Newbie that's so confused...

[oneshotveth]

Well, I typed a huge long post, and it didn't go through, so here I go again, and I'll try to be as brief as possible. I have so many questions....

I just bought a 12X12X18 ExoTerra kit. I want to have RETF's.

So far I have the coco bark up to the doors, I have a waterfall, the stuff to climb on a UVB 2.0 lamp, and I have a 50 watt infrared heat lamp on a dimmable lamp housing.

1. I've misted it a bunch of times, and I have the waterfall going, but the humidity is only about 50. What should I be doing? Where does the extra humidity come from?

2. I've only had the infrared lamp on for about 2 hours, and the dimmer is not up all the way, but the temp is only like 65. The thermometer is down at the bottom front and the heat lamp is at the top back, if that makes a difference. The metal housing of the heat lamp is getting pretty hot and it's resting partly on the plastic top of the terrarium, do you recommend lifting it off?
And in general, is the infrared heat lamp right? Or is there something else I should be going with? And would I turn the heat lamp down at night?

3. How often do you have to change the coco bark? and how exactly do you do it if there's a frog in there?

4. How long should I have the terrarium "ready" before I order some frogs?

5. Any recommendations for good breeders of RETF's? and how do they ship live things? Do they usually arrive alive?

Sorry for all the newbie questions. Thanks in advance for any help!

Brian

[Kurt]

I wouldn't worry too much about the humidity. Just mist them before going to bed and keep the substrate on the moist side. That should be enough.

I am not the one to ask about heaters and all, as I don't use them. The room in which most of my frogs are kept is on the warm side, so need for heaters.

Change the substrate after it begins to become foul and present a less than pleasant odor.

Order frogs when you feel ready for them.

As far as red-eye breeders are concerned, let me ask you this, where do you live? If you are local to me I may be able to help. I have tadpoles right now.

[oneshotveth]

Thanks for the info.

And actually, I'm just up in Haverhill.

[Tropicok]

From experience as someone fairly new to frogs, I have found it dangerous to use an infra-red or ceramic lamp directly on a terrarium cover, especially if it's plastic. I use 40 watt light bulbs over my tanks and the one plastic cover I make sure and set the light over the screen part. I also use an aquarium light I got at Lowe's over the fire-belly toads. Another heat source I'm using since it's winter is a small heat pad affixed to one wall of the tank . I don't use UV-anything on the frogs. Lighting can be very confusing but read back through the posts and there is an answer to almost all our questions. Right, Kurt and John and Tom?

[Tropicok]

You lucky duck, right next to Kurt. I see he posted before I did. Since I have moved all but my Dumpy into the back bedroom I worry not at all about heat. It's warmer in here and no drafts. My redfoot tortoises are crawling around the floor and not trying to hibernate either. I turn the lights on in the a.m. and off in the p.m. mainly for my benefit in seeing the miniature jungles.

[Kurt]

Thanks for the info.

And actually, I'm just up in Haverhill.

Haverhill, MA? You should come down to the New England Herp Society meeting tomorrow in South Weymouth. Directions to the meeting can be found at http://www.neherp.com I will be there, so if you want to come down and discuss red-eyes, feel free to do so.

[oneshotveth]

Haverhill, MA? You should come down to the New England Herp Society meeting tomorrow in South Weymouth. Directions to the meeting can be found at http://www.neherp.com I will be there, so if you want to come down and discuss red-eyes, feel free to do so.

Thanks for the invite, but I had to work on Sunday. I would like to come check out a meeting eventually. I saw that you're speaking at one of them, maybe I'll try and make it to that one.

Brian

[Kurt]

That won't be until June. You should try to come sooner. May we will have our show and sale. I will be manning the NEHS table at Manchester in April, so Frog Forum people should stop by and say "hi".

[StephenLS]

I'm always dubious about using waterfalls in frog enclosures. Is it one you have made yourself or is it pre-moulded?

...I've had much bad luck with the pre-moulded ones...and frogs drown suprisingly easily


ta


Steve