Beginner needs help (terrarium) :)

[Zlitni]

On wednesday i'll get my first reptile, a pacmanfrog Cranwelli. My terrarium temp is about 24,5-24,8 (celsius), is that okay? i have two lamps over the top (1 Trixie Infrared 35w and 1 Normal 40W), hope not that's gonna grill my frog?
Besides, my terrarium is about 95 (75 for the frog) x 37 x 48 [L x W x H]....


here's some pictures, any ideas? (note: now i have a background on it)

[poison]

looks great and by the way frogs aren't reptiles there amphibians

[GrifTheGreat]

Welcome to Frog forum

The setup looks good, but there are a few matters that need attention.

When using a Temp gauge in an enclosure such as this you'll want to get an average air temp reading. The best way to do this is to place the temp and hygrometer in the dead center of the back wall 1.5 inches to 2 inches above the substrate.

If you have a UTH(Under Tank Heater) it needs to be on the side of the tank opposite the side where the water dish is located. These are burrowing frogs and burrow into the moist substrate to thermoregulate their bodies. If the frog becomes too warm and burrow over the UTH trying to cool off it won't understand why it can't do so and overheat itself which can be fatal. If the UTH gets really hot it will also burn the frog from making the glass hot. The UTH should be placed on the side just above the top of the substrate.

Do you have a lid for the enclosure? If not then get one.

Temps should be around 26°C to 28°C(80°F to 82°F) during the day and 24°C to 26.5°C(75°F to 79°F) at night. Humidity should be around 75% to 80% At all times.

Here is the care article for the forum. http://www.frogforum.net/content/pac...-breeding-170/

Any further questions feel free to ask.

[DVirginiana]

Looks like a nice setup. Is the frog an albino? If it's normal, anything 40 watts and under should be alright, but for an albino you don't want to use a white light at all. What is the humidity in your tank?
Is the piece of wood something you picked up, or something from a pet store? I can't tell from the pics. If it's something you found outside, you'll want to bake it (for my snakes' driftwood decorations, I usually do 350 degrees F for about 20 minutes) to get rid of any bugs, fungus spores, ect. that could be hiding on it.
Also, just make sure that nothing has any sharp edges. If there are any exposed wire-tips on the plastic plants, even if they are under the dirt, it would be a good idea to use a drop of 100% silicone to seal them off since frogs' skin is so fragile.

[Zlitni]

GrifTheGreat & DVirginiana

My white temperaturegauge are also an hygrometer, both in one

The humidity is about 65, i've heard that it needs 60-70%, so think that's nice...
The temp is about 24,5 to nearly 25, and i've heard that some says it should be about 25-28 and other says 24-27 ?

The piece of wood is not something i've picked up from outside. It's unfertilized sphagnum from a store in Odense: Plantorama

About the food:
- Do mealworms crawls/clambs upside? (i mean, upside the classwalls, so they can crawl out of the top)
- Do mealworms diggin into the dirt/spaghnum like "normal" worms?

[GrifTheGreat]

GrifTheGreat & DVirginiana

My white temperaturegauge are also an hygrometer, both in one

The humidity is about 65, i've heard that it needs 60-70%, so think that's nice...
The temp is about 24,5 to nearly 25, and i've heard that some says it should be about 25-28 and other says 24-27 ?

The piece of wood is not something i've picked up from outside. It's unfertilized sphagnum from a store in Odense: Plantorama

About the food:
- Do mealworms crawls/clambs upside? (i mean, upside the classwalls, so they can crawl out of the top)
- Do mealworms diggin into the dirt/spaghnum like "normal" worms?

Don't use Mealworms they are not good for your frog and can cause an impaction(intestinal blockage) that can result in death. To answer your question though, no they can't climb the glass, but will burrow in the soil. They are dangerous to feed to your frog so don't use them.

[Lija]

I would also cover 3 sides of the tank to make frog more comfortable

[Zlitni]

In the Companion Guide i have, it says that pacman frogs are eating wild caught insects, snails (i guess not with snailhouse) and rainworms... can i just catch that near the lake where i live?

By the way, hope that it can go with temp on 24,5? or is it too much from the manuals?

[GrifTheGreat]

In the Companion Guide i have, it says that pacman frogs are eating wild caught insects, snails (i guess not with snailhouse) and rainworms... can i just catch that near the lake where i live?

By the way, hope that it can go with temp on 24,5? or is it too much from the manuals?

24.5° is a little too cool for during the day. 26° Is more ideal. At night 24° is ok, but not too much cooler than that.

Snails carry parasites like Nematodes and could make your frog sick.


See if you can buy Earthworms(Rainworms) from a pet store near you rather than catching wild ones.

[Zlitni]

Okay! Thank you very much

[DVirginiana]

In the Companion Guide i have, it says that pacman frogs are eating wild caught insects, snails (i guess not with snailhouse) and rainworms... can i just catch that near the lake where i live?

By the way, hope that it can go with temp on 24,5? or is it too much from the manuals?

Do not do that. With snails, the shell would cause impaction and possibly kill a frog. Even if the shell was removed, most snails (like frogs) produce toxins. Even if they aren't considered harmful to local animals, they might be harmful to a pacman frog. Also, rainwater washes in all sorts of chemicals and pesticides, so it is a bad idea to feed anything you catch in the wild.

Can you get Canadian Nightcrawlers? I have heard from other reptile keepers in Europe that they are not always labeled as canadian nightcrawlers, so here is a link to the species I'm talking about
Lumbricus terrestris - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In my opinion, they are the best food for pacman frogs. You will also need to have a calcium supplement.

[DVirginiana]

See if you can buy Earthworms(Rainworms) from a pet store near you rather than catching wild ones.

I think that was what the European keeper I was talking to was talking about with the labeling. lol
Not as important with pacs I guess since specific species of worm aren't poisonous for them.

[Zlitni]

Also, rainwater washes in all sorts of chemicals and pesticides, so it is a bad idea to feed anything you catch in the wild.

i think i'll just buy rainworms from a fishstore, think they're clean (or hope so)...

You will also need to have a calcium supplement.

I have vitamin powder ready but isn't it enough to do one time in the week?

[GrifTheGreat]

i think i'll just buy rainworms from a fishstore, think they're clean (or hope so)...


I have vitamin powder ready but isn't it enough to do one time in the week?

Yes, once a week is enough when dusting with a multivitamin. You will also need a calcium powder that contains Vitamin D3 and dust with it every other feeding. Don't dust with both at the same time in the same feeding.

When you buy the Rainworms before offering them to your frog you will need to cut pieces off the worm that are of appropriate size for your frog. Usually a little longer than the distance between your frogs eyes.

When you get your frog please post pictures of him/her so we can see and also help with offering food.

[Zlitni]

Nice, i'll notice that! I'll do, for sure
...by the way. By moving one of the lamps i now have about 25,2 C

[GrifTheGreat]

Nice, i'll notice that! I'll do, for sure
...by the way. By moving one of the lamps i now have about 25,2 C

That's a little better. Almost there. What kind of lamp are you using and what kind of Bulb?

[Zlitni]

I don't know the english word for it. Clippinglamp? lol
The bulb in the one of them are a normal 40w, with small socket. The other one is this one: Infrared heat lamp 35w - Laroy Duvo

[GrifTheGreat]

I don't know the english word for it. Clippinglamp? lol
The bulb in the one of them are a normal 40w, with small socket. The other one is this one: Infrared heat lamp 35w - Laroy Duvo

Oh you mean a Clamp Lamp Lol! That's good. Does it have a dimmer switch?

If you get a 40 or 50 watt bulb the heat will be slightly higher and should be where you need it.

[Zlitni]

Does it have a dimmer switch?

No, it can't regulate the temp on different stages/levels... but i can turn it off on the wire

[GrifTheGreat]

No, it can't regulate the temp on different stages/levels... but i can turn it off on the wire

If you can order a Fluker's 5.5 inch Clamp Lamp with dimmer you will be able to adjust the amount of light and heat produced by the bulb. These are the lamps that I use. They also make a 8.5 inch size.