New pyxie in progress, questions???

[BklynPixie]

Good morning All
This is my first post here, but I'm not new to keeping reptiles, amphibians, fish etc ..
I'm however new to keeping pixies, I'm in the process of acquiring a large giant variant of the pyxie frog. I've done tons of research and have gone out and acquired the basic necessities to keep him happy... 20 gallon long tank, heat pad, heat lamp, screen top, amphibian safe water conditioner. I want some input because I'm torn between keeping him in an all water setup with a basking area or keeping him on Eco complete with a large water dish? My concern about keeping him on Eco complete is will the substrate smell as the tank is in my kids room? I will spot clean the Eco and change it out monthly, but will it smell? If I go with an all water setup, the problem will be the water changes as I really can't just pick up a 20 gallon filled 1/4 with water ( just to clumsy and heavy), maybe a siphon? Also if I go with an all water setup will the tannins from driftwood hurt the frog? I'm looking out for what will prove best for the pyxie and your suggestions on both methods of husbandry . Thanks and appreciate your input.

[maxQ]

Welcome to the FF, im sorry, i have never kept Pixies but there are so many great people here with a wealth of knowledge, someone will chime in in no time.

Welcome !


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[BklynPixie]

Thanks Max, hoping to get lots of valuable input from the pyxie keepers..I know both methods are used just wanted to hear pros and cons of each.

[BklynPixie]

Sorry in my original post I meant to say Eco earth..., Eco complete is what I have used in planted aquariums ... Lol

[SCF]

Good morning All
This is my first post here, but I'm not new to keeping reptiles, amphibians, fish etc ..
I'm however new to keeping pixies, I'm in the process of acquiring a large giant variant of the pyxie frog. I've done tons of research and have gone out and acquired the basic necessities to keep him happy... 20 gallon long tank, heat pad, heat lamp, screen top, amphibian safe water conditioner. I want some input because I'm torn between keeping him in an all water setup with a basking area or keeping him on Eco complete with a large water dish? My concern about keeping him on Eco complete is will the substrate smell as the tank is in my kids room? I will spot clean the Eco and change it out monthly, but will it smell? If I go with an all water setup, the problem will be the water changes as I really can't just pick up a 20 gallon filled 1/4 with water ( just to clumsy and heavy), maybe a siphon? Also if I go with an all water setup will the tannins from driftwood hurt the frog? I'm looking out for what will prove best for the pyxie and your suggestions on both methods of husbandry . Thanks and appreciate your input.

Go with the eco earth substrate and water bowl. It will not smell at all with spot cleaning and monthly changes. Pyxies are not an aquatic species, they will want to burrow in a substrate.

[BklynPixie]

Thanks SCF, been reading alot and I will be going the route of using Eco and water bowl. Will a 50 watt spot lamp on one side and a small heat pad placed under the water dish too much heat? Using the heat lamp for frogs heat source and using the heat pad to keep the water warm and to be the tanks heat source at night. Thoughts?

[SCF]

That would depend on your temps inside your house. I use heat tape on the side of my enclosures and during the winter I use lamps with it. It is far too hot right now to use both for me. Using a heating pad underneath your water bowl would be a bad idea, because sometimes they chose to burrow underneath it. I would find what the heat pad on the side of the tank brings the temps to, and if it's not enough, you can use the lamp (a dimmer works good) in conjunction with the heat pad.

[BklynPixie]

Thanks again, I'll change the heat pad to the side and monitor the temps.

[BklynPixie]

Question, where is your heat pad located on the side of you tank? Above the substrate ? Same side as your heat lamp?

[GrifTheGreat]

Question, where is your heat pad located on the side of you tank? Above the substrate ? Same side as your heat lamp?

When I use a lamp I place the heat pad on the side or back on the end opposite the water dish and place the lamp in the center of the enclosure.

Heat pad should be just above the substrate level or a little higher.

[BklynPixie]

Thanks grif, yep moved the pad to opposite side to where water will be and above substrate .