'Screech' Pacman Tank Setup

[Silver00LT]

Okay....it's come a long way since I messed up and bought him without research three weeks ago. If you are doing your research before you purchase a pacman. I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend the care guide available on this site. Thread: Frog Forum - Pacman and Horned Frogs - Ceratophrys - Care and Breeding

Setup/Cost:
30G Tank(was old fish tank coverted) - Too much
Stand - Custom built
^ I converted them because I already had them and good quality. To make it easy I have around $300 invested just in tank and stand.

Zoo Med Reptifogger - $60 - Petsmart
Zoo Med Hygrotherm - $100 - Petsmart
Coconut Fiber Substrate - $7 set of 3 bricks. I bought 3 sets as its hard to come by here(cheaply) Petsmart wanted $7 for ONE brick so price around. I got mine at Pet Supplies Plus.
Ornaments - $40(I have another log, but the crickets hide from him and being young he needs them as much as he can eat them) - Petsmart
Water absorb packets(pretty neat keeps crickets alive and the one in tank keeps them off Screech) - $4 for 6 - Pet Supplies Plus
10-20G UTH - $20
20-30G UTH - $40
^^ Do some research on your tank and lid setup. I have a mesh lid with alum. foil over it except at the lights and heaters full blast(regulated) and lamp it will not go above 82-84*
Cricket Feeder - $15
Cricket Cage w/ tubes - $15
Manual Temp/Humidity gauge - $12
Rheostat - $25(this was my means of regulating the UTH, and as the Hygrotherm has ONE connection I kept it so it controls both heaters)
Programable Surge Protector - $30
Multivitamin Dust - $7
Calcium Dust - $7
Lamp Dome - $50
50w Heat Lamp - $8
40w Red Heat Lamp(emergencies only) - $8

This is also not counting the moss, cypress bedding and other mistakes I made for not doing my research. That was probably around $75 bucks there wasted.

My settings:
12Day/12Night setup programmed in my surge protector for 9a-9p 7 days a week
84* Day temp with a drop of 6* to 78* for night
80% humidity with fogger set on minimum and a tolerance of 75%

Tank takes care of itself now just gotta monitor it. All I have to do is feed Screech and make sure the water bottle for the fogger is full.

Now do not look at my prices and jaw drop. I kept a good bit of it as I could not return it for a cheaper method as I failed to do my research and it cost my wallet. But Screech is happy and healthy. He eats 2-4 crickets in a 24 hour period. Mostly averaging just 3 though. Fed one at a time.

Picture time:

Screech just literally ate two crickets back to back two minutes before this picture.

Size comparison


Thanks for everyone that helped me with my mistakes. Especially Grifthegreat...thanks a lot. I used cell phone as my camcorder and camera are busy charging.

[GrifTheGreat]

Okay....it's come a long way since I messed up and bought him without research three weeks ago. If you are doing your research before you purchase a pacman. I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend the care guide available on this site. Thread: Frog Forum - Pacman and Horned Frogs - Ceratophrys - Care and Breeding

Setup/Cost:
30G Tank(was old fish tank coverted) - Too much
Stand - Custom built
^ I converted them because I already had them and good quality. To make it easy I have around $300 invested just in tank and stand.

Zoo Med Reptifogger - $60 - Petsmart
Zoo Med Hygrotherm - $100 - Petsmart
Coconut Fiber Substrate - $7 set of 3 bricks. I bought 3 sets as its hard to come by here(cheaply) Petsmart wanted $7 for ONE brick so price around. I got mine at Pet Supplies Plus.
Ornaments - $40(I have another log, but the crickets hide from him and being young he needs them as much as he can eat them) - Petsmart
Water absorb packets(pretty neat keeps crickets alive and the one in tank keeps them off Screech) - $4 for 6 - Pet Supplies Plus
10-20G UTH - $20
20-30G UTH - $40
^^ Do some research on your tank and lid setup. I have a mesh lid with alum. foil over it except at the lights and heaters full blast(regulated) and lamp it will not go above 82-84*
Cricket Feeder - $15
Cricket Cage w/ tubes - $15
Manual Temp/Humidity gauge - $12
Rheostat - $25(this was my means of regulating the UTH, and as the Hygrotherm has ONE connection I kept it so it controls both heaters)
Programable Surge Protector - $30
Multivitamin Dust - $7
Calcium Dust - $7
Lamp Dome - $50
50w Heat Lamp - $8
40w Red Heat Lamp(emergencies only) - $8

This is also not counting the moss, cypress bedding and other mistakes I made for not doing my research. That was probably around $75 bucks there wasted.

My settings:
12Day/12Night setup programmed in my surge protector for 9a-9p 7 days a week
84* Day temp with a drop of 6* to 78* for night
80% humidity with fogger set on minimum and a tolerance of 75%

Tank takes care of itself now just gotta monitor it. All I have to do is feed Screech and make sure the water bottle for the fogger is full.

Now do not look at my prices and jaw drop. I kept a good bit of it as I could not return it for a cheaper method as I failed to do my research and it cost my wallet. But Screech is happy and healthy. He eats 2-4 crickets in a 24 hour period. Mostly averaging just 3 though. Fed one at a time.

Picture time:

Screech just literally ate two crickets back to back two minutes before this picture.

Size comparison


Thanks for everyone that helped me with my mistakes. Especially Grifthegreat...thanks a lot. I used cell phone as my camcorder and camera are busy charging.

You're welcome Silver00. take good care of him and keep us updated.

[falconez]

Hello Silver,your setup look fine,I only would suggest you to put the Manual Temp/Humidity gauge a bit lower,as it should stand at 1-1.5 " above the substrate (right next to the probe would be ok),just to take parameters correctly.

[pansie]

what a cute lil baby!! <3

[KingCam]

If you notice him getting stressed try keeping him in a smaller cheap sterilite tub until he's bigger. Some juvenile herps get stressed out if they're in an overly big tank. I dunno if that holds true for pacman frogs, just throwing it out there.

Your setup looks awesome!! Good work

[GrifTheGreat]

If you notice him getting stressed try keeping him in a smaller cheap sterilite tub until he's bigger. Some juvenile herps get stressed out if they're in an overly big tank. I dunno if that holds true for pacman frogs, just throwing it out there.

Your setup looks awesome!! Good work

You're right Cam. Pacman frogs are extremely vulnerable to stress when it comes to their environment.

[KingCam]

You're right Cam. Pacman frogs are extremely vulnerable to stress when it comes to their environment.

Thanks for the confirmation I like it when I end up being right about things and stuffs :P

[GrifTheGreat]

Thanks for the confirmation I like it when I end up being right about things and stuffs :P

They don't like changes. Especially sudden ones. They will freak out become very stressed. This also depends on the frog though. Not all of them will react the same way.

[Silver00LT]

The gauge is going to be moved when I get more velcro. I had top soil and substrate in there and that was a big hill before the setup you currently see. He loves the tank. He just hops around having fun in it. Already claimed the 'spot' Right now he is over soaking up some heat and moisture under the fogger tube and by UTH while hunting.

He is actively chasing crickets as I type this. Not like running around, but watching them and waiting for the kill lunge. Trying to catch a first video feeding of him. I missed the ones last night. I have thought about swapping to a smaller 'temporary' tank until he grows, but he started eating and moving around happy.

Only thing pissing him off is when I reach in to change his water he gives me the go to hell stare. Since everything is now automated he does not get stressed out that much anymore. I noticed he did not like it when I picked up top to mist, etc. My pinky and him do not go well together he got a hold of me when I changed everything out. Which I deserved it for putting him in cypress bedding.

[GeorgiaBulls]

Great looking Pac you've got there. That's a serious setup, bet he's really happy..

[Silver00LT]

Serious on the wallet as well....LOL

[GrifTheGreat]

Serious on the wallet as well....LOL

I have way more than that invested in my Pacman frogs and purchased a new tank for Grif to move inti when I'm finished. I'm going to make a Viv for her so there will be live plants/a waterfall/and some natural decor. $$$$$, but as long as they're happy and healthy I don't mind.

[Silver00LT]

I have way more than that invested in my Pacman frogs and purchased a new tank for Grif to move inti when I'm finished. I'm going to make a Viv for her so there will be live plants/a waterfall/and some natural decor. $$$$$, but as long as they're happy and healthy I don't mind.

I'm seeing multiple hundreds of $$ in setups! LOL

But there is never a single CHEAP hobby ANYWHERE. Whatever you have as a hobby thats what your going to put your money into. And if its for a living thing..making them happy is always the best. I still have a tank setup planned for Screech, and to get it there is going to cost money like everyone elses design. I put it this way...life will never have a ending $ amount. When your dead you can't spend your money.(not going to go into leaving money for family, etc. common sense should say leave your family in good finances)

[Silver00LT]

Thought I'd post an update.

Changes:
Rainforest background on 3 sides
catcus in the middle almost against wall
Small tree in back left corner
Log front left corner
Heaters moved to bottom of tank...do at ur own risk ne prepared to buy new ones if you break it pulling off
Leaf arrangement in back right corner

Screech's reaction to the changes:
I tried to again tong feed him AND HE ACTUALLY ATE TWO FROM ME...wish had it on film
Chased 3rd cricket into leaf arrangement..hopped out and waited...ate it 15 mins later

He loves the new layout and finally glad to get it here....had to wait until substrate change date.

[GrifTheGreat]

Thought I'd post an update.

Changes:
Rainforest background on 3 sides
catcus in the middle almost against wall
Small tree in back left corner
Log front left corner
Heaters moved to bottom of tank...do at ur own risk ne prepared to buy new ones if you break it pulling off
Leaf arrangement in back right corner

Screech's reaction to the changes:
I tried to again tong feed him AND HE ACTUALLY ATE TWO FROM ME...wish had it on film
Chased 3rd cricket into leaf arrangement..hopped out and waited...ate it 15 mins later

He loves the new layout and finally glad to get it here....had to wait until substrate change date.

That's great! Sometimes you just have to ease them into tong feeding, but its best and easier to start them on it as babies.

[Silver00LT]

That's great! Sometimes you just have to ease them into tong feeding, but its best and easier to start them on it as babies.

I stood there and blinked several times like "Did he just eat it?!?!" But you could see the leg just a twitching. LOL

Pictures:

[Silver00LT]

I am currently looking at the fish cover for this tank and seeing if it can be modified to hold the lights, etc. Just doing some brain storming. It'd help out 1000000000000000 fold on keeping humidity in.

[Silver00LT]

Update:

Nothing new just changed out Screech's substrate and changed the leaves in corner to where the end is on top of the cactus so we can still see him. Mostly for me to see if the lil thing burrowed to the point where he was not feeding. Eating healthy...had to upgrade to a bigger cricket cage just to keep enough stocked throughout the week.