Heat/Humidity frustration

[HerpDerp]

I highly recommend not getting a UTH. They are really a waste of money. Especially since an 18x18x24 is just over 30 gallons so the UTH would have to be pretty big. Are you sure your heat lamp is still working properly. They do eventually lose effectiveness. If you have a false bottom you could put enough water in it to cover a small aquarium heater. That would probably help both heat and humidity.

Glurmo always gets in the water dish if the humidity drops too low. And he's just a lazy frog, he'll just fall asleep in it sometimes. I used to worry quite a bit but I've learned that if I just leave him be he'll eventually climb out and sleep somewhere else. Can you turn your fogger up or set it to run for longer intervals (sorry I don't know how these things work lol)? Or you could just mist your tank as well to maintain humidity. But the first thing I would check is to make sure your heat lamp is still fully functional.

[Sasha]

Thanks for the advise. I don't have a false bottom but I will check the light. Things were better this morning. Temp was up to 77 and humidity was at 63%. Last night I made sure the humidifier in the house was filled and then refilled it again this morning. The fogger for the tank has been running constantly. The nice thing about the hygrotherm is that you set it to the temp you want and the humidity level you want and then it turns everything on and off as needed.

Skitter was in his water bowl this morning, got out for about 1/2 hour then went back in and closed his eyes! I just left him this time, I figure he will be okay once things get back to normal. I just freak out when they sit in that bowl for so long because that's what Fiona did before she died.

[Hoppity100]

Oh, you're welcome! You have quite a set up! Glad everything is ok.

[deranged chipmunk]

Skitter is most likely reacting to the sudden drop in humidity levels. the real concern is this: if your fogger is running 24/7, why is your humidty only 63%? it should be ridiculously higher.

[Sasha]

Skitter is most likely reacting to the sudden drop in humidity levels. the real concern is this: if your fogger is running 24/7, why is your humidty only 63%? it should be ridiculously higher.

I really started thinking about this question and I think I just figured it out. The only thing that is different is that the household humidifier was not filled. Our apartment gets really dry once the temp starts to drop and we have the heat on. We filled it last night before bed and this morning the tank humidity was a little better, I filled it again this morning to make sure that it would last the day and the frog tank actually got up to 69% a few times and the fogger has turned off and on. Right now it's at 66-67%. I may look into getting a table top humidifier for that room but I need to find one that doesn't leave residue on the electronics since the frogs are housed in the game/computer room.

As far as Skitter goes, he was still in the water bowl when I came home for lunch so it was about 5 hours. I took him out, looked him over, and put him on a branch and when I came home from work he was still there. Now he's sitting in his food bowl looking for more crickets to magically appear out of the bottom of the bowl. He seems to like the water in the morning/afternoon hours. We will see what happens tomorrow since I can't come home during the day to check on him.

Oh and their dad brought them home a new lamp with a higher watt bulb. The temp has been steady at 77 degrees. It's looking like things might be okay.

[HerpDerp]

Well this is all good news! I might buy a small humidifier too. My humidity regularly drops to about 45% in my main enclosure during the day. I'm not sure what the humidity is in my quarantine tank since the hydrometer isn't working. So I just make sure I keep it well misted in there. I don't have a fogger or anything so I mist like crazy in the morning before work and then again when I get back and throughout the evening. Thankfully I only work 4 hours a day so it never drops too much. But a humidifier would sure help! I also have a ceramic heat emitter I'm going to start using once I get my strip light back from the quarantine tank. Right now I'm using an incandescent bulb in my main tank and it does a great job of drying it out!

Skitter might just be going through a spell were he likes being in the water bowl. Like I said, Glurmo is so lazy he sometimes just falls asleep in the water bowl and will stay there unless he's moved or woken up. Some frogs are just lazy!

[Hoppity100]

Just wanted you to know, in my tank the water is the moisture source and I can make humidity by covering part of the top with plastic over part of the lid. I always leave part open so they get air. We are into colder weather now so I cover it this way if the temp is down at night (I know its the outdoor temp) but, even though the furnace runs, I notice a difference inside the house especially when I get up in the morning. My water has a small submersible heater at 76 degrees, so, I get humidity for them if they spend too much time in the water I know they might not be warm enough. Hope this helped.

[deranged chipmunk]

Glurmo....hee hee....LOVE that name....lol

Patsy....this is a dumb question, but what's the water level inside the tank? if it is too high, humidity can drop, too low, the same. has the water level in the tank changed at all throughout this deal?

[deranged chipmunk]

also....you could probably tie a home heating pad onto the tank temporarily until you figure out the problem. they actually don't burn as hot a UTH, but every little bit will help Skitter be more comfortable until it's sorted.