Do i need a ubv light to keep a pac man frog?

[kestrel89]

hi,
sorry to both you but I looking into buying my first frog I want to get it right so I bought every thing in advances but I got a heat mat a web site said you need a ubv light or heat lamp is a heat mat ok?

[eric048]

no need for a uvb, just something to keep the tank at a tolerable temp, and or to stimulate a day/night cycle

[GrifTheGreat]

Eric is right. UVB is not necessary for Pacman frogs. UVB radiation is used by the body to produce vitamin D3 naturally and is not needed as you provide a calcium supplement that contains D3. Vitamin D3 is used by the frog to properly metabolize the calcium into the bones.

They do benefit from 4 to 6 hours of UVB light per day but the bulbs are all fluorescent and are usually too bright for Pacman frogs and can damage their eyes. If you are going tgo use lights for an extra heat source and to provide a day/night cycle use incandescent bulbs combined with a clamp lamp that has a dimmer switch. This way you can accurately control the amount of heat and light produced by the bulb. Always provide some kind of plant cover when using lights whether they be fake or live. This helps the frog feel secure and hind in the shade like they would naturally in the wild.

[Baloo]

I keep hearing different things. I started off a couple years ago only using heat matts because I was afraid my frog would get dried out. But we have cold winters here in Nova Scotia and the apartment gets cool and I eventually read it was best to use a heat lamp by other members. That's what I've been using for months. I had no idea they were damaging their eyes. The terrariums I am using are all 12" high and I planned to make each shelf 20" to accommodate the light. So are you saying I can get away without out a uvb light and just use a large heat pad? Cause I was also told that pacman and tomatoes borrow to keep cool. I am confused. NEVERMIND: I have been using non uvb, its been a while since I've been on and forgot infrared is not 2.0 uvb.

[Louis Charles Bruckner]

Also where is your frog 90% of the time.
Out in the open or buried under the substrate?

[Namio]

I keep hearing different things. I started off a couple years ago only using heat matts because I was afraid my frog would get dried out. But we have cold winters here in Nova Scotia and the apartment gets cool and I eventually read it was best to use a heat lamp by other members. That's what I've been using for months. I had no idea they were damaging their eyes. The terrariums I am using are all 12" high and I planned to make each shelf 20" to accommodate the light. So are you saying I can get away without out a uvb light and just use a large heat pad? Cause I was also told that pacman and tomatoes borrow to keep cool. I am confused. NEVERMIND: I have been using non uvb, its been a while since I've been on and forgot infrared is not 2.0 uvb.

Without proper cover/shelter, bright light from the heat lamp can stresses horned frogs out, too! So make sure you use red, blue, or black light bulbs. Another alternative is ceramic heater. It is okay to use heat lamp or ceramic heater, but they also increase the rate of evaporation dramatically so you will need to have a method of constantly re-adding humidity, let it be a fogger or daily misting. Depending on what terrarium you're using, make sure you have most of the top cover by saran wrap or other non-permeable material to maintain humidity.

[Namio]

Edit: If you are using heat lamp or ceramic heater, cover the top of the tank with Aluminum foil instead of saran wrap so it doesn't get burnt. I had only UTHs so I used saran wrap. I apologize for the confusion.