New Owner who has questions on the tank set up

[froggit]

I just got my 2 month pacman on the 5th. He/she has the coco substrate, a fake plant, fake log, a reptifogger for humidity, and a water bowl big enough for him/her to fit in. I live in Nevada so it is starting to get cold, a very dry cold. The temp in the tank is between 55 and 60 degrees, I know that is too cold. I am planning on purchasing the zoomed under tank heater since bulbs dry the tank out. I have read a lot about how to heat the tank and no one seems to agree where to put the heater. Should I put it under the tank (on the outside of course) or on the side? If I put it under I plan on only having it on one half of the tank so the frog can regulate it's temp. I just don't want to waste money if there is a better solution, and if I do get the zoomed under tank heater I want to know where to put it because it permanently binds to where ever I put it on the tank. Please help!

[Bruce]

I wouldn't put it on the bottom since pacmans burrow to cool off. However, I wouldn't disregard an red light for heat. As long as it is on a dimmer to regulate heat and you monitor the temps/humidity you should be fine
Daytime temps need to be 80-85, nighttime should be 75-80, and with how cold it is where you're at, an understand heater may not achieve those temps.
Everything else seems fine. If you do use a red light, just make sure you use that fogger and mist 2-3 times a day to keep the substrate moist. Otherwise you should be fine

[GrifTheGreat]

You want the UTH on the side of the tank. Place it opposite the side where the water dish is. You had better hurry and get a heat source or your frog may die. Young Pacs are very sensitive to the climate in their environment. You can use heat lights. They are fine and don't dry the substrate out as much as you might think. I use heat lights and there is no issue. Even with the fogger you will have to mist the soil every so often to put fresh moisture in it. I have the same fogger. Be sure you have a temp gauge and hygrometer. You said what the temp is so I know you have a temp gauge. You need a hygrometer to track humidity levels. When using heat lights be sure to buy a lamp that has a dimmer switch and use incandescent bulbs that's wattage is no less than 25 watts and no higher than 50 watts. Use a basking bulb that has a concentrated beam so that itwarms the tank easier without having to dial the light up high. The dimmer switch on the lamp will allow you to control the amount of heat and light put off by the bulb. Since you have a fake plant the frog will be able to use it for shade and hiding. Be sure to cover 3 sides of your tank with a background so the frog feels more secure. Night time light should be an infrared bulb within the same range of wattage as the day time bulb.

Temps need to be 80 to 82 during the day and 75 to 79 at night. Humidity levels need to be 70 to 80%. You need to get what you need fast. you should have researched more an got the home set up before you purchased your frog. Right now the frog is at risk. They are tropical species and need tropical temps and humidity levels. Take the advice given and do it quickly. Good luck and keep us posted. Oh and we love pictures so post some soon. Welcome to the forum.

[Heatheranne]

I'd have to agree. Time to warm up the tank. They cannot tolerate a cold temp for long and their metabolism also slows and they cannot process their food properly. ^ Everything else has been listed for you.

Good luck!

[froggit]

Thanks guys, I am working on the heater as fast as I can. When I bought my pacman I bought the zoomed pacman kit and the pet store said that is all I should need. But now I know better. Thanks everyone.

[froggit]

Could I possibly get suggestions on exactly what lamps to buy?? And is UVB or UVA bad for them??

[Heatheranne]

I just use a 50w infared bulb in a dome light holder with a dimmer, nothing fancy. Be sure to get a hydrometer though and keep his home misted. The red lamps dry the substrate quickly. I mist well 3x per day and more often if needed.

I have a hood lamp 5.0 tropical light, but rarely turn it on. It is a little too bright for him. If using a hood lamp for light, I'd recommend only the 2.0, unless you're using live plants. I just let the natural daylight from the room windows light his home during the day. He is not next to a window.

They do not need much light, just warmth.

Perhaps more forum friends will post for you. There are other options also. This has just worked well for me .

[Mentat]

I heat my 2 tanks with lamps. One is a dome with dimmer by Fluker's with a 100 watt ceramic heater (no light output). It does not affect humidity much and heats a 20 gal. tank with dimmer set 1/2 way for nights and 3/4 way for day. Tank top is a once piece Zilla top with mesh mostly covered in plastic wrap (cut a hole a bit larger than dome light diameter.

Other tank is a 10 gal. and use a 40 watt red light. Have no dimmer so little drop at night and does reduce humidity a bit more (mist a few times per day. Since Pacman is inside a critter breeder box with controlled higher humidity this is not a problem to me. Same type of top and modification as above. Good luck!

[GrifTheGreat]

You can use what Heatheranne and Carlos use. UVA and UVB don't do any harm really as long as the bulbs aren't too bright. Which in this case the UVB will be because they only come as fluorescent bulbs. If the bulb is too bright it will damage their eyes. Otherwise it won't actually do and damage unless the wattage is too high in which case the bulb will cook your frog or burn its skin. UVB is not necissary because its purpose is to have the frog produce vitamin D3 naturally. They can benefit from 4 to 6 hours of UVB a day but you are better off giving them D3 in a vitamin or calcium supplement which both you will need. The lamp with a dimmer switch is made by Flukers. Its best to use a lamp with a dimmer for reasons I mentioned above.

[GrifTheGreat]

Please note that you cannot use fluorescent bulbs with a lamp that has a dimmer switch. Stay away from fluorescents as they do not put off much heat either and are usually too bright. Incandescents are what is needed if you plan on using lights.

[froggit]

I went with a ceramic bulb. seems to be doin all right. thanks everyone.

[GrifTheGreat]

Glad we could help. We love pics so as soon as you can post some.

[Heatheranne]

Great!