Vertical Conversion of “Zilla Critter Keeper” for tree frogs

[flybyferns]

Are both tanks using the same lighting?

If your monitoring during lit conditions then the lighting is going to burn off the humidity and if different lighting is used you will have that reduction be different between tanks.

I monitor mine more at night when my frogs are going to be active. Day time, my humidity will shoot up when the MK runs but will soon drop to about 55 to 60 percent which is fine for REFTs. (We have some very dry heat in my apartment)
At night the humidity shoots up and stays up around 70 percent and once the MK kicks in the humidity rises to about 80 -85 percent for a short time and then back down to 70 - 75 percent. I'm using the ZooMed digital hydrometers.

I think as long as your in the 55 - 60 percent range at its lowest during the day then the frogs are getting the humidity they need and i would not over think it.

I have my MK running 15 second sprays at 8am, 12 noon, 6 pm, 10,pm, and then again at 12 midnight.
I use these settings since the MK is also running on three dart tanks which are 99 percent sealed up and the RETF tank has both top and bottom ventilation. I have not had to drain the RETF tank since the MK has been on it but do on the dart tanks every two weeks.

Thanks Don,
The humidity levels are much better the last 36 hours. Nice and stable.

I think I am ,simply, looking for reasons as to why she is not eating !
She did ok last night. I guess she is still adjusting?

Lynn

[flybyferns]

Boggie's photo from a few minutes ago.

[flybyferns]

"Boggie" up-date

5 minutes ago


I don't think she is sick. She looks too good. Acts pretty normal. Although, sleeps more? If she does not eat she will be sick.
But, I don't want to take any chances. She was going on 10 days.

I force fed her on Tuesday.
( 3 small , headless,legless, dusted crickets) I mushed them up --- in put them into small syringe( needless, of course)
and pushed them into her mouth. She swallowed normally like she would have if she caught a cricket. I put her back on a leaf and she went back to sleep.
I have not done this in a while. NOT FUN !! Not since 2010 when I rescued my red eye - "Monkie"

I have been dribbling on pedialye soaks OR dipping her and the leaf she is on-- so I do not have to wake her. She has ALWAYS 'slept like a log'.
She does not even wake up when she gets a leaf dip !!!

I have spoken to FF members that I truly respect! And agree that -- maybe she is still adjusting AND perhaps adjusting to being alone?
Not being w/ the group was my very first thought? One night , I watched her go up to the corner of her new enclosure and get as close to the red eye calls as she could be.

I suppose, if she does not start eating on her own , I could put her back in with the red eyes until her company is old enough to be in with her, which would not be until summer as Michael Novy says it will be 6 weeks. ( he has black eye tads) Then they have to grow , and be quarantined. Or, I could, move one red eye in with her? I don't know ?

She was up, alert and shed last night.

For the time being I am leaving de-chlorinated water in the mist king bucket vs distilled, to reduce the frequent spraying w/ distilled water.

For now the situation requires patience !
Lynn

[Treesniffer]

I've seen lampshades on Antiques Roadshow where the 100 yr old skill of reverse painting shows up now and then. I believe that technique is used here, obviously with new invention of spray paint. I'm not much into the tropical flare, but this video stirs my mind into thinking about other designs for my viv. Thank you for info.

[flybyferns]

I've seen lampshades on Antiques Roadshow where the 100 yr old skill of reverse painting shows up now and then. I believe that technique is used here, obviously with new invention of spray paint. I'm not much into the tropical flare, but this video stirs my mind into thinking about other designs for my viv. Thank you for info.

Treesniffer,
Don't you just love it! It was my inspiration to paint the tree trunks on the outside of my enclosures. Nice clean background, right!
Someone who is really artistic could really make a beautiful background!
Thanks for looking
Lynn

[flybyferns]

"Boggie" up-date

I don't think she is sick. She looks too good. Acts pretty normal. Although, sleeps more? If she does not eat she will be sick.
But, I don't want to take any chances. She was going on 10 days.



I force fed her on Tuesday.
( 3 small , headless,legless, dusted crickets) I mushed them up --- in put them into small syringe( needless, of course)
and pushed them into her mouth. She swallowed normally like she would have if she caught a cricket. I put her back on a leaf and she went back to sleep.
I have not done this in a while. NOT FUN !! Not since 2010 when I rescued my red eye - "Monkie"

I have been dribbling on pedialye soaks OR dipping her and the leaf she is on-- so I do not have to wake her. She has ALWAYS 'slept like a log'.
She does not even wake up when she gets a leaf dip !!!

I have spoken to FF members that I truly respect! And agree that -- maybe she is still adjusting AND perhaps adjusting to being alone?
Not being w/ the group was my very first thought? One night , I watched her go up to the corner of her new enclosure and get as close to the red eye calls as she could be.

I suppose, if she does not start eating on her own , I could put her back in with the red eyes until her company is old enough to be in with her, which would not be until summer as Michael Novy says it will be 6 weeks. ( he has black eye tads) Then they have to grow , and be quarantined. Or, I could, move one red eye in with her? I don't know ?

She was up, alert and shed last night.

For the time being I am leaving de-chlorinated water in the mist king bucket vs distilled, to reduce the frequent spraying w/ distilled water.

For now the situation requires patience !
Lynn

Up-Date on Boggie:
Well, Boggie and I am hanging in there. With the help of Michael Novy. ( thank goodness)
Since the previous photo ( attached here w/ my quote ---5 days ago) she began to get a little weak.
I began to become more concerned because she looked thin to me, too.
For example - she climbed very slowly, and slipped a little when trying to get comfortable on the glass.
Yesterday afternoon was her third Flagyl treatment.

Here is a photo from this AM. A noticeable difference between the 2 since I started the soaks / Flagyl.


below - 5 days ago- prior to treatment and one additional force feed


She is strong ! She pushes on on my hand when she is soaking in her little cup.
I think she looks better.
She has had to be force fed twice.
Still no crickets on her own.
She pooped last night.
She gets up looks bright eyed and explores- but no interest in her food.

Keeping my fingers crossed, Lynn

[Heatheranne]

Great job Lynn! Keep up the good work.

[flybyferns]

Up-Date

My conversion thread has sort of turned into a "Keeping an eye on Boggie" thread.

Well she is NOT worse. No more diarrhea ( which i saw only once) !!! She does not look thinner to me at this point.
She has not pooped since last Tuesday's force feeding- that I know of.

She still has not eaten on her own?
Two nights ago I have a feeling I forgot how many cricks I threw in There may have been one missing?
Maybe I will go 10 days instead of 1 week for the 3rd force feeding! sigh

This afternoon will be day 6 of a flagyl soak.

She gets up ( later than the others , which is typical for her)
Explores/soaks/ hangs out/ naps / sheds - BUT will not eat !!!!!!
She looked a little more ' on the hunt ' around the crickets last night.
I sat in the dark- in the basement ( w/ a tiny mini flash light ) from 8:00 to 11:00 last night!

I hope tonight is the night!!!

[flybyferns]

Up -date on Boggie
Every night I watch her.
Every morning I count crickets – hoping -she ate!
I went nine days this time--NO LUCK.
She continues to get up , looks and acts like there is absolutely nothing wrong with her!!!
She soaked last night for 15 min.
Then--walks right past her crickets!!! Looks at them but – no go !

I had to force feed her again yesterday afternoon. One squished ( headless, legless ) medium cricket and a dose of "Repti-boost".
I still have de-chlorinated water in the mist king bucket !

I have current photos- but having trouble w/ uploading right now?

Lynn

[J Teezy]

sounds like froggie depression

[flybyferns]

sounds like froggie depression

Tell me about it !!
I would give my right arm for a fully quarantined tank mate!
My gut tells my that ---that's what the problem is.
Now I'm stuck because I HAVE to monitor her food intake.

[flybyferns]

Photo up-dates- taken last night and this AM:

[Heatheranne]

Awe, she's so pretty! Hopefully she'll turn around for you soon. All you can do is keep her healthy and be on the lookout for a buddy. Maybe in time?

[flybyferns]

Awe, she's so pretty! Hopefully she'll turn around for you soon. All you can do is keep her healthy and be on the lookout for a buddy. Maybe in time?

Thanks Heather,
Hope all is well.
Michael Novy's tads are going to be a while as I think they are just out of water.
Maybe I'll go to the Westchester show? I think one is coming up soon?
But then there's quarantine..................sigh. Dont's know.
At this point , waiting for my two tads may be quicker ?
Her enclosure is beautiful, well planted, nice established pothos canopy--- froggy heaven!
I'm afraid to force feed her too frequently, I don't want her to become dependent on it and loose "the hunt".

I may be crazy, but she sleeps up in the far L hand corner of the viv right next to "Monkey" ( my rescue)
where the two enclosures are glass-to-glass. Monkey is the noisiest frog I have--- calls all night-every night!
I'm going to give Michael a call tomorrow and pick his brain.
And, I am going to call a big herp place that is about a hour away to see what other food sources that may have.

Lynn

[Heatheranne]

True, quarantine does take quite a while. That's a tough one.

Awe :/. So sweet, but heartbreaking too.

I agree with the lose the hunt...Twigs seems to have no desire to eat on his own :/. He doesn't even care when I feed him now. I'm going to try and let him feed again this week. He's well-nourished enough now to let him go a bit to 'get hungry'.

I hope your baby will eat soon!

[flybyferns]

Current photo- this AM.

[Kristen]

She is a real stunning frog!

[flybyferns]

She is a real stunning frog!

Thanks Kristen,
She has, really, been a challenge!
Lynn

[Kristen]

Thanks Kristen,
She has, really, been a challenge!
Lynn

Is she eating on her own now?
She looks gorgeous and its all worth it the end I love the picture of her on the glass

[flybyferns]

Is she eating on her own now?
She looks gorgeous and its all worth it the end I love the picture of her on the glass

No Kristen, I'm afraid she is not eating on her own.
I'm am , yet again, faced with likely having to force feed her.
I'm thinking !
Thank You for asking about her , Lynn