since they will be walking all over it.

Keep away from umbrella plants and plants that secrete sap when a leaf is broken off since many of these plants have poison in the leaking sap. Croton and Zebra Plant are ones that come to mind right off.

Don

[G3rm]

awesome thanks alot for all the help man. is this the bulbs u mentioned?
Walmart.com: GE CFL Reveal Spiral 26wt - 6 Bulbs/ 3 Packs: Decor

Also when u mean false bottom u mean a false bottom. u mean like some hydroballs and a garden mesh on top of them?

[VooDoo]

Exo Terra makes a lighting fixture that fit perfectly on that terrarium.

Exo Terra Compact Fluorescent Terrarium Canopy 18"