Temperature problems

[dth0829]

I have a baby ornate horned frog in an exo terra 18"x18"x12" set up with a zoo med 10-20 gallon UTH mounted to the side of the terrarium and a 60w zoo med daylight bulb on a dimmer at the top of the terrarium. I've been switching between that bulb and a 60w red heat bulb. Even with both the UTH and light the temp during the day only gets to 80 degrees and 75 at night. My question is, should I get rid of the light and replace the current UTH with a 30 gallon one? So that all I will have for hear is the 30 gallon UTH. Btw I have the UTH connected to my hygrotherm with it set at 84 but it never reaches that temp.

[flybyferns]

Hello,
Just a thought .......... what type of gauge are you using and where is the thermometer placed in the tank?
Have you moved it around?

[danfrog]

That enclosure is entirely too big for your baby. He should be in a small critter keeper at that size. Your day bulb might be wrong. If it has uvb/uva you need replace it. You can use a regular house bulb. Not suposed to go over 50 watts either. As for heating get another lamp and run the night time bulb too. I have my night bulb attached to a hygrotherm, so that it will turn off and on to maintain the heat I want. And my day bulb is on a timer. You generally want 82-84 degrees for day, and about 78 for night. I'm honestly don't really care for heatpads. You can cover the top with seran wrap or tinfoil to help keep heat and humidity in. I'm using tin foil right now with holes in it just big enough for my lights cut out.

[danfrog]

Here is a link to my current set up. It has some pictures too to help give you some ideas.
http://www.frogforum.net/pacman-frog...-new-home.html

[danfrog]

I have a brand new baby also ill post a pic of her enclosure. You can place the critter keeper inside the exoterra you have. They are really nice tanks, but that size are for adult frogs. I actually think I placed my male in his a little too early.

[danfrog]

Also heat mats take a while to heat up. So keep that in mind if you decide to attach it to the hygrotherm.

[dth0829]

Thank you for all your advice! Question?
What type of bulbs specifically are you using for your day and night? Wattage, brand etc....

[danfrog]

I'm using a regular energy saving white light bulb for day time I got at walmart. And for night I'm using a red incandescent zoo med light. Both are 40watts.

[dth0829]

Hello,
Just a thought .......... what type of gauge are you using and where is the thermometer placed in the tank?
Have you moved it around?

I have 3 different thermometers all over the cage

[dth0829]

I'm using a regular energy saving white light bulb for day time I got at walmart. And for night I'm using a red incandescent zoo med light. Both are 40watts.

Thanks again. I'm going to go out in a little bit and get another lamp and different bulbs to do the setup you suggest.

[danfrog]

The day bulb is on a timer, 12 hours on 12 hours off. It will keep the enclosure about 81 degrees. My red bulb is on the hygrotherm and it turns on at 82 degrees and shuts off at 84 degrees. I have both lamps on the right side of the enclosure, with the day lamp to the front and red night lamp to the rear.

[dth0829]

The day bulb is on a timer, 12 hours on 12 hours off. It will keep the enclosure about 81 degrees. My red bulb is on the hygrotherm and it turns on at 82 degrees and shuts off at 84 degrees. I have both lamps on the right side of the enclosure, with the day lamp to the front and red night lamp to the rear.

Does the red bulb keep a good temp at night?

[danfrog]

This is what I'm using for my little one. I barely have to turn it on to get the right temps. And its not hot enought to melt the plastic. Its also 40 watts.

[danfrog]

It does for me. Especially with the top covered. It turns on at 77 warms to 78 and shuts off. Make sure the probe is in the middle of the tank so you have a warm side and cool side (that way it will give you an average temp/humidity of the tank and your frog can choose where he wants to go). I used velcro to attach it to the back piece, about two inches above the substrate. I also use a blow dryer on the probe every couple weeks. Make sure you don't spray the probe with water.

[danfrog]

If you attach the night bulb to your hygrotherm you don't really need a dimmer for It.

[dth0829]

I'm using a regular energy saving white light bulb for day time I got at walmart. And for night I'm using a red incandescent zoo med light. Both are 40watts.

Does your daytime bulb look like this?

[GrifTheGreat]

Fluorescent bulbs don't produce much heat. Use incandescent bulbs. Like Exo Terra's 75% intense basking spotlight, but make sure you have a lamp with a dimmer switch so you can adjust the amount of heat and light produced bybthe bulb.

Your UTH is a little small for the tank. One for a 30 gallon would most likely reach the required temps eithout a light. Also note that 80° during the day is good. Night temps should range from 76° to 79°.

60 watts is a little high. Change to 50 watts.

Do you have half your screen top covered with something to hold heat and humidity in? If not you can use Plastic Wrap or plexiglass.

Post some pics of your setup.