Illuminating a question

[Surrealasm]

I've recently upgraded my juvenile Ceratophrys to a 5-gallon tank, and now I'm trying to balance the tank lighting and heating system.

I've placed a heating pad on the back wall of the tank, given the little guy the choice of two seperate water dishes, and added celaphane on the top-back half of the cage, near the heating element.

I'm pretty sure the heating pad isn't quite hitting 80 degrees during the daytime, so I was wondering what type of lighting system y'all would recommend...

This is where the conflicting information I've heard comes in, as the store I got him from recommended a flourescent day-time bulb to make sure he gets the Vitamin D he needs. I've heard from this forum that a 25-50 watt infra-red light source would do the trick for an Albino Pacman, however mine is not albino, so I'm wondering if I should get some other type of light emitting source.

I can post pics later this evening if that helps clarify any questions.

[Heatheranne]

I use a 50 watt infrared on a dimmer for both of my pacs. Then you can adjust the heat and light easily .

[Surrealasm]

I use a 50 watt infrared on a dimmer for both of my pacs.

What style/brand of dimmer do you use?

[Sue H]

I had the same question when I was getting my frog. He doesn't need flourescent light, it will hurt his eyes. I think that pet shop people are trained to say "UVB flourescent" no matter what animal you're getting! I got a 50 watt infrared bulb and a zoo med repti temp control dimmer, the dimmer cost around 20 bucks or so and does the job, I keep it on low and that keeps the warm side of the tank at about 80 degrees. If you dust your frog's food with calcium that has vitamin D3 in it he's fine.

[GrifTheGreat]

I believe Heatheranne and Sue have answered your questions.

If you don't want to use infrared you can buy a Exo Terra Sun Glo bulb that has a concentrated beam of light. You don't have to turn them up high to produce the ambient air heat due to the light being concentrated. I always recomend plant cover whether it be fake or live when using lights. Frogs that are nocturnal naturaly seek shelter from sunlight so you should provide this cover for them in their home as well. You can buy a ceramic heat emitter which is a bulb that doesn't produce light. It only produces heat. You also want to use a dimmer switch with these as well because they get pretty hot.

If the location your frog is in the house provides plenty of natural light then you can use infrared or the ceramic heat emitter and they will still have their 12 hour day/night cycle intact. The basking lights like the Sun Glo I mentioned can provide light and heat and also help with the day/night cycle if the room is dim and doesn't provide much light. As long as you have the dimmer lamp you shouldn't have to worry about cooking your frog because you can control the output.

Please note that lights burn off humidity. You will have to mist a few extra times per day to keep humidity levels within the 70 to 80% range.

[Surrealasm]

I love this forum, you guys are as concise and informative as a team of university sponsered herpatoligists...

One last question about the dimmer, wondering if they make one that can sense the ambient temperature of the room and then adjust accordingly.
See, I live in Texas, and our weather is a little bit unpredictable. In fact, there's a saying we have... "If you don't like the weather, just wait for about 20 minutes"
I don't want to bake my frogs alive, or leave them huddled and shivering... Is using my A/C and central heat as a buffer the best choice, or is there an item that can modify my lamps' intensity?